ROLAND-GARROS
20 May - 9 June 2024
As it happened: Thursday May 25
Follow along as we bring you updates throughout the day
©Nicolas Gouhier / FFTDjokovic back to work on Chatrier
Novak Djokovic returned to Court Philippe-Chatrier today for the first time since his quarter-final defeat to Rafael Nadal last year.
The world No.3 spent two hours practising with his sparring partner Carlos Gomez-Herrera this afternoon as he ramps up his preparations for Roland-Garros.
3:50pm Shymanovich, Day survive three-hour marathons to qualify
After 3hr 17min of sheer battle, 25-year-old Iryna Shymanovich punched her ticket to a maiden Grand Slam main draw 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(10/4) over Japan's Mai Hontama.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old American Kayla Day survived a brutal affair against Elina Avanesyan, needing 3hr 7min to post a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(10/7) victory and reach the Roland-Garros main draw for the first time.
© Clément Mahoudeau/FFTDjokovic drawn in Alcaraz's half
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and No.3 Novak Djokovic can meet in the Roland-Garros semi-finals after the pair landed in the same half of the draw.
Alcaraz, seeded No.1 at a Grand Slam for the first time in his young career, defeated Djokovic in their sole previous meeting, in Madrid last year.
The 20-year-old Spaniard will open his campaign in Paris against a qualifier or lucky loser, so will No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev.
© Nicolas Gouhier/FFTPopcorn women's first rounds
Victoria Azarenka (18) v Bianca Andreescu
Rebeka Masarova v Coco Gauff (6)
Maria Sakkari (8) v Karolina Muchova
Danielle Collins v Jessica Pegula (3)
Karolina Pliskova (16) v Sloane Stephens
Marta Kostyuk v Aryna Sabalenka (2)
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTProjected women's quarter-finals by seeding
Iga Swiatek (1) v Coco Gauff (6)
Elena Rybakina (4) v Ons Jabeur (7)
Maria Sakkari (8) v Jessica Pegula (3)
Caroline Garcia (5) v Aryna Sabalenka (2)
©Jean-Charles Caslot / FFTRybakina lands in Swiatek's half
Wimbledon champion and No.4 seed Elena Rybakina has landed in Iga Swiatek's top half of the draw and could be a potential semi-final opponent for world No.1.
Rybakina has defeated Swiatek three times this season - one of which came via retirement - and can pose a serious threat to the Pole's title defence.
No.3 seed Jessica Pegula is a possible semi-final foe for No.2 Sabalenka.
No.8 seed and former Roland-Garros semi-finalist Maria Sakkari was handed a difficult opener against Karolina Muchova.
©Ray Giubilo / FFTSwiatek gets Bucsa in round one
The women's singles draw ceremony is underway at L'Orangerie and has revealed that Iga Swiatek will begin her title defence against Spain's Cristine Bucsa.
No.2 seed and recent Madrid champion Aryna Sabalenka will face tricky Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in her opening round.
"This is my favourite tournament. I always get this extra motivation to practise harder here. I'm really excited to be here," Swiatek said during the draw ceremony.
©Nicolas Gouhier / FFT1:20pm Andreeva qualifies
Mirra Andreeva completes a 7-6(8), 6-4 victory over Colombian top seed Camila Osorio to reach the first Grand Slam main draw of her career.
The 16-year-old needed just under two hours to complete the win and enters the women's singles event having not dropped a set through three rounds of qualifying.
Osorio has a strong chance of snagging one of the four lucky loser spots in the main draw.
12:33 Zeppieri first qualifier into main draw
Italian Giulio Zeppieri has made it through to a second consecutive Roland-Garros main draw.
The 21-year-old is the first to qualify to this year's main event thanks to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Frederico Ferreira Silva.
Zeppieri also had a successful qualifying campaign in Paris last year, and has yet to feature in the main draw at any of the other Grand Slams.
"It was unbelievable, it was my first Grand Slam. I qualified after beating Andreas Seppi in the first round, a very special player in Italy, so I'll never forget it," the Next Gen Italian told us yesterday.
"As soon as I had my first practice this year, I immediately felt good with the memories of these courts, the crowd, it's amazing to be back at this stage."
©André Ferreira / FFT12:15pm Andreeva takes one-set lead over Osorio
A huge battle is taking place on Court 7, where 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva eked out a 7-6(8) lead over top-seeded Camila Osorio.
The opening set lasted 69 minutes and ended on netted drop shot from Osorio.
Andreeva is one set away from making her Grand Slam main draw debut.
11:22am Badosa withdraws
Terrible news from former world No.2 Paula Badosa, who has announced her withdrawal from the tournament due to a stress fracture in her spine, sustained in Rome earlier this month.
The Spaniard's absence will make way for a fourth lucky loser to enter the women's main draw as Badosa joins Jennifer Brady, Patricia Maria Tig and Ajla Tomljanovic on the sidelines.
Get well soon, Paula!
Meanwhile, three lucky losers will make it into the men's singles draw following the withdrawal of Cristian Garin, Kyle Edmund and Jeremy Chardy.
11:00am Alcaraz makes an appearance
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has arrived at Roland-Garros and is practising on Court Philippe-Chatrier with Stan Wawrinka until 1:00pm.
Two-time Roland-Garros champion Novak Djokovic and world No.2 Daniil Medvedev are also on the practice schedule for Chatrier, with the latter set to hit with Jiri Lehecka at 1:00pm and the former slated for a 2:30pm-4:30pm session with Carlos Gomez-Herrera.
9:40am One step away from the main draw
Some highly-anticipated clashes are on the agenda today including a qualifying final round between Colombian top seed Camila Osorio and 16-year-old phenom Mirra Andreeva.
On the men's side, home favourite Lucas Pouille will be looking to keep up his heroics to lock down a first Grand Slam main draw appearance since last year's Roland-Garros.
>> DON'T MISS OUR PREVIEW FOR TODAY'S QUALIFYING MATCHES
>> COBOLLI VOWS TO GET RG TATTOO IF HE QUALIFIES
>> READ MORE ON HOW ANDREEVA GOT REVENGE FOR HER BIG SISTER ON WEDNESDAY
©Philippe Montigny / FFT9:30am Draw ceremony this afternoon
Good morning, everyone and welcome to the penultimate day of singles qualifying!
The final rounds of qualifying are split over today and tomorrow, with 14 matches on the schedule today starting 11:00am.
The ceremony for the men's and women's draws will take place at L'Orangerie this afternoon at 2:00pm and you can follow it live here on our website as well as on our YouTube channel HERE and below.
Some useful reading before the draw is revealed:
>> Men’s dark horses poised to pounce