Alexander Zverev emerged as one of the principal beneficiaries of Friday’s draw for Roland Garros 2026, thanks in no small part to the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz. The German, ranked third and now seeded second behind Jannik Sinner, will open against France’s Benjamin Bonzi, the world number 98. More significantly, the tournament’s bracket has been arranged so that Zverev cannot meet Sinner — his acknowledged nemesis — before the final. Viewed from Hamburg, this represents a golden opportunity for the Olympic champion to claim a maiden title in Paris, especially given the absence of the injured Alcaraz, who had been runner-up last year.

Across the draw, the Argentine contingent — twelve players in the main draw — carries considerable weight. Tomás Etcheverry arrives as Argentina’s top-ranked man for the first time at a Grand Slam, seeded 25th, and will debut against Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Francisco Cerúndolo, seeded 27th, is also a strong contender. The Albiceleste faithful will draw inspiration from the ghosts of champions past: Guillermo Vilas, who lifted the trophy in 1977, and Gastón Gaudio, whose improbable triumph in 2004 still echoes through the clay. But the path is arduous; both Etcheverry and Cerúndolo face potential early tests from qualifiers and unseeded dangers.

Brazil’s hopes rest on the young shoulders of João Fonseca, making his debut at Roland Garros as a seeded player. He will begin on Sunday against a qualifier or lucky loser, but the draw has placed him on a collision course with Novak Djokovic in the third round — a daunting prospect for any debutant. Brazilian analysts note that a deep run would require not only beating Djokovic but also navigating past Casper Ruud, should the Norwegian advance. Meanwhile, Russian representation is limited to three men in the main draw: Daniil Medvedev, the sixth seed, faces Australian wildcard Adam Walton; Andrey Rublev meets Peru’s Ignacio Buse; and on the women’s side, Mirra Andreeva draws French wildcard Fiona Ferro. The Kremlin’s tennis authorities will be watching closely, as Medvedev in particular seeks to improve on his patchy record at the tournament.

A final note from the final warm-up event in Geneva: Mariano Navone, the Argentine who won his first ATP title in Bucharest last month, defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets in the semifinals. That result, while not altering the grand narrative, signals that Navone enters Roland Garros in formidable form. Viewed from Buenos Aires, his progress — along with that of Etcheverry and Cerúndolo — suggests that Argentine tennis may be on the cusp of something more than merely respectable results. The tournament begins on Sunday, and the clay of Paris will soon separate contenders from mere hopefuls.