Top tennis stars from across the globe will arrive in Paris for the season's second Grand Slam tournament - French Open 2017, starting 28 May at the Roland Garros Stadium.
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal starts as favourite this year to win the title, which he last captured in 2014. After a tremendous start to the season on hard courts, the Spaniard, who is the fourth seed, hit peak form on the dirt, winning consecutive titles at Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona and Madrid Masters before he was ousted in the semi-final of Rome Masters earlier this month.
On the other hand, top seed Andy Murray, who lost to second seed Novak Djokovic last year, looks a far cry from his form on clay last season. The defending champion, on the other hand, has had his fair share of struggles in 2017, but he reached the final of Rome Masters in tune-up to his title defence in the next two weeks.
With Australian Open champion Roger Federer deciding to withdraw, usual suspects Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Stanislas Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori will be geared up to give it their all. Apart from them, the one to watch out for in Pairs will be 20-year-old German star Alexander Zverev, who sent out a warning message by decimating Djokovic in the title match of Rome Masters.
Draw preview
Top seed Murray finds himself in the first quarter and he takes on Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in the first round. The Scot is likely to face 29th seed Juan Martin del Potro in the R16 clash and a possible quarter-final outing against struggling Czech Republic star, 13th seed Tomas Berdych.
Eighth Kei Nishikori is also in the same quarter, which also has 10th seed Alexander, who opens campaign against Spain's Fernando Verdasco. If the Japanese star is able to get past the young German, a semi-final outing with Murray is on the cards.
Can Wawrinka shine again?
The focus on the second quarter of the draw will be on third seed Wawrinka. Despite the poor form on clay this season, the Swiss will be looking to hit peak form and repeat his 2015 heroics. The 32-year-old has to beat the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Gael Monfils if he is to progress past the quarter-final stages.
Djokovic, Nadal drawn in same half
Second seed Djokovic, who roped in eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi as coach weeks before the tournament, will begin his campaign against Spain's Marcel Granollers and the Serb is likely to face Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Dominic Thiem in the quarter-final before he prepares for big semi-final against Nadal, who has an easier path to the last-eight stage.
Seeding information
Men's singles |
1. Andy Murray |
2. Novak Djokovic |
3. Stan Wawrinka |
4. Rafael Nadal |
5. Milos Raonic |
7. Dominic Thiem |
8. Marin Cilic |
9. Kei Nishikori |
10. Alexander Zverev |
11. David Goffin |
12. Grigor Dimitrov |
13. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga |
14. Tomas Berdych |
15. Gael Monfils |
16. Lucas Pouille |
17. Roberto Bautista Agut |
18. Nick Kyrgios |
19. Albert-Ramos Vinolas |
20. Pablo Carreno Busta |
21. John Isner |
22. Pablo Cuevas |
23. Ivo Karlovic |
24. Richard Gasquet |
25. Steve Johnson |
26. Gilles Muller |
27. Sam Querrey |
28. Fabio Fognini |
29. Juan Martin del Potro |
30. David Ferrer |
31. Gilles Simon |
32. MIscha Zverev |
For daily schedule of 2017 Roland Garros, click here.