Since his dazzling debut at the French Open in 2005, Rafael Nadal has amassed a staggering 14 titles at Roland Garros, winning 112 matches, tasting defeat in only three. When Nadal last ascended to the pinnacle of Grand Slam glory in 2022, he defied the constraints of age, becoming the oldest champion at the age of 36. Yet, behind this remarkable feat was the daily grit of enduring painkilling injections to numb the agony in his foot.

However, even the mightiest warriors have their limits. Nadal, beset by a tumultuous battle with injuries, was unable to grace last year's French Open, breaking a streak of 19 consecutive appearances. The lack of competitive matches over this period has resulted in Nadal's descent to the 276th spot in the world rankings, leaving the former top-ranked icon unseeded in Paris for the first time. This precarious position exposes him to the possibility of facing exceptionally strong opponents in the first round.

When the draw was unveiled on Thursday, revealing that Nadal's final campaign at French Open would start with a blockbuster clash with the formidable world No.4 Alexander Zverev, a collective gasp reverberated throughout the tennis world. 

Zverev, considered one of the favorites for the title, enters the tournament in stellar form, having recently won the Italian Open. In contrast, Nadal arrives in Paris fresh off a second-round exit in Rome. The prospect of a premature exit from the tournament he has dominated for so long is a thought too distressing for his supporters to entertain.

"I imagine that looking at the draw, Nadal is not going to be delighted," said French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. "Zverev is in very good shape, obviously it looks very complicated. But Nadal is a warrior, an extraordinary competitor. It's Rafa, so anything is possible."

The defending champion Novak Djokovic, who has yet to claim a title this year, will start his campaign against French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The Serbian maestro, who is on track to potentially face Lorenzo Musetti in the third round and Tommy Paul in the fourth round, will be vying for a record-extending 25th major triumph in Paris. 

Meanwhile, the world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who snatched Djokovic's Australian Open crown earlier this year, will begin his journey against Christopher Eubanks of the United States. As for the third-seeded Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz, he will take on a yet-to-be-determined qualifier. 

In another intriguing matchup, China's Zhang Zhizhen will face Aleksandar Vukic. The Australian has only appeared in the main draw of the French Open once, back in 2020, where he suffered a first-round exit. Based on their current form and abilities, Zhang holds a promising chance of progressing to the next round.

In the women's draw, top seed Iga Swiatek eagerly awaits her first-round clash against a qualifier, with the possibility of a captivating showdown against the four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, who returns to Roland Garros after her maternity leave. Meanwhile, American prodigy Coco Gauff, the third seed, finds herself in the same half of the draw as Swiatek, igniting the potential for a thrilling semifinal showdown between the two.

Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen faces world No. 107 Alize Cornet from France. Zheng has emerged victorious in their previous two encounters, making this match a compelling opportunity to extend her winning streak. It's worth noting that two Chinese players Wang Xiyu and Bai Zhuoxuan are set to face off in the first round. Both players will be fiercely battling for their maiden victory in the main draw of the French Open.

Furthermore, Zhu Lin faces Russian Elina Avanesyan, and Wang Yafan takes on another Russian youngster, Maria Timofeeva. Wang Xinyu will challenge American Taylor Townsend, and Yuan Yue will go head-to-head with Egyptian Mayar Sherif.