Rafael Nadal will kick off his anticipated return to the French Open with a first-round match against Germany’s fourth seed, Alexander Zverev. The Spanish tennis legend, who has claimed the men’s title a record 14 times, has announced plans to retire later this year, making this appearance potentially his farewell to the tournament he has dominated.
Zverev, 27, is considered one of the top contenders for the title and comes into the French Open with momentum from his recent victory at the Italian Open. This challenging matchup adds a layer of intrigue to Nadal’s return to Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Andy Murray has also signaled his intention to retire in the coming months. The 37-year-old will face fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka in the first round. Murray has only competed at Roland Garros once since 2017, where he suffered a heavy first-round defeat to Wawrinka four years ago. The Scot’s return to the clay courts comes after recovering from an ankle injury.
Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic will begin his campaign against French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert. In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek, aiming for her third consecutive title, will start against a qualifier or lucky loser.
The French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the season, is set to commence on Sunday, May 26.
