Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal may have been set up for failure as the French Open draw was made on Thursday, with nightmare first round matches for the pair.
The Scot who has not played Roland Garros since 2020 will start against fellow three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in a battle of veteran comeback artists.
Unseeded Nadal, now ranked 276th, was handed an extremely rough start to his long-odds quest for a 15th title here as he starts with world No. 4 and weekend Rome Masters champion Alexander Zverev.
The German is on a six-match clay win streak after winning Rome for the second rime four days ago.
But top seed and holder Novak Djokovic, currently competing in Geneva by way of a clay tuneup, is expected to ease into the major with an opening match against Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Nadal, injured for the better part of two seasons and coming to the major with minimal preparation after losing in the Rome second round, has lost only three times in his career at the event which has shaped his legacy.
Zverev has a solid record on clay with RG semi-finals at the last three editions, including a 2022 ankle ligament injury in the final-four stage which ended that season for him as he had to retire against Nadal and was taken off court in a wheelchair in agony.
Murray and Swiss Wawrinka – the 2015 Paris titleholder – have played twice previously in Paris, with Murray losing their last encounter in the first round four years ago. Wawrinka also beat him the the 2017 semis.
Main photo:- Rafa Nadal and Alexander Zverev met in Roland Garros semi final in 2022 by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
