Serbia’s Novak Djokovic throughout apply forward of the French Open in Paris on Could 23, 2026. — ReutersÂ
PARIS: The primary spherical of the French Open begins on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic starting his hunt for a fourth crown and a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam title when he takes on residence hope Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, whereas world quantity three Alexander Zverev faces Benjamin Bonzi.
The claycourt Grand Slam begins underneath a shadow, with some gamers deciding to limit their appearances at Friday’s and Saturday’s conventional pre-tournament media days amid rising tensions over prize cash and participant affect.
Prime males’s match: Djokovic vs Mpetshi Perricard
Djokovic has performed only one match since Indian Wells in March and the 39-year-old might want to shortly shake off any rust when he meets Mpetshi Perricard for the primary time in his profession in his opening match.
The Serbian has spent the final two years attempting to seize a twenty fifth main crown that might transfer him previous Margaret Courtroom to take sole possession of the all-time report, however that quest seems at risk of being extended.
“I wanted to play more but my body was not allowing me. I was going through rehabilitation process for my injury,” Djokovic instructed reporters.
“If I’m able to somehow maintain a level of freshness and progress… then I feel like I have always a very good chance. I have proven that in Australia this year where I was close to winning another Slam. I always have that belief in me when I’m on the court.”
Prime girls’s match: Andreeva vs Ferro
Russian Mirra Andreeva has had a powerful clay season, successful the Linz Open and reaching her first WTA 1000 ultimate on the Madrid Open, whereas additionally making it to the semi-finals in Stuttgart and quarter-finals in Rome.
The 19-year-old begins towards world quantity 200 Fiona Ferro of France, and will face little hassle if she will forestall the house followers from affecting her like they did in her quarter-final defeat to Lois Boisson finally 12 months’s match.
“Obviously the crowd is going to support her (Ferro) as much as they can, and that’s totally okay,” Andreeva stated.
“I have some experience even from last year when I played quarters, so I pretty much know what to expect… We will see how it’s going to go, but I hope they’re not going to be too hard on me.”
Can Zverev be a part of grand slam membership?
Zverev has been on the verge of a maiden Grand Slam title at many factors over his profession, reaching three finals and falling simply brief, and if the German is to lastly accomplish the feat the French Open seems to be his finest wager.
The 29-year-old reached the ultimate in Paris in 2024 and has made it to a minimum of the quarter-final stage in seven of the previous eight editions, placing him among the many favourites this 12 months, particularly within the absence of injured world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev begins his marketing campaign towards Bonzi, who may show a tough buyer nonetheless, with the Frenchman being one in every of solely three gamers to have taken a set off world primary Jannik Sinner in the course of the Italian’s unbelievable 29-match successful streak.
French open order of play on Sunday
Courtroom Philippe Chatrier (play begins at 1000GMT)
Sinja Kraus (Austria) v 11-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)Benjamin Bonzi (France) v 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany)8-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v Fiona Ferro (France)Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France) v 3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN (play begins at 0900 GMT)13-Karen Khachanov (Russia) v Arthur Gea (France)26-Hailey Baptiste (United States) v Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)7-Taylor Fritz (U.S.) v Nishesh Basavareddy (U.S.)Ksenia Efremova (France) v 18-Sorana Cirstea (Romania)COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU (play begins at 0900 GMT)15-Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) v Oksana Selekhmeteva (Russia)Katie Volynets (U.S.) v Clara Burel (France)Titouan Droguet (France) v 26-Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic)28-Joao Fonseca (Brazil) v Luka Pavlovic (France)
