Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic thrown together in French Open draw

James Richardson
May 19, 2022

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are set for a quarter-final meeting at the 2022 French Open after the draw placed them in the top quarter together.

Djokovic will open his campaign against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka with 93 rankings places separating the pairing.

If Djokovic gets beyond the World no 94, he will face the winner of the first round match between Alex Molcan and Federico Coria.

Molcan beat Coria in the last eight in Lyon which makes him firm favourite to meet Djokovic in the second round.

Up-and coming American talent Jenson Brooksby is seeded to meet Djokovic in the third round.

The 15th seed Diego Schwartzman could be the man who tests Djokovic in the Round of 16.

Djokovic might need to defeat Nadal and Alcaraz in succession if he is to return to the French Open final again this year.

Nadal faces a tough path to the last eight with a potential meeting with fellow former champion Stan Wawrinka lurking in the second round.

No 26 seed Botic van de Zandschulp is another potential banana skin with the draw ensuring he will meet Nadal in the third round while Canada’s ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded to face the 13-time champion in the fourth round.

Nadal gets his bid for a 14th Roland Garros crown underway against Australia’s Jordan Thompson.

Alcaraz is drawn to meet Alexander Zverev in the last eight while he starts his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title against a qualifier.

He will meet either compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Round of 64.

Seb Korda is the first seed Alcaraz could possibly meet, with the American on course to meet the Madrid Open champion in the third round.

Cameron Norrie and Karen Khachanov are the highest-ranked of the potential fourth round opponents for Alcaraz if he can reach the last 16 at Roland Garros. The young Spaniard beat Novak Djokovic in their first meeting in Madrid earlier this month.

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas headline the other half of the draw holding the second and fourth seedings respectively. The pair could be set to replay their ill-tempered Australian Open semi-final in the last four in Paris.

In-form Miomir Kecmanovic, who is seeded 28th, is the first seed that Medvedev could face in Paris.

Medvedev was knocked out in his first match of the season on clay in Lyon this week and also has clay court expert Pablo Carreno Busta hovering about in his quarter.

Compatriot Andrey Rublev is the man seeded to face him in the quarter-finals.

Tsitsipas has been handed a tough first round draw with rising Italian star Lorenzo Musetti set to be his opening opponent.

Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal