The China Mail - Five first-round matches to watch at French Open

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at the pick of the first-round matches at Roland Garros (x denotes seeding):

Novak Djokovic (SRB x3) v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA)

-- Djokovic has not been given an easy start to his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.

The 39-year-old, tied with Margaret Court on 24 major triumphs since winning the 2023 US Open, faces big-hitting Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard in round one.

Djokovic has played only two tournaments since losing the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, but is confident he can still challenge again in Paris, where he reached the semi-finals last year.

"If I'm able to somehow maintain that level of freshness and progress, and then I feel like I have always a very good chance," he said.

Mpetshi Perricard is a former top-30 player who has slipped to 80th in the rankings after injury problems.

"No matter what happens at the end of the match, it's going to bring a lot to my game. So I'm very excited. I'm very happy that I have this opportunity," Mpetshi Perricard said of facing Djokovic for the first time.

Hugo Gaston (FRA) v Gael Monfils (FRA)

-- Monfils will hang up his racquet at the end of the season and is waving goodbye to his home Grand Slam.

The 39-year-old reached the last four in Paris in 2008, one of his two major semi-final appearances.

Monfils has only lost in the first round twice in his previous 18 French Open appearances.

He will be taking on fellow wildcard Gaston for the first time.

Taylor Townsend (USA) v Coco Gauff (USA x4)

-- Gauff starts her title defence against Taylor Townsend, facing her fellow American for the first time since 2019.

The fourth seed clinched her second Grand Slam title with a battling victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final.

"Whenever I come to this tournament, I don't even think about my past results here. It's obviously different thinking about last year, but last year feels like 10 years ago," said Gauff.

Townsend won their previous meeting at an ITF event in Charleston seven years ago, when Gauff was a 15-year-old qualifier.

Emerson Jones (AUS) v Iga Swiatek (POL x3)

-- Swiatek's three-year reign as Roland Garros champion was brought to an end last year by Sabalenka in the semi-finals.

The four-time winner is hoping to regain her crown in her first Grand Slam tournament since linking up with coach Francisco Roig, who spent many years as part of the team of 14-time men's champion Rafael Nadal.

First up, Swiatek faces Australian 17-year-old Jones, playing at a first Grand Slam outside her home country.

Iva Jovic (USA x17) v Alexandra Eala (PHI)

-- Time moves fast in tennis and last year's rising star Eala is the comparative veteran in her opening match of the 2026 edition as the 21-year-old prepares to take on American teenager Jovic.

After a breakthrough season, 18-year-old Jovic is the 17th seed in Paris and will have designs on bettering her quarter-final run from the Australian Open in January.

As for world number 38 Eala, she has somewhat struggled so far in her short career on the Grand Slam stage and will be keen to lay down a marker early in the French capital.

W.Tam--ThChM