Gerasimov, Nadal's rival on a tough road with Thiem and Zverev

The pairings of the first round in the men's team at Roland Garros are already known, after the draw held this Thursday in Paris. Rafa Nadal will start his career this year at Roland Garros against the 27-year-old Belarusian and 83rd in the world Egor Gerasimov Sunday or Monday. The Spaniard is on the same side as Dominic Thiem, whom he could face in the semifinals although the Austrian has had a tough rival to start with, Marin Cilic, and Alexander Zverev, a possible rival in the quarterfinals. Before, on Nadal's path, the American Mackenzie McDonald (236th) in the second round, the British Daniel Evans (34th) in the third and the Italian Fabio Fognini (15th) in the second round could cross the ranking. Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who beat Rafa a few days ago in Rome, makes his debut against the Serbian Kecmanovic in the Thiem sector, so He would not see himself with the Spanish until a hypothetical semifinal, with permission from Dominic, with whom he would collide in the quarters.

The second seed of the tournament will go out for his 13th title in the Parisian tournament, which would be the 20th Grand Slam, which would equal the male record held by Roger Federer. It would be the fourth in a row in the French major, one of its own brand that accumulated with five trophies between 2010 and 2014.

On the other side of the table, Novak Djokovic will collide with the Swede Mikael Ymer. On the Serbian route would be Ricardas Berankis in the second round, the Polish Hubert Hurkacz in the third, the Russian Karen Khachanov in the eighths, the Italian Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals and Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals.

The other great Spanish asset, Roberto Bautista, tenth seed, will meet Frenchman Richard Gasquet, while Pablo Carreño (21st), the next Navy player in the ranking, will meet Australian John Millman. Albert Ramos will meet the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino; Feliciano López, with a rival from the previous one; Pablo Andújar, will make his debut against the Italian Stefano Travaglia; Alejandro Davidovich, in front of the Frenchman Harold Mayot; Roberto Carballés, with the American Steve Johnson; Jaume Munar, with the Greek Tsitsipas; and Pedro Martínez, classified in the previous one, will meet his rival on Friday. Fernando Verdasco announced his resignation to the organization, like the Canadian Milos Raonic and the British Kyle Edmund.

The most prominent pairing of the first round is the one between two veteran Grand Slams winners like Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray.