A feasible task awaits Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev in the first round of the French Open in Paris. The Hamburg player, who is in 22nd place and is currently chasing his top form, will meet the world number 306 in the Grand Slam (from Sunday). Lloyd Harris of South Africa. Germany’s number one Jan-Lennard Struff (No. 21) and the German women were less fortunate in the draw at Roland Garros on Thursday.
Struff (33), who, among other things, fought his way into the field of seeded players due to his sensational entry into the final at the ATP Masters in Madrid, faces a tricky but solvable challenge against Jiri Lehecka. The 21-year-old Czech is 40th in the world rankings, but has been in poor form lately.
For the German women, the mission round two will be difficult due to high-ranked opponents. Jule Niemeier meets the ninth seeded Russian Darja Kassatkina – Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria has to play Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil/No. 14). Defending champion and top favorite Iga Swiatek from Poland will start with Cristina Bucsa from Spain.
Zverev’s first really tough challenge could be waiting in round three in American Frances Tiafoe (No. 12). Zverev would avoid the top favorite Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), who meets a qualifier in round one, and Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic from Serbia until the final. US Open winner Alcaraz and Djokovic, who is fighting for his 23rd Grand Slam title and has to play against Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) at the start, could already meet in the semifinals.
Rome quarter-finalist Yannick Hanfmann is fighting for a place in the first round on Friday in the decisive round of qualification, as is Dominik Koepfer.
French Open draw: The opponents of the German men
Jan-Lennard Struff (Warstein/No. 21) – Jiri Lehecka (Czech Republic)
Alexander Zverev (Hamburg/No. 22) – Lloyd Harris (South Africa)
Daniel Altmaier (Kempen) – Marc-Andrea Hüsler (Switzerland)
Oscar Otte (Cologne) – Alexander Shevchenko
French Open draw: The opponents of the German women
Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) – Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil/No. 14)
Jule Niemeier (Dortmund) – Darja Kassatkina (No. 9)
Anna-Lena Friedsam (Neuwied) – qualifier
