Roland-Garros: Alcaraz-Djokovic for a possible semifinal, complicated course for Swiatek

From one Grand Slam to another, Antoine Dupont served as an innocent hand in the draw of the main rounds of the International of France on May 25 under the ceilings of the Orangerie, close to the Simonne-Mathieu court. "I had a tennis license for 6-7 years, without having a big level but to play with my brother, says the captain of the XV of France. I like to watch all the French, I like to watch tennis whenever I can. But this year, it seems difficult to ask permission to come to Roland-Garros to see real matches with what awaits us, the end of the season with Toulouse and the World Cup. »

The best rugby player in the world, a few hours after inaugurating his statue of the Grevin Museum, was not accompanied by the titleholder on the platform. No good surprise indeed: Rafael Nadal, 14 times winner here, has not changed his mind. He is well forfeited and he did not come to the draw as he has been used to for more than 15 years. The winner of the 2022 edition may have watched it on a screen, somewhere at home. With a touch of sadness, for sure. Iga Swiatek, the Polish world number 1 and royal winner of the 2022 tournament, she is on the other hand was there.

A quarterfinalist in 2022, World No.1 @carlosalcaraz takes on a qualifier in the first round.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wd0iyovIRu

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2023

A draw at Roland-Garros is nothing out of the ordinary. It is a clever alchemy that concerns 128 players and as many players. On a giant screen about ten meters wide, a computer is responsible for doing most of the work. Unless you have binoculars or sit in the front row, it's hard to distinguish the names that come out little by little. Brigitte Bardot in the background does not change anything. At first and for a few minutes, the names of some of the 108 players already qualified and the nineteen blanks for those from the qualifiers come out.

Antoine Dupont then proceeds to a more classic draw by taking out of the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup the rankings of the seeds which obviously all correspond to a name. This is how he offers Caroline Garcia the Chinese Wan Xiyu at the beginning of the tournament. He usually had a heavy hand for the favorites. If all goes well, Swiatek could cross the road of the American Coco Gauff for a rematch of the 2022 final as early as the 8th final. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur can wait for her in the quarters and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in the semis. The other theoretical semifinal would pit Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) against American Jessica Pegula (3rd). Unless Caroline Garcia comes to slip her grain of salt in there. The Frenchwoman, seeded number 6 can potentially face Sabalenka in the quarters. The women's draw is likely to reserve some big surprises.

Alcaraz - Djokovic, possibly in the semifinals

Same principle for men in the aftermath. The computer takes care of getting out in a few minutes, the fate that awaits all those who are not seeded. It scrolls to the sound of "Oh! and Oh! » guests when Franco-French duels appear. From the start of the tournament, the Blues will eat each other. Among the 100% French duels announced: Gasquet - Rinderknech, Moutet - Cazaux and Mannarino - Humbert.

The favorites are not better off: a dream final Carlos Alcaraz (N°1) - Novak Djokovic (N°3) is indeed not possible. The Spaniard and the Serb in search of a 23rd Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros, are indeed placed in the same half of the draw and could face each other in the semifinals. It will be before the world No. 1 dismisses Tsitsipas and Djokovic does the same with Rublev. Not won. The other semi-final could pit Russia's Daniil Medvedev (N.2) against last year's finalist, Norway's Casper Ruud (N.4).