Rafael Nadal handed tough French Open draw against fourth seed Alexander Zverev

PA Ready, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Jodie Burrage, Novak Djokovic, Rome, Paula Badosa, Jessica Pegula, Dan Evans, Holger Rune, Christopher Eubanks, Naomi Osaka, Swiss, Paris, Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud, Katie Boulter, Jannik Sinner, Harriet Dart

Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title in 2022 (Christophe Ena/AP) (AP)

Rafael Nadal’s French Open swansong will begin with a blockbuster clash against Alexander Zverev.

Nadal is set to play at the tournament he has won on a record 14 occasions for the final time, and he has his work cut out if he is to make it beyond the opening round.

Zverev climbed to world number four on the back of winning the Italian Open in Rome at the weekend and heads into the year’s second grand slam as one of the favourites.

Nadal won the title on his last appearance on the Parisian clay in 2022 but has played only four tournaments in the last year and a half because of hip problems and was well beaten by Hubert Hurkacz in the second round in Rome.

Andy Murray is also set to make his final French Open appearance and incredibly will play Stan Wawrinka for a third time in a row at Roland Garros.

Wawrinka won an epic semi-final in 2017 that was the start of Murray’s hip problems, and the Scot’s only match in Paris since was a one-sided loss to the veteran Swiss four years ago.

Murray returned from nearly two months out with an ankle injury last week but has won only one match on clay this season.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

World number one Djokovic, 37, who defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets in last year’s final, will be bidding for a record-breaking 25th grand slam title but has struggled for form this year.

Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek will launch the defence of her title against a qualifier or lucky loser and could play four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka in the second round.

Men’s world number two Jannik Sinner will play American Christopher Eubanks providing he has recovered sufficiently from a hip injury while two-time grand slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, who is also short on matches because of a forearm problem, faces a qualifier or lucky loser.I

British number one Katie Boulter, seeded for the first time at a grand slam at number 26, faces a tough opener against former top-10 star Paula Badosa, while Harriet Dart has also been handed a difficult draw against 27th seed Linda Noskova.

British men’s number one Cameron Norrie, seeded 32nd, faces Russia’s world number 57 Pavel Kotov, with the winner to play either Murray or Wawrinka.

Dan Evans has his work cut out against 13th seed Holger Rune while Jack Draper plays a qualifier or lucky loser but has Alcaraz looming in the second round.

Britain’s contingent was reduced from seven to six on Wednesday when Jodie Burrage, sidelined since February following wrist surgery, revealed she had injured her ankle in training.

Billy Harris fell agonisingly short of qualifying for his first grand slam appearance, the 29-year-old from the Isle of Man losing 7-6 (2) 7-5 to Valentin Vacherot in the final round.

Meanwhile, women’s world number five Jessica Pegula, who has been sidelined through injury since last month, has withdrawn from the tournament.

OTHER NEWS

17 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

17 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

17 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

17 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

17 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

17 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

17 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

17 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

17 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

17 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

17 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

17 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

17 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

17 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news

17 minutes ago

Toronto's Zach Edey eyes top 20 pick as Raptors continue rebuild in NBA draft

17 minutes ago

Aston Martin Valiant: A Hardcore Track Star With a Manual

17 minutes ago

Wes Streeting says Labour's rail nationalisation plan would bring down fares

17 minutes ago

Anthony Joshua set to land chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois on September 21... as Oleksandr Usyk VACATES his IBF belt after taking rematch with Tyson Fury

17 minutes ago

Kevin Rudd joins Julian Assange as he arrives for court appearance

17 minutes ago

Now Nigel Farage suggests Zelensky should make peace with Putin

17 minutes ago

Multi-talented Kea Zawadi first female presenter of Algoa FM Top 30

17 minutes ago

5 free agents Kaizer Chiefs could bring to Naturena to bolster their squad

21 minutes ago

ESPN analyst ranks Patriots defense as top-five unit in NFL

21 minutes ago

Daybreak Foods, YES Programme partner to combat youth unemployment

21 minutes ago

CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia rallies after sell-off, lifts S&P 500 and Nasdaq

26 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom blasts 'delusional California bashers' in speech

26 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

26 minutes ago

Fed's Bowman Says 'Not Yet' Appropriate to Cut Rates

26 minutes ago

Why Dunkin' Donuts' New Commercial Actress Looks So Familiar

26 minutes ago

Costly election pledges in France stoke fears of splurges that risk pushing country deeper into debt

26 minutes ago

Mark Cuban offloads 14 NFTs from his collection in two days

26 minutes ago

Rashee Rice on maturity: 'This is a step in a better direction for me'

26 minutes ago

Oleksandr Usyk no longer undisputed champion just a month after beating Tyson Fury

26 minutes ago

Julian Assange formally admits spying charge as part of a plea deal with US authorities

26 minutes ago

The Continuous Hockey Hall of Fame Snub of Former Maple Leafs Forward Alex Mogilny is Starting to Get Ridiculous

30 minutes ago

Kelowna city manager earned $100K more than B.C. premier in 2023

32 minutes ago

Higher ed: Top CUNY official gets eye-popping 16% pay bump, bringing salary to over $320K

32 minutes ago

Sydney’s Luna Park listed for sale, tipped to fetch $70m price tag

32 minutes ago

LeBron James And Anthony Davis Want The Lakers To Go "All-In" On Another Superstar

32 minutes ago

Kane on England - Slovenia and Bayern Munich future