By The French Open 2024 tennis tournament is all set to begin at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France on Monday. The main draw of the second Grand Slam of the year will start on May 26.
Australia’s challenge will be led by world No. 11 Alex De Minaur, who has been seeded 12th in men’s singles. De Minaur won the Mexican Open in March but got knocked out in the round of 16 of the Italian Open earlier this month.
In the men’s singles, much of the focus will be on the return of the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal, who has won a record 14 French Open titles and missed the Grand Slam for the first time since 2004 due to injury last year.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, is also the defending champion. He won his third title at Roland Garros in 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who is third in the world rankings, is also expected to be in contention. He had reached the semi-final of the French Open last year before losing to eventual champion Djokovic.
Former US champion Daniil Medvedev and Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner will also be the players to watch out for along with two-time French Open runners-up and world No. 6 Casper Ruud.
Australia’s Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin will also compete in singles.
In the men’s doubles, world No. 3 Matthew Ebden and his fourth-ranked Indian partner Rohan Bopanna, the reigning Australian Open champions, are the second seeds behind Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. The all-Australian duo of Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson will also be in action.
Australia’s challenge in the women’s doubles will be led by world No. 7 Ellen Perez who will partner with Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States of America. The duo recently won the Catalonia Open and were also victorious at the San Diego Open in March. Daria Saville is also partnering with compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic in this event.
World No. 84 Daria Saville is the highest-ranked Australian in the women’s singles which will be headlined by world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland who is a three-time French Open winner.
Swiatek has won the last two French Open tournaments and is arriving in Paris after winning the Madrid Open earlier this month. She is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina.
How to watch French Open 2024 tennis live in Australia
The French Open 2024 tournament will also be broadcast live on Channel 9 and 9Now app and website in Australia.
Australian tennis players at French Open 2024
Men’s singles: Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Christopher O’Connell, Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata, Max Purcell, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Adam Walton
Women’s singles: Daria Saville
Men’s doubles: Matthew Ebden-Rohan Bopanna (IND), Max Purcell-Jordan Thompson, John Peers-Roman Safiullin, John Patrick Smith-Denys Molchanov (UKR), Thanasi Kokkinakis-Denis Shapovalov (CAN), Rinky Hijikata-Guido Andreozzi (ARG), Aleksandar Vukic-Alex Michelsen (USA), Matthew Christopher Romios-Marco Bortolotti (ITA)
Women’s doubles: Ellen Perez-Nicole Melichar Martinez (USA), Daria Saville-Ajla Tomljanovic, Olivia Gadecki-Harriet Dart (GBR), Arina Rodionova-Emina Bektas (USA)
