Hello and welcome to coverage of the French Open in what could be Rafael Nadal's final match at Roland Garros.
The fourteen-time champion begins his campaign against Alexander Zverev in the standout first-round match.
“The first match is not ideal because I feel competitive to play this match later in the tournament, but it is what it is,” Nadal said.
“I have to be ready from the start. Let's see.”
The meeting will bring back contrasting memories for both players of the last time they met, in a 2022 French Open semi-final, when Nadal won another title in Paris, the last of his 22 Grand Slam victories.
Zverev had to abandon that match due to an ankle injury. He underwent surgery and ultimately missed the rest of the season due to a new injury, but he returned last year and reached his third consecutive French Open semifinal.
With some of the other top players such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz struggling with injuries of late, this could be Zverev's chance to finally win a Grand Slam.
The German might not have wanted to face Nadal so early in the tournament, but he was happy to get the chance to face him again.
“I really wanted to play him here. I didn't want to play him in the first round. I wanted to play him in the semi-finals, finals, a later stage of the tournament,” Zverev said.
But in the end he didn't get placed, that's the way it is, and I think we're both prepared for a tough fight.”
Any plans to pay tribute to Nadal if he loses have been thwarted as he has said this could not necessarily be his last appearance at the tournament.
“As you can imagine, we had something planned for him. But… because he doesn't know whether it will be his last Roland Garros or not, he wants to leave the door open to maybe come back as a player next year. So we are obviously not going to force him to do anything,” said Mauresmo.
“It's his decision if he wants to have a good ceremony, a good farewell, a good farewell. So we're not going to do it this year. That is his wish,” she continued. “And while we were prepared to push the button if something happens, we will obviously respect what he wants and make sure we are ready when he thinks he wants to do it. Later this year; next year; whenever he wants.”