Joys of the draw, France is already guaranteed to have two of its players in the second round of the Australian Open, the draw of which took place on Thursday. Richard Gasquet will face Ugo Humbert while Lucas Pouille and Corentin Moutet will fight for a place in the next round.
Gaël Monfils, in delicacy with his neck, will face Federico Coria (64th) if he recovers from his injuries by then. He could find, in a world where the world number 1 would not be expelled, in the round of 16. Very hypothetical. Note that the Serbian is in the half of Rafael Nadal’s table, which he could find in the semi-finals.
At the bottom of the table, Daniil Medvedev (2nd) will face the Swiss Henri Laaksonen (92nd) to start. The Russian, finalist last year, could find Stefanos Tsitsipas (4th) in the semi-finals.
1st quiet lap for Cornet and Garcia
In the women’s table, Kristina Mladenovic (91st) will have a complicated first round against the Swiss Belinda Bencic (23rd) with, in case of victory, the defending champion Naomi Osaka (14th) in the third round. The Japanese, winner in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, is promised a shocking round of 16 against world number 1 Ashleigh Barty, who has never yet won in her national major.
Also very complicated entries for Fiona Ferro (104th), who will face the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (16th), and for Clara Burel (78th), who will play against the Spanish Garbine Muguruza (3rd), finalist in 2020. Both best French women, Alizé Cornet (62nd) and Caroline Garcia (75th), will start with players from the qualifications.