Djokovic avoids Sinner half in French Open draw

Novak Djokovic was placed in the opposite half of the men’s draw from Jannik Sinner when Roland-Garros made the 2026 French Open singles draw in Paris on Thursday. That means Djokovic and the top-seeded Sinner cannot meet before the final if both advance through their sections. Alexander Zverev was the other top name anchoring Djokovic’s half, while early-round matchups elsewhere in the bracket also drew attention. Emma Raducanu, on the women’s side, was drawn against Argentina’s Solana Sierra in the first round. ### How did the men’s draw break at the top? Jannik Sinner entered the draw as the leading men’s seed and was kept away from Djokovic until a possible championship match. France24, citing the draw announced Thursday, said the pair were placed in opposite halves of the bracket. The official Roland-Garros results page published the men’s singles draw after the ceremony in Paris. (france24.com) Alexander Zverev was drawn as the leading name in Djokovic’s half, giving the bottom section two of the biggest men’s contenders. Tennis365 said Sinner and Zverev headlined their respective halves, while Djokovic was handed a route that avoided Sinner but still included notable early tests. (france24.com) ### Why is Djokovic’s section still being described as difficult? Novak Djokovic avoided the most immediate headline collision with Sinner, but reports on Thursday said his path was not uncomplicated. Tennis365 described Djokovic as facing “early hurdles” despite landing away from Sinner. Tennis.com said the draw left open the possibility of a Sinner-Djokovic final with historic implications if both men progress. (tennis365.com) Carlos Alcaraz was absent from the men’s field, increasing the focus on Sinner, Djokovic and Zverev at the top of the bracket. Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report both framed Sinner as a major favorite in a tournament missing Alcaraz. (tennis365.com) ### Which first-round matchups stood out beyond the top seeds? Arthur Fils was drawn to play Stan Wawrinka in one of the men’s most prominent first-round matches flagged in immediate coverage after the ceremony. Multiple reports highlighted that pairing as one of the draw’s early attractions. (sports.yahoo.com) The official Roland-Garros draw page listed the full men’s and women’s singles brackets, giving the complete path for seeded players and potential later-round meetings. The tournament site published those brackets on Thursday after the draw in Paris. ### What did Raducanu get in the women’s draw? Emma Raducanu was drawn against Solana Sierra in the first round of the women’s singles. (msn.com) BBC-reported coverage carried by other outlets described Sierra as an Argentine clay-court specialist and called the opener a tricky test for Raducanu. The Telegraph said Raducanu, unseeded for the tournament, avoided a top seed in the opening round but could face 13th seed Jasmine Paolini next if she beats Sierra. (rolandgarros.com) That gave immediate shape to Raducanu’s section of the bracket beyond the first match. ### When does the tournament start, and where is the bracket? (aol.com) Roland-Garros is scheduled to run from May 24 to June 7 at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, according to ATP Tour tournament information. The official tournament results page is carrying the full singles draws, including the men’s bracket featuring Sinner, Djokovic and Zverev, and the women’s bracket including Raducanu and Sierra. (telegraph.co.uk) May 24 is the next key date, when main-draw play begins in Paris. June 7 is the scheduled date for the end of the tournament, with any Sinner-Djokovic meeting only possible in the final under Thursday’s draw. (atptour.com)