Draw: Alcaraz with Djokovic, Medvedev with Ruud

Draw: Alcaraz with Djokovic, Medvedev with Ruud

The draw for the Roland-Garros men’s singles was carried out on Thursday, and placed Carlos Alcaraz in Novak Djokovic’s part of the draw, and Daniil Medvedev in that of Casper Ruud.

This was the main question that observers and fans were asking themselves before the draw for the men’s singles at Roland-Garros, carried out this Thursday by Antoine Dupont. And the answer is yes ! Yes, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who have exchanged the place of world No. 1 since the start of the year without ever facing each other, have indeed been placed in the same part of the table. The Serb, now No. 3, would no doubt have preferred to find himself at the bottom, with Daniil Medvedev, less formidable than the Spaniard on clay even if he has just triumphed in Rome.

But if he wants to succeed Rafael Nadal and win a 23rd Grand Slam tournament, Djokovic will have to beat Alcaraz in the semi-finals. If the logic is respected so far, of course. The Spanish player will start his tournament against a qualifier, then face Christopher O’Connell or Taro Daniel, before a possible third round against Denis Shapovalov, who has disappeared from circulation a bit lately. In the round of 16, Alcaraz could face No. 14 seed Cameron Norrie, before a first big test in the quarters against Stefanos Tsitsipas or Felix Auger-Aliassime. And therefore a half against Djokovic which would only be their first confrontation since the half in Madrid last year.

Djokovic-Rublev in quarts?

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, will face Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round then, if the logic is respected, Marton Fucsevics in the second, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third, Hubert Hurkacz in the eighth and Andrey Rublev in the quarters. At the bottom of the table, Daniil Medvedev will be entitled to a smooth first round (a priori…) against a qualifier, then a confrontation against Quentin Halys or Guido Pella. Yoshihito Nishioka could then wait for him in the third round, then Borna Coric or Alex de Minaur in the eighth, unless Dominic Thiem regains his former glory and joins the second week. Jannik Sinner or Frances Tiafoe could be Medvedev’s opponent in the quarters, then Holger Rune or Casper Ruud in the semis. Not easy!

At least three French in the second round

On the French side, they are very numerous in the table, and they will not have the easy task of reaching the second week, even if several 100% tricolor confrontations ensure the presence of three Blues in the second round: Adrian Mannarino – Ugo Humbert (to face Ben Shelton), Arthur Cazaux – Corentin Moutet (to face Andrey Rublev) and Richard Gasquet – Arthur Rinderknech (to face Taylor Fritz). Benoit Paire will be opposed to an entry seed (Cameron Norrie), as will Arthur Fils (Alejandro Davidovich Fokina), Constant Lestienne (Karen Khachanov) and Alexandre Muller (Jannik Sinner). It should also be noted that former Roland-Garros junior winner Luca Van Assche will challenge 2018 semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato (73rd). Gaël Monfils, who is struggling for his return to competition, has meanwhile inherited Sebastian Baez (22 years old, 44th). As for Benjamin Bonzi, absent since his abandonment in Monte-Carlo, he will make his return against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (28 years old, 96th).

The theoretical round of 16
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP, n°1) – Cameron Norrie (GBR, n°14)
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°10) – Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE, n°5)
Novak Djokovic (SER, n°3) – Hubert Hurkacz (POL, n°13)
Karen Khachanov (RUS, n°11) – Andrey Rublev (RUS, n°7)
Holger Rune (DAN, n°6) – Taylor Fritz (USA, n°9)
Tommy Paul (USA, n°16) – Casper Ruud (NOR, n°4)
Jannik Sinner (UTA, No. 8) – Frances Tiafoe (USA, No. 12)
Borna Coric (CRO, n°15) – Daniil Medvedev (RUS, n°2)

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