Roland Garros women's draw: Iga Swiatek could face Naomi Osaka in the second round
Another compelling clash sees Elina Svitolina meeting Karolina Pliskova in the first round.
PARIS—“Can you imagine?”
That was the exclamation heard from the media center at Roland Garros just minutes before this year’s women’s and men’s singles draws were conducted. It was in reference to where Rafael Nadal, the 14-time tournament champion, 22-time Grand Slam trophy-raiser and terre battue hell-raiser, could land in the draw. Nadal vs. Djokovic in the first round? How about Rafa vs. Carlitos? They were actually possible.
But there are some mighty decorated unseeded women in Paris as well—and it took just seconds for another marquee early-rounder to develop in fans’ eyes: Iga Swiatek vs. Naomi Osaka.
The pair of four-time major champions could collide in the second round, should Swiatek defeat a qualifier or a lucky loser (all but certain, given the Pole’s searing form and history here) and Osaka dispatch Lucia Bronzetti (the world No. 48 who is currently competing in Morocco).
The two stars have played each other twice, splitting hard-court matches in Toronto (2019, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to Osaka) and Miami (2022, 6-4, 6-0 to Swiatek).
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, would meet a qualifier or lucky loser in the second round, should she avoid an upset loss to Erika Andreeva. Best friend Paula Badosa could await in the third round.
No. 3 seed Coco Gauff drew a qualifier/lucky loser in her opening match, with No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina to face 66th-ranked Greet Minnen. Rybakina would face Angelique Kerber if the Kazakh and the German advance.
Another compelling clash sees Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova—perhaps the two best WTA players without a Grand Slam singles title—on opposing sides of the net in the first round.