Massive twist as Nick Kyrgios meltdown comes back to bite him
Nick Kyrgios’ disqualification at the Italian Open has ultimately cost him an all-important seeding at the French Open.
The volatile Aussies was stripped off the rankings points he’d earned in Rome after an extraordinary meltdown in which he threw a chair onto the court.
And those lost rankings points have now seen him miss out on a top-32 seeding at the French Open.
When Canadian star Milos Raonic withdrew from the Roland Garros grand slam just before Thursday’s official draw, Frances Tiafoe moved up into the 32nd seed.
That meant Kyrgios was 33rd, trailing Tiafoe by just five rankings points.
A top-32 seeding would have meant Kyrgios could have avoided facing a high-ranked opponent in the opening rounds in Paris.
The Aussie still managed to dodge a first-round meeting with a big gun, drawn against Brit Cameron Norrie.
However Norrie is no slouch and riding a purple patch that has seen him move to a career-high 44.
Raonic out of #RG19, reportedly, which means that Frances Tiafoe gets in as the #32 seed, preventing this from being the first Slam in decades without a US man seeded.
Kyrgios, had he not lost all ranking points from Rome following his default there, would have gotten the spot. https://t.co/Qs9HZFZM07— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 23, 2019
Tough road for Barty
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Barty has received no favours despite entering as the tournament's eighth seed after being lumped in a stacked top quarter of the draw.
The Queenslander will play American Jessica Pegula in the first round but faces the prospect of a round of 16 date with Serena Williams, with top seed Naomi Osaka a likely quarter-final opponent.
Australian No.2 Ajla Tomljanovic has copped a first round meeting with defending champion and third seed Simona Halep.
Barty, who withdrew from this week's Strasbourg International to fully recover from an arm injury, will start a heavy favourite against Pegula before a second-round encounter with either Danielle Collins or Tatjana Maria.
Bianca Andreescu, who is 22nd seed, or former world No.9 Andrea Petkovic shape as potential third round opponents.
Williams knocked Barty out in a tight second round Roland Garros loss last year but has had minimal time on clay as she chases a record-equalling 24th grand slam title.
Osaka has won the last two majors and completes a stacked top quarter of the draw.
Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon will play a qualifier while former finalist Samantha Stosur drew Barbora Strycova, Daria Gavrilova will play Serbian Aleksandra Krunic and in-form Astra Sharma plays Shelby Rogers.
Big guns smiling
Australia's top male Alex De Minaur will carry the 21st seed and favourite tag next to his name when he meets American Bradley Kahn, while exciting wildcard Alexei Popyrin plays fellow young gun Ugo Humbert.
Rafael Nadal can ease into his pursuit of an incredible 12 French Open titles, with matches against qualifiers guaranteed in his first two rounds.
Roger Federer will play Lorenzo Sonego in his first Roland Garros tilt since 2015 to begin what is a smoother path than top seed Novak Djokovic's.
Kyrgios and Millman are joined by Bernard Tomic - who plays American Taylor Fritz - in a top quarter headed by the Serbian.
Djokovic is aiming for a fourth-straight major victory for the second time and will play Hubert Hurkacz in the first round.
A second round meeting with Sam Querrey is likely while Gilles Simon, Denis Shapovalov, Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini are all potential stumbling blocks before the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile Brisbane favourite John Millman has his work cut out against fifth seed Alexander Zverev - a potential third round clash Kyrgios the prize if both Australians survive.
The in-form Jordan Thompson has an intriguing match-up with 18-year-old whiz and 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime while Matt Ebden plays wildcard Gregoire Barrere.
with AAP