The stage is set for another mouthwatering Olympic Games as the best tennis players in the world prepare to battle it out on the hallowed courts of Roland Garros.
A gold medal is one of the only accolades missing from Novak Djokovic’s impressive array of silverware, and Paris 2024 may just be his final opportunity to attain it.
But to do so, the Serb may have to bully his way past epic rival Rafael Nadal in what would be a hair-raising second-round clash if they both come through their openers unscathed.
As for the women, world number one Iga Swiatek will be the one to beat on the red clay as she returns to the site where she has clinched four of the last five French Open titles.
The Tennis Gazette takes a look through the five most entertaining first-round clashes to come from the single’s draws at the Olympics.
Jack Draper (GBR) vs. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
After Andy Murray withdrew from the singles event in what is his final tournament, British hope will rest on the shoulders of the nation’s newest number one, Jack Draper.
Draper injected life into the home crowd at Queen’s last month with an awe-inspiring victory over Carlos Alcaraz in his second match since surpassing Cameron Norrie at the top of the British rankings.
The 22-year-old will open his account in Paris against the experienced Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Nishikori took home the bronze medal for his country at the 2016 Games in Rio, but the 34-year-old is a different player this time around having recently returned to action following an 18-month injury layoff.
Nonetheless, this encounter promises to excite and the former US Open finalist will be keen to give nothing away.
Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
A red-hot start to the 2024 ATP season has seen Alex de Minaur rise to number six in the world, and the Australian will fancy his chances to go deep in Paris after making the quarter-finals of Roland Garros in June.
Jan-Lennard Struff will stand across from the net in the opening round and will aim to right the wrongs of last month when he failed to capitalize on a one-set lead over de Minaur in the third round of the French Open.
The German has shone on the surface in recent times, notably taking Alcaraz to three sets in last year’s Madrid Open final, and is sure to take inspiration from these results when he faces the Australian.
Being forced to withdraw from Tokyo 2020 on the dawn of the tournament after testing positive for COVID-19 is sure to add fuel to de Minaur’s fire this time around.
But if the 25-year-old hopes to exploit his quarter of the draw, he will have to get past the big-serving German for a second time in as many months.
Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. Angelique Kerber (GER)
Both Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber were returning to the WTA Tour this year after giving birth to their respective children in 2023 and the new mothers will lock horns in the opening round in Paris.
Kerber, three-time major champion and silver medallist in Rio, announced on Thursday that she will draw the curtain on her impressive career after the tournament.
Whichever way the match unfolds, it promises to be an entertaining farewell for the German who finds herself up against four-time grand slam champion Osaka who appears to be showing no signs of slowing down post-pregnancy.
Kerber, 36, is ten years the senior of Osaka and leads their head-to-head 4-2, and despite being their least favorite surface, the pair are yet to battle it out on clay.
Zizou Bergs (BEL) vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Stefanos Tsitsipas will be eager to bounce back from the disappointing performance that saw his campaign in Tokyo halted in the third round.
At first glance, some may think it were a simple round one for the Greek, but Zizou Bergs is should not be taken lightly.
The 25-year-old Belgian has been on the tour for some time now, but carved a real name for himself at Roland Garros this year when he won five consecutive matches from qualifying through to the third round.
Despite this, Bergs will have to come up with some inspired tennis if he is to oust the 2021 French Open finalist.
Coco Gauff (USA) vs. Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)
Coco Gauff, the newly announced flag-bearer for the USA, will have her work cut out as she faces Ajla Tomljanovic in round one.
The Australian underwent surgery at the beginning of the year and is making a slow but steady return the top flight, hence why her ranking is as high as No.123.
Unlike her opponent, world number two Gauff has traditionally felt comfortable at Roland Garros, having made the final in 2022 and the semi-final this year, both times being halted by Swiatek.
Tomljanovic has never made it further than the fourth round and so will not have much success to draw on when she steps foot on the court, but the fighting spirit inside the Aussie will be sure to make life difficult for the reigning US Open champion.
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