Djokovic has avoided Jannik Sinner’s half of the French Open draw and will try to regain form after an injury-ravaged period. He returns to Paris as a three-time Roland Garros champion aiming for a record 25th grand slam singles title, starting against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard. Landing in the same half as Alexander Zverev means Djokovic cannot meet Sinner before the final. Djokovic has played only two tournaments since the Australian Open, beating Sinner in a five-set semi-final before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final, and he recently lost early at the Italian Open. Sinner begins against French wildcard Clement Tabur, with a hostile crowd possible, and is the dominant favourite in Alcaraz’s injury-enforced absence. Emma Raducanu opens against Solana Sierra after a two-month injury layoff and a recent first-round loss in Strasbourg.
"Djokovic, a three-times champion at Roland Garros, returns to Paris aiming for a record 25th grand slam singles title. He will begin against the big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard. By landing in the same half as Alexander Zverev, the No 2 seed, Djokovic cannot face Sinner before the final. He has played just two tournaments since the Australian Open, when he defeated Sinner in a spectacular five-set semi-final, before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final. His most recent appearance was a first-round loss to world No 79 Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open."
"Sinner, meanwhile, will begin his pursuit of a career grand slam at Roland Garros in front of a potentially hostile audience, against the French wildcard Clement Tabur. Sinner arrives as the dominant player in the men's game and the prohibitive favourite at Roland Garros in the injury-enforced absence of Alcaraz, the reigning champion. After becoming the second man and youngest in history to win every Masters 1000 title, after Djokovic, Sinner will aim to complete the set of grand slams."
"Emma Raducanu, meanwhile, will try to kickstart her season at Roland Garros when facing the 21-year-old Argentine Solana Sierra in the first round. Raducanu arrives searching for rhythm and form after a two-month injury layoff due to post-viral illness, and lost her first round match to Diane Parry in Strasbourg earlier this week. Sierra is a talented young player and capable of beating her. Sierra currently sits at a career-high ranking of No 64 after a fruitful clay-court season."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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