Roland-Garros 2024: Djokovic with Zverev Nadal and Ruud, Sinner with Alcaraz Tsitsipas and Rublev

We've been saying it for weeks: this 2024 edition of the French Open promises to be particularly indecisive, at least for the men. Well, the least we can say is that the draw has turned up the heat even further.

While both halves of the draw appear to be fairly tight, Djokovic's top half of the draw may be even tougher than Sinner's.

Novak Djokovic will need to rediscover his very best tennis if he is to retain his title. After two very quiet opening matches, he could well be tested in the third round with a potential duel against Lorenzo Musetti, a player who hasn't always done him justice. In the second week, the games are wide open, but he'll have to overcome the likes of Cerundolo, Fognini or Paul (in the last 16). From the quarter-finals onwards, it's a real obstacle course, theoretically. First of all, he could come up against the player he beat in last year's final: Casper Ruud. For a place in the final, he's likely to face a huge field of opponents, including Zverev, Medvedev, Rune and Nadal. So, if 'Nole' wants to reach the French Open final again, he has little choice but to play his best tennis for the first time this season.

In the bottom half of the draw, Sinner was a little more spared, but he can't afford to fall asleep either. After opening matches that were well within his grasp, even though he is likely to face old tennis glories such as Gasquet, Murray and Wawrinka, things could well get tougher. In his fourth match, he could face Rome finalist Nicolas Jarry, before potentially facing Dimitrov in the quarters and Alcaraz, Rublev or Tsitsipas in the semis.

Whichever of the two players reaches the final in just over two weeks' time, it is certain that they will have sold their skins dearly. And, given the current instability in men's tennis, it's highly likely that there will be plenty of surprises and exploits to shake up this second round of Grand Slam matches. Hostilities begin in just under three days!