ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
The wait is almost over and it's certainly going to be worth it.
The Roland-Garros 2024 men's and women's draws were conducted on Thursday, serving up a feast of first-round sizzlers.
These are the matches you won't want to miss.
Men's popcorn R1s: Zverev lands Nadal rematch
Excitement levels are sky-high with the draw dishing up a bounty of enticing first-round meetings
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTAlexander Zverev (4) v Rafael Nadal
It's a rematch of the 2022 semi-final when the German injured his ankle during a thrilling match and was denied the chance of toppling the eventual champion, Rafael Nadal.
Since then Nadal has had to contend with a multitude of injuries too. Despite a lack of consistent matches, never count out a 14-time champion.
Nadal has continually defied the odds over the years and leads their head-to-head at 7-3, however, Alexander Zverev arrives fresh from lifting the Rome Masters trophy last Sunday with his serve in scorching form.
Clear the diary, this will be essential viewing.
Stan Wawrinka v Andy Murray
Two three-time Grand Slam champions, two modern greats collide in the first round again.
Having met 22 times, 13-9 in Andy Murray's favour, they have been embroiled in three Roland-Garros duels.
Four years ago, 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka dominated proceedings 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. Rewind further and they've split two semi-finals on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Murray claimed the honours in 2016, before Wawrinka gained revenge in a five-set rollercoaster in 2017.
Who can conjure up another memorable moment in their trophy-laden careers?
Gael Monfils v Thiago Seyboth Wild
Arguably the greatest on-court showman this century will certainly have the crowd on his side on the terre battue at home.
Gael Monfils will give us his full repertoire of shots over the net from Thiago Seyboth Wild. Monfils edged their only previous encounter 7-5, 6-4 on the Geneva clay in 2021.
On the flip side, Seyboth Wild qualified for the Roland-Garros main draw last summer and beat second seed Daniil Medvedev in five sets to reach the third round.
Expect plenty of rallies and attempts at off-the-charts shot-making.
Casper Ruud (7) v Jakub Mensik
As a Roland-Garros finalist the past two years, Casper Ruud starts favourite in most of his matches in Paris these days.
The Norwegian knows exactly how to navigate through the draw, but he'll need to be sharp from the start.
Czech youngster Jakub Mensik has the raw power to pounce if Ruud is off kilter. The 18-year-old recently clinched a top 10 victory over Grigor Dimitrov on the clay of Madrid. It will be the pair's first encounter.
Luca Van Assche v Denis Shapovalov
French youngster Luca Van Assche has plenty of clay-court pedigree, having picked up the Roland-Garros 2021 boys' singles crown.
His opponent, former world No.10 Denis Shapovalov - wielding his artistic arching single-handed backhand - is on the injury comeback trail and is keen to improve his record in Paris at the only major he has not reached at least the quarter-finals.
Who can rise to the occasion in their first clash?
©Philippe Montigny / FFTStefanos Tsitsipas (9) v Marton Fucsovics
The statistics and previous exploits point to a victory for 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas who has found a welcome return to form on clay in recent months.
The Greek former world No.3 warmed up for Roland-Garros with a third Monte Carlo Masters trophy along with a final run in Barcelona.
His opening opponent, Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, is a supreme athlete and also has a title to his name this clay-court swing in Bucharest, Romania. Tsitsipas claimed their only previous meeting on clay in Barcelona in 2019 in the round of 32.
Holger Rune (13) v Daniel Evans
Great Britain's Daniel Evans might not relish the sector of the season on clay, but his all-court craft differs from most of the tour.
Back at Monte-Carlo 2021 Evans defeated world No.1 Novak Djokvovic in straight sets. Can the world No.60 spring another top-tier surprise?
Denmark's Holger Rune will hope to recapture the form which propelled him into the quarter-finals in Paris the past two years and lifted him as high as world No.4 last year.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTArthur Fils (29) v Matteo Arnaldi
There will be another raucous home atmosphere to cheer on top French hope, Arthur Fils, at Roland-Garros this year.
The exuberant Frenchman will need his home support in a clash with the rapid and highly consistent Matteo Arnaldi down the other end.
The Italian has claimed victory in both of their battles, including a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline at the Miami Masters in March.