2025 FRENCH OPEN DRAW: AUSSIE HOPEFULS AND TOP CONTENDERS LEARN FATE
- Christian Montegan
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
The 2025 French Open singles draw has, as always, thrown a spanner in the works, with enticing round one matchups and projections heightening the levels of anticipation.
A strong Aussie contingent is set to take the field, with Destanee Aiava and Tristan Schoolkate the beneficiaries of tournament wildcards. Daria Saville could add her name into the mix as the 16th Australian if she defeats American Taylor Townsend in the final round of qualifying.
Is a mouthwatering final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz the most likely outcome? Could a local Frenchman break through and provide the home crowd something to cheer about?
How open is the women's draw with defending champion Iga Świątek missing out on a top-four seed? Will it finally be Aryna Sabalenka's moment in the French capital?
Aussie men Alex de Minaur [9] v Laslo Djere
Alexei Popyrin [25] v Yoshihito Nishioka
Jordan Thompson v Jiří Lehečka
Rinky Hijikata v Reilly Opelka
Aleksandar Vukic v Karen Khachanov [24]
Adam Walton v Qualifier
Christopher O'Connell v Ugo Humbert [22]
James Duckworth v Alexander Bublik
Tristan Schoolkate [WC] v Marton Fucsovics
Alex de Minaur can't seem to avoid world No.1 Jannik Sinner, as the duo are drawn in the same quarter. The 26-year-old Sydneysider is 0-10 against the Italian throughout his career.
He may not get to that stage, though, as in-form Brit Jack Draper is projected to meet the top-ranked Aussie in the round of 16.
A deep run is crucial for Alexei Popyrin if he is to maintain his seeding at Grand Slams, as 1000 ranking points in particular are due to be removed if his Canadian Open title isn't defended in August. Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul potentially await in the third and fourth rounds.
Overall, the Aussie men have been dealt an incredibly challenging draw, with Jordan Thompson to face the talented Jiří Lehečka despite admitting his body isn't in great shape at the Rome Masters. At the same time, Aleksandar Vukic and Rinky Hijikata have no choice but to neutralise the serving weapons of Karen Khachanov and Reilly Opelka if they are to stand any chance.
A reciprocal wildcard helps Tristan Schoolkate enter his first-ever French Open main draw, in what, on paper, at least, should be viewed as a winnable contest against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.
Aussie women
Daria Kasatkina [17] v Kateřina Siniaková
Maya Joint v Ajla Tomljanović
Kimberly Birrell v Jaqueline Cristian
Olivia Gadecki v Coco Gauff [2]
Destanee Aiava [WC] v Dayana Yastremska
One woman from the green and gold is guaranteed a second-round match after Maya Joint and Ajla Tomljanović were paired together.
It will be Joint's maiden Roland-Garros main draw, and the 19-year-old will get a feel for Tomljanović's game when they square off at the Morocco Open semi-finals.
New Aussie Daria Kasatkina will play under the Australian flag for the first time at a Grand Slam against doubles specialist Kateřina Siniaková.
The French Open is a special tournament for Kasatkina, having reached the last-four in 2022, but the 28-year-old finds herself in a rut with only two wins in six matches dating back to the Charleston Open.
On what will most likely be a match scheduled for Court Philippe-Chatrier, world No.93 Olivia Gadecki should approach her first-round encounter against former US Open champion Coco Gauff with little fear and embrace the occasion.
Sinner and Alcaraz drawn in opposite halves
For the first time, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could meet in a major final, with the Italian star drawn in the top-half with the likes of last year's finalist Alexander Zverev and 24-time Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz, who is seeking to go back-to-back, has a rather easier side of the bracket, but a possible clash with Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals could prove box office. The Spaniard will open his campaign against former US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori.
Slowly rediscovering some much-needed clay form with another win overnight in Geneva to qualify for the semi-finals, Djokovic is projected to face Daniil Medvedev in the fourth-round before dates loom with Zverev and Sinner for a spot in the decider.
Top-four exit likely to haunt Świątek
Failing to reach a final since winning Roland-Garros last year has meant former world No.1 Iga Świątek has plummeted out of the top-four, which has dire consequences, with a French Open final rematch against Rome champion Jasmine Paolini projected in the quarters, and a semi-final showdown against Aryna Sabalenka.
An all-American quarter-final between Coco Gauff and Australian Open champion Madison Keys is on the cards, but another American, Jessica Pegula, could be in for a tough matchup with teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva at the same stage.
Notable first-round matches include Naomi Osaka against former world No.2 Paula Badosa and Elena Rybakina-Belinda Bencic.
The French Open main draw begins Sunday May 26, live on the Nine Network and Stan Sport.
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