PARIS: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz could meet two-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, as per the draw announced on Thursday.
Alcaraz begins his campaign against a qualifier/lucky loser while Djokovic, who will eye a record-breaking 23rd Major, faces USA’s Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round.
Casper Ruud, who lost to Nadal in last year’s summit clash, will take on a qualifier/lucky loser in the opening round with a potential quarterfinal against Denmark’s Holger Rune.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev, who won his first title on clay last week at the Italian Open in Rome, also faces a qualifier/lucky loser in the first round. The Russian could face Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the last-eight stage.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost to Djokovic in five sets in the 2021 final, faces Czech Jiri Vesely in the opening round. The fifth-seeded Greek could be up against Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
In women’s section, world no. 1 Iga Swiatek will begin her title defence at this year’s French open with a first-round match against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.
Reigning Australian Open champion and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will take on Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in her opening-round fixture. The Belarusian could have a potential last-eight battle against fifth-seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
Swiatek could face sixth-seeded American Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals in what would be a repeat of last year’s summit clash.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina opens her campaign against a qualifier/lucky loser. The fourth-seeded Kazakh could take on Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, seventh seed, in the quarterfinals with a potential semifinal against Swiatek.
Eighth-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari, who reached the final in 2021, faces Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the first round. Sakkari could take on third-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. Agencies
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