Nadal, Thiem, Medevev, Tsitsipas and Goffin will be challenged from the get-go this Paris fortnight
© Corinne Dubreuil/FFTThe Roland-Garros singles draws were revealed on Thursday with some exciting opening-round match-ups expected to unfold over the first three days of the tournament.
Here are some stand-out first-round clashes to look forward to in men's singles.
If Rafael Nadal plans on grabbing a record-extending 14th Roland-Garros crown this fortnight, he'll first have to navigate his way past 21-year-old Alexei Popyrin.
The Australian, who lost to Nadal in the Madrid Open last 16 earlier this month, is already a title winner this season - in Singapore - and is ranked 32 in the ATP's Race to Turn.
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Popyrin owns several impressive victories in 2021 so far, including successes over the likes of Jannik Sinner, David Goffin and Reilly Opelka.
© Antoine Couvercelle/FFTUS Open champion and two-time Roland-Garros finalist Dominic Thiem will have to be sharp from the get-go as he takes on in-form Spanish veteran Pablo Andujar, who defeated Roger Federer last week en route to the semi-finals in Geneva.
Andujar has lost in the first round on his last three trips to Roland-Garros but Thiem has been struggling with his motivation and his form and will likely have his work cut out for him.
Greek No.5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is 2-1 head-to-head against Jeremy Chardy, who at 34 is enjoying a resurgent season that saw him make back-to-back semi-finals in Antalya and Melbourne (both ATP 250 events), and reach the quarter-finals in Dubai and Rotterdam (ATP 500s).
This will be their first meeting on clay.
This match-up has fun written all over it with both players boasting huge personalities on court. World No.2 Daniil Medvedev is 0-4 throughout his career at Roland-Garros and openly professes his dislike of the clay.
Alexander Bublik is an entertaining character, who can hit anything from a tweener to an underarm serve and at 37 in the world, is one of the highest-ranked non-seeds in the draw. Make sure you tune into this one!
Just like he faced a talented Italian teenager in his opener last autumn at Roland-Garros (lost to Jannik Sinner in straights), David Goffin once again finds himself in the same position, this time taking on 19-year-old Grand Slam debutant Lorenzo Musetti in the first round in Paris.
Musetti, a recent semi-finalist on the clay courts of Lyon, arrives to the French capital ranked a career-high No.76 in the world and could give Goffin a serious scare.
Roland-Garros main draw action commences on Sunday May 30 and will conclude on Sunday June 13, 2021.
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
©️ Antoine Couvercelle/FFT