Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will not meet before the final of the French Open after being placed in opposite halves of the draw on Thursday, while Coco Gauff is on course for a potential semifinal clash with Aryna Sabalenka.
Sinner, the leading men’s favorite in the absence of the injured Carlos Alcaraz, begins his bid for a first Roland Garros title against French wildcard Clément Tabur, ranked 165th.
In the women’s draw, Sabalenka faces a demanding route to the final, with former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka, rising Canadian talent Victoria Mboko and defending champion Gauff all potential obstacles.
The tournament, which begins Sunday, has been overshadowed by tensions between players and organizers over a pay dispute that has prompted threats of a media boycott.
“We are not going to budge,” tournament director Amélie Mauresmo told reporters at the draw in Paris, adding she was “a little saddened” by the situation.
