Men’s first round popcorn: Fonseca draws Hurkacz on Paris debut

Joao Fonseca v Hubert Hurkacz  (30)

All eyes will be on Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old wunderkind who attracts massive crowds wherever he goes on tour these days. Not far removed from winning his maiden title in Buenos Aires in February, the world No.65 will make his debut on the Parisian clay against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, the No.30 seed.

Hurkacz reached the round of 16 for the second time last year, and he’ll certainly have the edge when it comes to experience. Fonseca made his Grand Slam debut in January, reaching the second round in Australia. The 6’2” phenom only has 36 tour-level matches under his belt – exactly the number of victories that Hurkacz (36-27) has won at the majors. 

What the Rio native lacks in experience, he will try to make up in enthusiasm – and jaw-dropping power, which he possesses in spades. 

Carlos Alcaraz (2) v Kei Nishikori 

Kei – aka “clay” – Nishikori has incredible feel for the Parisian terre battue. One needs only to look at his three career Roland-Garros quarter-finals and his 27-12 lifetime record in Paris to make the distinction. Which is why we’re so excited to see what the former world No.4 can do against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz when they meet in the first round. 

Thirty-five-year-old Nishikori yearns for these types of tests at this stage of his career, so he’ll be energised by the opportunity. Alcaraz, meanwhile, wants nothing more than to get his title defence off on the right foot, so he’ll be sure to come out firing in the pair’s first ever meeting.

Lorenzo Sonego v Ben Shelton  (13)

You want fire? Fighters, ready to leave every ounce of their blood, sweat and tears on the terre battue? Then check out a rematch of this year’s Australian Open quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Sonego. 

The pair’s fourth meeting marks the second time in the last three years that Sonego has faced Shelton in the opening round in Paris. The Italian won that battle, but Shelton took their four-setter at this year’s Aussie Open. 

It's a tough draw for Shelton, facing the ATP's 44th-ranked player who has produced two trips to the second week on the Parisian clay – a feat that the American has never achieved. 

Novak Djokovic (6) v Mackenzie McDonald 

Whenever a 24-time major champion takes the court in a Grand Slam, it’s popcorn worthy. Add in the fact that Serbian legend Novak Djokovic is less than a year removed from winning the Olympic gold medal on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and we can be sure that the 38-year-old’s return to the scene will be an intensely emotional experience. 

It will also be an opportunity for 99th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald – the man who upset Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open in 2023 – to play like he’s got nothing to lose. Djokovic might want to do the same. The Serb needs to hit the ground running and embrace the underdog mentality as he begins his bid for a record 25th major title. 

Stan Wawrinka v Jacob Fearnley 

Long live the Stanimal! Faithful fans will surely be out in full force to back their hero Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss who dismantled Novak Djokovic in the 2015 Roland-Garros final for his second of three major titles. 

The 40-year-old wild card lives for these big-stage moments, and he’ll be extra motivated to be in tip-top form against Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley, a player with a powerhouse forehand who makes his Roland-Garros debut at a career-high ranking of 54.