British number one Emma Raducanu and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic headline the opening day of the French Open in Paris this Sunday.

The main draw gets under way on the iconic clay courts of Roland Garros, featuring a host of top seeds and home favourites.

Raducanu is scheduled to play her first-round match on Court 12 against Argentina’s Solana Sierra at approximately 14:00 BST.

The 2021 US Open champion is hoping to make a strong start following a disrupted build-up during the recent clay-court swing.

Djokovic begins historic title defence

In the evening session, the defending men’s champion will step onto Court Philippe-Chatrier from 19:15 BST.

The Serbian great faces a tricky opening test against French hopeful Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in front of a heavily partisan crowd.

He is hunting for a fourth Roland Garros crown and a historic record-extending 25th major championship overall.

British interest and top seeds in action

Fellow Briton Fran Jones also features on the opening Sunday schedule, taking to Court 14 from midday.

The rising Yorkshire star faces a formidable challenge against Brazilian seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Elsewhere, fourth seed Alexander Zverev opens his tournament against home player Benjamin Bonzi on the main show court.

Selected Sunday Order of Play

Play officially begins at 10:00 BST on the outside courts and 11:00 BST on Philippe-Chatrier.

Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will not participate in a player-led media boycott at the French Open regarding prize money, despite fully supporting demands for a fairer revenue split.

Several prominent figures across the men’s and women’s draws are planning to exit pre-tournament press conferences early at Roland Garros.

Competitors are currently set to receive 14.9% of the tournament’s overall revenue, a figure that has sparked widespread dissatisfaction and collective action.

Advocating for lower-ranked players

The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed he was entirely unaware of the planned protest before arriving in Paris.

“I was not part of the process, plan or decision-making, so I’m not part of that at all and I can’t comment on that,” he said.

However, the Serbian veteran stressed that he remains deeply committed to fighting for better financial conditions across the professional circuit.

“What I can keep doing is advocating for players, like I always did, and not only the top players, but the lower-ranked as well.”

He added that fans often forget how small the number of people who actually make a living from the sport truly is.

Warnings of a divided sport

Drawing parallels with the recent civil war in professional golf, the former world number one urged his peers to find a unified voice.

“Let’s also learn from golf and try to be a bit more united in finding a better structure and a better future for our sport,” he added.

Italian star Jannik Sinner is reportedly among the major names set to curtail media duties during the clay-court major.

Meanwhile, high-profile figures such as Aryna Sabalenka are already taking action, with the Belarusian ending her scheduled press conference early on Friday.

“It’s not your decision and it’s not about you, we’re just trying to fight for a fair percentage,” she told reporters.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala is transforming the sporting landscape of her home nation as she celebrates her 21st birthday following a remarkable rise to number 29 in the world rankings.

The former US Open junior champion has become a trailblazer in a country traditionally dominated by boxing, basketball and weightlifting.

She recently reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Miami Open, securing spectacular victories against Madison Keys and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Breaking new ground on the WTA Tour

The Manila-born athlete boasts a formidable 18-12 win-loss record this season.

Her impressive hard-court form includes a milestone maiden Grand Slam main-draw victory over Clara Tauson at the US Open.

Recent runs to the last 16 at prominent WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami have further cemented her status among the sport’s elite.

During this outstanding sequence, the 21-year-old secured statement wins over top-10 mainstays Jasmine Paolini and Coco Gauff.

Inspiring a national sporting shift

The Philippines possesses a rich athletic heritage, spearheaded by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Olympic gold medallists Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo.

However, professional tennis has historically remained on the fringes of Filipino sporting culture.

The trailblazing youngster is determined to alter that perception by competing consistently at the pinnacle of the women’s game.

“It’s so nice to see that I’m able to pave the way, and I’m able to expose the Philippines to this international stage.”

She delivered those remarks after becoming the first Filipina to compete in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.

“The only thing I can give back to my country is to inspire.”

This historic exposure is already generating real momentum for aspiring racket-sport athletes across the Southeast Asian archipelago.

Emma Raducanu has reunited with coach Andrew Richardson, nearly five years after the pair famously won the US Open title together in New York.

The 23-year-old had been without a permanent mentor since splitting with Spaniard Francisco Roig in January.

She recently spent a week training alongside Richardson at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain before confirming the long-term appointment.

No regrets over initial departure

The British star parted ways with her childhood mentor immediately after her historic Grand Slam triumph to seek a coach with top-level WTA experience.

This decision led to a succession of short-term appointments, beginning with Torben Beltz, which drew frequent criticism from tennis pundits.

However, the former British number one insists she does not view their initial separation as a mistake.

“I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake, because in my life everything changed upside down,” she said.

“I didn’t really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left and right.”

The major champion admitted that the rapid changes in her career taught her the immense value of having trusted and familiar figures in her inner circle.

A familiar face in the coaching box

Returning to familiar roots has become a recurring theme for the world-renowned athlete.

She has recently spent time working alongside other former childhood coaches, including Nick Cavaday, Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donoghue.

“I think the fact also that he’s known me since I was very young, and I know that he’s always just wanted the best for me,” she added.

“When you have known someone also before I had any success, it does make a little bit of a difference, too.”

The former world number 10 praised Richardson for his consistent and solid demeanour, noting that he is rarely unsettled by poor results.

Initiating the reunion

The decision to rehire the former British Davis Cup player was initiated entirely by the player herself.

She reached out via a casual text message to reopen the lines of communication.

“We stayed in touch, but it was just a text, and I was, like, ‘Heyyy’,” she revealed.

“When you get a text from me with heyyy with three ys, just know something is cooking.”

While acutely aware of the external judgement regarding her past choices, the highly-rated star is now entirely focused on moving forward with a trusted confidant by her side.

Novak Djokovic will look to capitalise on Carlos Alcaraz’s absence at the French Open to challenge Jannik Sinner for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

The 24-time major champion remains a significant threat at Roland Garros despite recent struggles with form and fitness.

Defending the sport’s recent youth movement currently falls solely on Sinner, with Alcaraz ruled out of the entire clay and grass-court seasons due to a troubling wrist injury.

Other rising stars, including Jack Draper and Holger Rune, are also missing from the Parisian dirt.

Physical doubts surround the Serbian veteran

The 38-year-old has endured an uninspiring preparation for the second major of the year.

He suffered a three-set defeat to qualifier Dino Prizmic in Rome during his only clay-court appearance of 2025 so far.

However, the former world number one has a proven track record of finding hidden physical reserves when competing over five sets.

Last season, he recovered from early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

A prime opportunity for a 25th major

Alcaraz’s untimely injury removes a significant psychological and physical barrier for the Belgrade native.

During the Australian Open in January, he expended immense energy defeating Sinner in a five-set semi-final before falling to the Spaniard in the final.

This summer, contenders will only need to overcome one half of the dominant pair who have claimed the last nine grand slam titles.

With the draw significantly altered, the pursuit of an unprecedented 25th major championship looks increasingly plausible for the sport’s most dogged competitor.

Wimbledon board member Tim Henman will hold emergency talks with players at the French Open to prevent a potential Grand Slam boycott over prize money disputes.

Professional competitors have threatened to withdraw from major tournaments in a row concerning revenue distribution, welfare provisions and pension schemes.

The former British number one will travel to Roland Garros next week in an attempt to calm the escalating situation.

Revenue gap fuels anger

Currently, the four majors allocate roughly 15 per cent of their total revenue to player prize funds.

In contrast, ATP and WTA 1000 Masters events distribute 22 per cent of their income back to the athletes.

A proposed joint meeting between player representatives and Grand Slam officials to address this disparity at Indian Wells collapsed in March.

Media protests begin in Paris

Consequently, tennis stars are already staging a media protest at the ongoing tournament in the French capital.

Competitors are strictly limiting their pre-tournament press conferences to 15 minutes and denying extra access to major broadcast partners.

This strategy allows the athletes to demonstrate solidarity without incurring immediate financial penalties from the sport’s governing bodies.

Sabalenka warns of future strikes

Henman recently met with members of the WTA Players’ Council at the Italian Open alongside Wimbledon tournament director Jamie Baker.

High-profile names have publicly supported drastic action if the Grand Slam revenue gap is not addressed soon.

Current world number two Aryna Sabalenka is among those who have openly floated the idea of a future strike.

Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment.

I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage. I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.

Aryna Sabalenka

New player council proposed

Officials from the All England Club are desperately seeking a resolution during the clay-court major.

The 49-year-old former semi-finalist is expected to play a leading role in establishing a new player council to bridge the divide.

Wimbledon’s player relations director Laura Robson has also joined the delegation attempting to broker peace before the grass-court season begins.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has revealed he suffered two intestinal perforations during his career due to his heavy reliance on anti-inflammatory medication to combat physical pain.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently retired from the sport after battling chronic injuries over the past several seasons.

Speaking ahead of a new documentary about his life, the Spaniard disclosed the extreme medical risks he took to maintain his elite performance level.

Ongoing battles with physical pain

The Mallorcan admitted that managing his physical condition often led to intense arguments with his physiotherapy team regarding his medical intake.

During the 2012 Indian Wells Open, the former world number one made a controversial decision to take full control over his anti-inflammatory dosage.

“There was a time when I was living with constant pain, and there were many days when I had arguments with my physio about whether I should take anti-inflammatories or not.”

The 14-time French Open winner explained that he eventually stopped asking for permission because he found the ongoing disagreements too uncomfortable.

Accepting the long-term bodily harm

Nadal acknowledged that self-medicating crossed a dangerous line, ultimately resulting in severe and lasting damage to his digestive system.

“In fact, as I said, I have two perforations in my intestines from taking so many anti-inflammatories.”

Despite the severe internal damage, the legendary left-hander insists he has no regrets about his extreme approach to pain management.

He stated bluntly that without the heavy medication, his illustrious tennis career would have been drastically curtailed.

A legacy built on endurance

In the upcoming documentary, the Spanish icon estimates that his high-risk medical strategy allowed him to win approximately twelve more major titles than his body would have otherwise permitted.

His physical struggles are well-documented, with a rare chronic foot condition known as Mueller-Weiss syndrome frequently threatening to end his time on the court prematurely.

Ultimately, his immense physical sacrifice yielded unparalleled success, cementing his status as one of the greatest athletes in history.

Tennis players competing at the French Open are planning to limit their pre-tournament media duties this Friday in a coordinated protest against their share of the prize money.

A collective of competitors is targeting the upcoming clay-court Grand Slam after alleging their revenue portion has been reduced to just 14.3 per cent.

This figure sits in stark contrast to the 22 per cent share typically offered at other ATP and WTA events throughout the season.

Threats of a Grand Slam boycott

Top-ranked stars including Aryna Sabalenka and world number four Coco Gauff have previously voiced strong concerns regarding the ongoing financial dispute.

The high-profile pair even threatened a potential boycott of the sport’s major tournaments earlier this month if compensation levels failed to improve.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, many participants intend to restrict their interactions with reporters to a strict 15-minute window during the traditional media day.

Organisers express disappointment

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has expressed profound regret over the planned action in a formal statement to The Associated Press.

“This initiative penalises all stakeholders involved in the tournament: the media, broadcasters, federation staff and the entire tennis community that enthusiastically follows each edition of Roland Garros.”

Tournament organisers recently announced a roughly 10 per cent increase in the overall prize pot, bringing the total compensation to 61.7 million euros (£52.5 million).

However, competitors argue that their underlying share of tournament revenues will actually diminish despite the headline funding boost.

Demands for structural reform

The Belarusian world number two Sabalenka and Italian men’s world number one Jannik Sinner were among a group of leading athletes who issued a critical statement in May.

Beyond immediate monetary remuneration, the athletes are actively advocating for enhanced representation, improved health provisions and better pension schemes.

These broader welfare demands are aimed at all four majors, encompassing the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open alongside the Paris event.

The FFT has affirmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue and confirmed that a critical meeting with player representatives will take place on Friday.