At Wimbledon, the first round promises to be tough for several French players

Novak Djokovic (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (right) during a practice session on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the start of the Wimbledon Championships in London on June 26, 2025. — Novak Djokovic (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (right) during a practice session on center court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club before the start of the Wimbledon Championships in London, June 26, 2025. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP

If we want to see the glass half full, we can say that there will be a French player in the second round of Wimbledon no matter what. Ugo Humbert , last year's eighth-finalist, and veteran Gaël Monfils, 38, will face off in their first round of the London tennis tournament, which takes place from June 30 to July 13.

The men's singles draw, made on Friday, June 27, was not kind to the French players competing in the third major of the season. Alexandre Müller, the ^40th player in the world, was drawn against Serbian Novak Djokovic, the record holder for the number of Grand Slam titles and finalist in the last six editions on British grass. Arthur Rinderknech will face German Alexander Zverev ( ^3rd ), while Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will challenge American Taylor Fritz ( ^5th ).

Roland-Garros winner and two-time Wimbledon defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is expected to have a relatively quiet start, facing Italian Fabio Fognini ( ^130th ). But the Spaniard could subsequently come across Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime ( ^27th ), then Danish Holger Rune ( ^8th ), before a possible reunion with Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz.

The same goes for world number one Jannik Sinner. The Australian Open winner will begin his tournament with a 100% Italian duel against his compatriot Luca Nardi ( ^94th ), but finds himself in the same part of the draw as serious outsiders, like the Briton Jack Draper ( ^4th ), the Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik ( ^30th ) and, above all, the formidable Novak Djokovic ( ^6th ).

Elsa Jacquemot faces the world ^{number 27}

In the women's competition, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Canadian Carson Branstine, who defeated French Roland-Garros sensation Loïs Boisson in the first round of qualifying . Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic will challenge Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala, while American Coco Gauff, who recently won the title at Porte d'Auteuil , will face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.

On the French side, Varvara Gracheva ( ^111th ) will face the Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich ( ^108th ). Diane Parry ( ^113th in the world) will play against the Croatian Petra Martic ( ^139th ), who like her came through qualifying. The task looks a little more difficult for Elsa Jacquemot ( ^115th ), who will face the Polish Magda Linette, currently ^27th in the world.

The first round posters for the French

Ugo Humbert (seeded ^no. 18)-Gaël Monfils

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard-Taylor Fritz (United States, seed ^No. 5)

Alexandre Müller-Novak Djokovic (Serbia, seeded ^no. 6)

Quentin Halys-August Holmgren (Denmark)

Benjamin Bonzi-Daniil Medvedev (Russia, seed ^No. 9)

Arthur Rinderknech-Alexander Zverev (Germany, seed ^No. 3)

Hugo Gaston-Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic, seed ^No. 15)

Corentin Moutet-Francisco Comesana (Argentina)

Valentin Royer-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece, seeded ^no. 24)

Arthur Cazaux - Adam Walton (Australia)

Adrian Mannarino-Christopher O'Connell (Australia)