PARIS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Zheng Qinwen will open her French Open campaign against a qualifier as the main draw for the year's second Grand Slam tournament was unveiled on Thursday, while world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic landed in opposite halves of the men's draw.
Zheng, who reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros last year and captured Olympic gold on the same clay courts at the Paris Games in 2024, could potentially face either Belgium's Elise Mertens or Germany's Tatjana Maria in the second round. Twelfth seed Linda Noskova is among the notable players in the Chinese player's section. Zheng enters this year's tournament looking to build momentum after a season interrupted by injury concerns and fluctuating form.
Elsewhere in the women's singles draw, Wang Xinyu, seeded 32nd, will take on Austria's Lilli Tagger in the opening round, while veteran Zhang Shuai faces 30th seed Ann Li of the United States.
In the men's singles draw, China's Wu Yibing opens against American Marcos Giron, while Zhang Zhizhen was drawn against a qualifier or lucky loser.
Attention in the men's field largely focused on Sinner and Djokovic, who were placed in opposite halves and would only be able to meet in a potential final. Their separation comes after defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament because of a wrist injury, ending his bid for a third consecutive Roland Garros title.
With Alcaraz absent, Sinner enters Paris as one of the leading contenders. The Italian, still seeking his first French Open title, arrives in strong form after winning Masters events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. He also became only the second player after Djokovic to complete a Career Golden Masters by winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
Top-seeded Sinner begins against French wildcard Clement Tabur, while third seed Djokovic, chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, opens against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Second seed Alexander Zverev will face Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
On the women's side, defending champion Coco Gauff starts her title defense against fellow American Taylor Townsend and is projected to meet world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals should both advance.
Sabalenka, still seeking her first French Open title, faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the opening round. Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, begins against Australian wildcard Emerson Jones as she seeks to regain momentum on her favorite surface.
Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina starts against Slovenia's Veronika Erjavec. Seventh seed Elina Svitolina, fresh off her Italian Open title earlier this month, opens against Hungary's Anna Bondar and arrives in Paris in strong form.
Main-draw action at Roland Garros begins on Sunday. ■
