Rafael Nadal’s likely final French Open could be over very quickly.

The superstar Spaniard will face No.4 seed and Rome champion Alexander Zverev in the opening round at Roland Garros.

Given the circumstances, of a beloved 14-time champion coming into the tournament he has dominated amid form concerns, it is one of the biggest first round matches in modern grand slam history.

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Zverev is one of the tournament favourites but now must end Nadal’s career at the slam he has dominated like nobody else in tennis history, if he is to break through on clay.

It is a rematch of their 2022 French Open semi-final where Nadal was pushed to the absolute brink before Zverev badly injured his ankle and was forced to retire.

Zverev, who lost from two sets up in the Australian Open semi-final, has a court case looming over allegations of domestic violence.

AUSSIES IN ACTION

There are plenty of Aussies in the main draw at the French Open, headlined by 11th seed Alex de Minaur, who will face American world No. 65 Alex Michelsen.

It’s been a promising draw for the Aussies with Chris O’Connell and Max Purcell landing qualifiers in the first round.

Rinky Hijikata could face Nadal in the third round, but has to get past world No. 47 Italian Luciano Darderi in the first.

Aussie wildcard Adam Walton will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, while Aleksandar Vukic faces China’s Zhizhen Zhang and Jordan Thompson will face German Maximilian Marterer.

And an Aussie will make the second round with Alexei Popyrin and Thanasi Kokkinakis facing off in the opening round.

In the women’s draw, Aussie wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic faces a tough first round opponent in 30th seed Dayana Yastremska and could face 3rd seed Coco Gauff if both women can make the third round.

Daria Saville faces 12th seed Italian Jasmine Paolini.

OTHER BIG MATCH UPS

In other big names, defending men’s champion and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will face French veteran Pierre Hugues-Herbert in his opener.

The Serb has yet to win a title in 2024 with runs to the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters his best performances.

World number two Jannik Sinner, who took out the Australian Open title in January, faces Christopher Eubanks of the United States.

Third-seeded Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2023, plays a qualifier.

2016 runner up Andy Murray will tackle 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in a battle of grizzled Grand Slam veterans.

In the women’s draw, top seed and world number one Swiatek will take on a qualifier with Naomi Osaka facing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in their openers before a potential second round clash.

Swiatek is bidding to win a fifth major and fourth French Open title.

“It feels like home here,” said Swiatek who arrives at the tournament with clay-court titles in Madrid and Rome under her belt.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka starts against 101-ranked Erika Andreeva of Russia.

Third seed and US Open champion Coco Gauff faces a qualifier in the first round and is seeded to face Swiatek in the semi-finals.