French Open 2024 Draw: Rafael Nadal's Return Set as Men's, Women's Brackets Revealed

Rafael Nadal might be a 14-time champion of the French Open, but tournament organizers did him no favors in his return to Roland-Garros.

Nadal will play fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev in the opening round. The southpaw is 7-3 in his head-to-head meetings with Zverev, including besting him in the semifinals of the 2022 French Open.

Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed on the men's side, opens against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Reigning French Open champion Iga Świątek awaits a qualifier in her first-round matchup in the women's draw. She could potentially play Naomi Osaka in the second round, with Osaka taking on Lucia Bronzetti.

Roland-Garros' official X account laid out the road to a title for Djokovic, Świątek, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka if the men's and women's singles draw

Carlos Alcaraz was a French Open quarterfinalist in 2022 and a semifinalist in 2023. His clay court tune-ups aren't exactly pointing toward his first career final in Paris, though.

The 21-year-old withdrew from the Monte-Carlo Masters due to an injury. Then he lost to Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open. Another forearm issue precluded him from competing in the Italian Open.

Sabalenka is likewise looking for her first finals appearance in the French capital, though her odds look much better based on her recent performances. She had back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Madrid Open and Italian Open, falling to Świątek on both occasions.

The No. 2 seed was drawn against in the first round.

The main men's and women's draws for the French Open get underway Sunday.

Nadal's encounter with Zverev is arguably the most highly anticipated of the opening round. The legendary Spaniard hasn't definitively said this will be his last French Open, but that's the sense many are getting.

Being unseeded has only raised the stakes because every one of his matches will carry an added sense of urgency. Tennis fans will want to tune in to Nadal vs. Zverev because it could signal the end of an era.