French Open 2023, women’s singles draw: Swiatek vs Rybakina, Sabalenka vs Pegula potential semifinal clashes

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will begin her title defence at this year’s French open with a first-round match against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, as per the draw announced on Thursday.

FILE PHOTO: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will compete for her third French Open title this year at Roland-Garros.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will begin her title defence at this year’s French open with a first-round match against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, as per the draw announced on Thursday.

Reigning Australian Open champion and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will take on Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in her opening-round fixture. The Belarusian could have a potential last-eight battle against fifth-seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

Swiatek could face sixth-seeded American Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals in what would be a repeat of last year’s summit clash.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina opens her campaign against a qualifier/lucky loser. The fourth-seeded Kazakh could take on Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, seventh seed, in the quarterfinals with a potential semifinal against Swiatek.

Eighth-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari, who reached the semifinal in 2021, faces Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the first round. Sakkari could take on third-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

Pegula faces compatriot and 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins in the opening round.

First-round clashed to keep an eye on:

• [18] Victoria Azarenka vs Bianca Andreescu (CAN)
• [13] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) vs Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
• [20] Madison Keys (USA) vs Kaia Kanepi (EST)
• [WC] Diane Parry (FRA) vs [25] Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
• [6] Coco Gauff (USA) vs Rebeka Masarova (ESP)
• [14] Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) vs Tatjana Maria (GER)
• [10] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA)
• Anett Kontaveit (EST) vs Bernarda Pera (USA)
• [7] Ons Jabeur (TUN) vs Lucia Bronzetti (ITA)
• [8] Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs Karolina Muchova (CZE)
• Leylah Fernandez (CAN) vs [21] Magda Linette (POL)
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE)
• Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs Alize Cornet (FRA)
• [3] Jessica Pegula (USA) vs Danielle Collins (USA)
• Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs [26] Martina Trevisan (ITA)
• [17] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs Tereza Martincova (CZE)
• [16] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs Sloane Stephens (USA)
• [2] Aryna Sabalenka vs Marta Kostyuk (UKR)