French Open draw LIVE: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu discover their fate

Emma Raducanu announces shock split from coach after just five months

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Tennis’ star names are set to discover their French Open fates with the draw set to help determine which storylines unfold at Roland Garros next week and beyond. The likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu are among those tennis fans are sure to be keeping a close eye on, and their potential routes to the latter stages of this year’s clay-court Grand Slam could throw up some mouth-watering clashes.

Nadal is heralded as the king of clay, and has prevailed at Roland Garros on a stunning 13 prior occasions. Djokovic was the victor last year, however, and may fancy his chances of repeating the feat with the Spaniard nursing rib and foot injuries in the lead-up to the tournament. 

Nadal’s teenage compatriot, Carlos Alcaraz, could also throw a spanner in the works having beaten the aforementioned duo on his way to a sensational Madrid Open title earlier this month. Raducanu, meanwhile, will hope for another deep Grand Slam run after bursting onto the scene at Wimbledon and the US Open last year. 

The men’s and women’s singles draws both contain 104 direct entrants, 16 qualifiers and eight wildcards with 32 seeded players in each. Express Sport brings you live updates from the draw below…

Djokovic and Nadal both gunning for history

As with every Grand Slam these days, the French Open will provide an opportunity for one of the ‘big three’ to make their claim as the greatest of all time. 

Rafael Nadal made the most recent move by winning the Australian Open, taking him one clear of Novak Djokovic at the top of the all-time Grand Slams list with 21. The Serb, along with Roger Federer, has 20. 

As such, Nadal’s injury-hit build-up to this year’s French Open could provide Djokovic with an opportunity to claw himself level. Unless, of course, Carlos Alcaraz or another of the sports most talented challengers spoils the party. 

Two standouts key to British hopes of success

Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie are Britain’s two best hopes at Roland Garros this year. The former is competing in her first ever French Open, having made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2021, and while the latter is yet to see the fourth round of a major tournament, he has flirted with the world top 10 in recent months. 

Dan Evans, Heather Watson and Harriet Dart complete Britain’s five-strong contingent as Andy Murray sits out to concentrate on the grass-court season. 

Who is backed to win in 2022?

For the first time in recent memory, Nadal finds himself way down as the third favourite to win at Roland Garros. Djokovic is the pick for many fans, but following closely behind is 19-year-old sensation Carlos Alcaraz, whose meteoric rise could kick up another notch if he manages a deep run in France. 

In the womens’ draw, Iga Swiatek is the overwhelming favourite to win her second French Open title and her sixth tournament win in a row. Simona Halep and Ons Jabeur are also in with a chance, while Raducanu is viewed as a rank outsider after an up-and-down season. 

What happened last year?

Back in 2021, Novak Djokovic did the unthinkable by beating Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals en route to his second ever French Open triumph. It was only the third time the Spaniard had ever lost a match at Roland Garros. Stefanos Tsitsipas met the Serb in the final, crumbling after going two sets up as Djokovic roared back to win the subsequent three. 

As for the womens’ draw, many of the top seeds were knocked out early as Barbora Krejcikova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova contested the final. The former prevailed 6-1 2-6 6-4 to win her first and only Grand Slam title to date. 

Not long to go…

The draw is scheduled to get underway at 6pm BST and last around 50 minutes.

By the end of it, all those licking their lips in the hope of going all the way at Roland Garros will have a good idea of what it will take to get there.

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