French Open women's draw 2023: Iga Swiatek title defence starts against Cristina Bucsa, Elena Rybakina lies in wait

Iga Swiatek’s French Open title defence will begin against Cristina Bucsa, while there could be a repeat of last year’s final against Coco Gauff in the last eight. The women’s singles draw was made on Thursday ahead of the main draw action starting on Sunday, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and eurosport.com. Ad Swiatek, who stormed to the title last year at Roland Garros, will be up against Spanish world No.

67 Bucsa in the first round. Roland-GarrosNadal set to leave top 100, but who else faces big post-French Open ranking drop?4 HOURS AGO The world No. 1 was placed in the same quarter of the draw as sixth seed Gauff, who Swiatek defeated in last year’s final in Paris.

The American was pitted against Rebeka Masarova first, while Veronika Kudermetova (11) could lie in wait in the last 16. No. 13 seed and 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova could lie in wait at the last-16 stage, while fourth seed Elena Rybakina is in the same half and is a potential semi-final opponent.

Pressure will help me 'realise dream of entire continent', says Jabeur prior to French Open 'Mentally tough' Sabalenka looks a 'totally different player' — McEnroe ‘This is my right!’ — Halep ‘devastated’ at latest hearing delay over anti-doping breach Fresh from clinching the Italian Open title, in-form Rybakina will face a qualifier or lucky loser first. Rybakina’s path could take her past seeded players Selby Rogers (32), and Beatriz Haddad Maia (14). Second seed Aryna Sabalenka faces a tricky opener against 20-year-old Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who won a WTA 250 title in Austin in March.