For the first time since 2004, the French Open will be without record 14-time winner Rafael Nadal in the men’s draw due to an ongoing hip injury which has ruled him out of contention.
The Spanish star’s loss will make for someone else’s gain though in 2023, as the best of the rest in tennis battle it out on the clay courts of Roland-Garros in Paris for the sport’s second grand slam of the year.
Nadal’s fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz enters as the top seed in the men’s tournament but Novak Djokovic will be keen to add a 23rd major tournament victory to his list of accomplishments, a title which would make him the most successful player in the history of men’s tennis.
On the women’s side of the draw, Poland’s Iga Swiatek enters as both the top seed and the bookmakers’ favourite to win in Paris again this summer.
She beat American Coco Gauff in straight sets during last year’s final and will be looking to become just the eighth female tennis player to win on three separate occasions at Roland-Garros following her prior successes in 2020 and 2022.
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2023 French Open men’s first-round draw
Each match in the men’s draw is best of five sets. The final set will be decided by a…
