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Novak Djokovic (No 1 seed). The Serbian looks to complete a second 'Djoker' slam by holding all four major titles at once if he can prevail here. Started slowly on clay but won in Barcelona and pushed Nadal hard in the Rome final. He knows, after 2015, he can beat Nadal in Paris and a second French Open title is tantalisingly close for the world No 1. Getty

Stan Wawrinka (No 24 seed). A bit of a long shot, the three-time major winner's best days are probably behind him at the age of 34. But he is a past French Open winner and if he can find his range he can still be a force to be reckoned with. AP Photo

Roberto Bautista Agut (No 18 seed). Again a tall order given Bautista Agut has never won a set, let alone a match, off his Spanish compatriot. But Bautista Agut is a steely opponent and he can cause Nadal problems with his tenacity and ability to drag out long rallies if their paths do cross. Reuters

Diego Schwartzman (No 17 seed). The Argentine's best surface is clay and he could be a possible quarter-final opponent for Nadal. That would be a rematch from last year when he took the first set of the world No 2. Could be equally troublesome again. Reuters

Fabio Fognini (No 9 seed). The Italian is always a tough opponent on clay and he goes to Paris galvanised by beating Nadal emphatically 6-4, 6-2 on his way to winning his first career Masters title in Monte Carlo. Reuters

Juan Martin del Potro (No 8 seed). This might be a big ask for the Argentine, given his injury hit start to 2019. But he can be competitive on clay and he has a history of pushing Nadal to the limit whenever they share the same court. Reuters

Stefanos Tsitsipas (No 6 seed). The breakout star of 2019 is a possible semi-final opponent for Nadal. Can be a real handful when he is at his best. His three-set win over Nadal in Madrid earlier in May means his threat on clay is a very genuine one. Getty

Alexander Zverev (No 5 seed). The German has underwhelmed so far in his career at the grand slams. That has to change, given his talent, at some point and there is no reason why he can't reach the final to take on Nadal other then his own temperament. AFP

Dominic Thiem (No 4 seed). The only man to beat Nadal on clay in 2017 and 2018 did it again in Barcelona in April, with the 6-4, 6-4 result actually flattering the Spaniard. They are in opposing sides of the draw and if they meet it will be a repeat of the 2018 final. Nadal won that comfortably but Thiem is a much more confident opponent a year later. Reuters

Roger Federer (No 3 seed). The Swiss returns to Roland Garros for the first time since 2015. The 2009 champion has never beat Nadal at the tournament, but has pushed him at times. A tough ask for him, but a Federer v Nadal semi-final meeting would be a real crowd pleaser. Getty

Novak Djokovic (No 1 seed). The Serbian looks to complete a second 'Djoker' slam by holding all four major titles at once if he can prevail here. Started slowly on clay but won in Barcelona and pushed Nadal hard in the Rome final. He knows, after 2015, he can beat Nadal in Paris and a second French Open title is tantalisingly close for the world No 1. Getty

Stan Wawrinka (No 24 seed). A bit of a long shot, the three-time major winner's best days are probably behind him at the age of 34. But he is a past French Open winner and if he can find his range he can still be a force to be reckoned with. AP Photo

Roberto Bautista Agut (No 18 seed). Again a tall order given Bautista Agut has never won a set, let alone a match, off his Spanish compatriot. But Bautista Agut is a steely opponent and he can cause Nadal problems with his tenacity and ability to drag out long rallies if their paths do cross. Reuters

Diego Schwartzman (No 17 seed). The Argentine's best surface is clay and he could be a possible quarter-final opponent for Nadal. That would be a rematch from last year when he took the first set of the world No 2. Could be equally troublesome again. Reuters

Fabio Fognini (No 9 seed). The Italian is always a tough opponent on clay and he goes to Paris galvanised by beating Nadal emphatically 6-4, 6-2 on his way to winning his first career Masters title in Monte Carlo. Reuters

Juan Martin del Potro (No 8 seed). This might be a big ask for the Argentine, given his injury hit start to 2019. But he can be competitive on clay and he has a history of pushing Nadal to the limit whenever they share the same court. Reuters

Stefanos Tsitsipas (No 6 seed). The breakout star of 2019 is a possible semi-final opponent for Nadal. Can be a real handful when he is at his best. His three-set win over Nadal in Madrid earlier in May means his threat on clay is a very genuine one. Getty

Alexander Zverev (No 5 seed). The German has underwhelmed so far in his career at the grand slams. That has to change, given his talent, at some point and there is no reason why he can't reach the final to take on Nadal other then his own temperament. AFP

Dominic Thiem (No 4 seed). The only man to beat Nadal on clay in 2017 and 2018 did it again in Barcelona in April, with the 6-4, 6-4 result actually flattering the Spaniard. They are in opposing sides of the draw and if they meet it will be a repeat of the 2018 final. Nadal won that comfortably but Thiem is a much more confident opponent a year later. Reuters

Roger Federer (No 3 seed). The Swiss returns to Roland Garros for the first time since 2015. The 2009 champion has never beat Nadal at the tournament, but has pushed him at times. A tough ask for him, but a Federer v Nadal semi-final meeting would be a real crowd pleaser. Getty

Novak Djokovic (No 1 seed). The Serbian looks to complete a second 'Djoker' slam by holding all four major titles at once if he can prevail here. Started slowly on clay but won in Barcelona and pushed Nadal hard in the Rome final. He knows, after 2015, he can beat Nadal in Paris and a second French Open title is tantalisingly close for the world No 1. Getty

The 10 players who can stop Rafael Nadal's bid for French Open title No 12 - in pictures

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem and world No 1 Novak Djokovic are among the players who can trouble defending champion Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros

Graham Caygill

May 25, 2019

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