The ongoing French Open will be serving up a series of intense
clashes on Sunday in both Men’s and Women’s Singles division, as stars such as
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Naomi Osaka, Gregor Dimitrov and a set of other players get
ready to face their first-round challenges in Rolland Garros.

1.     
Naomi Osaka: Japanese tennis star and
former US as well as Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has caused quite a
stir already in the French Open, opting for a code of silence and deciding to
not appear in any press conferences. In the clay-court, Osaka on Sunday will be
facing Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig, world number 63 and winner of the Istanbul
clay court title in 2020.

Also read: Novak Djokovic warms up for Roland Garros with Belgrade title

2.     
Stefanos Tsitsipas: Men’s
world number five, Tsitsipas will be starting off his French Open journey this
year against France’s Jeremy Chardy. The Greek sensation, however, might have a
difficult opening day against Chardy, who views himself as an underdog despite
acquiring 16 clay court wins this season.

The Greek, who is a winning prospect this season, also has the advantage of being on the opposite half of the draw than Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, as well as their 58 total Grand Slam titles.

Also read: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic eye history as French Open settles down for quiet night in

3.     
Victoria Azarenka: Former world number
one in the women’s singles division, veteran Victoria Azarenka will be facing off
against Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in a battle of former champions. Azarenka,
15th seed in the division, will be expectedly be roughing it out against
Kuznetsova, the 2009 champion in Paris.

4.     
Dominic Thiem: Two-time Roland Garros
finalist and former world number three, Thiem arrives in Paris with work in his
hands. Still in search of his clay court form, fourth seed Thiem will take on Austrian
Pablo Andujar, who will expectedly be in high spirits after defeating Roger Federer
in Geneva two weeks back.

Also read: Iga Swiatek serene as questions linger over French Open rivals

5.     
Alexander Zverev: Sixth seed in the
tournament and winner of the Mutua Madrid Open that concluded earlier this
month, it is going to be an all-German clash between Alexander Zverev and Oscar
Otte, as the latter looks forward to his first tour-level win of 2021.

6.     
Angelique Kerber: 26th seed in
the tournament, Germany’s Angelique Kerber has already played three clay-tournaments
this season and will be entering her fourth. Having reached the quarter finals
of the 2018 French Open finals, she will be facing Anhelina Kalinina, who is
set to make her debut in the main draw of French Open in 2021.