The other theoretical semi-final could pit Russia's Daniil Medvedev (2nd) against last year's finalist, Norway's Casper Ruud (4th). The defending champion and 14-time winner, Spain's Rafael Nadal, withdrew before the start of the tournament having insufficiently recovered from a muscle injury to his hip that he suffered in the second round of the Australian Open in January.
The big question was whether the tournament's two main favourites, Alcaraz and Djokovic, could face each other before the final, with the Serb dropping to third in the world.
So fate decided yes by placing him in the Spaniard's half of the table.
For Alcaraz, 20, after a first round against a player from qualifying, the road seems clear until the quarterfinals where the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), finalist in 2021, would await him.
At 36, Djokovic will start his journey against American Aleksandar Kovacevic (114th) by aiming for a quarter probably against Russian Andrey Rublev (7th).
At the bottom of the table, Medvedev, who created a surprise by winning his first title on clay in Rome last week, will start against a player from the qualifiers and head to a theoretical quarter against the Italian Jannik Sinner (8th).
The other quarter should pit the Danish rising star Holger Rune (6th), finalist this year in Monte-Carlo and Rome, against Ruud, finalist at Roland-Garros last year.
Germany's Alexander Zverev (27th), who heavily injured his right ankle last year in the semifinals against Nadal and ended his season, will make his debut against South African Lloyd Harris (306th).
In addition, fate was severe with the Frenchman Benoît Paire (149th) who, beneficiary of an invitation, will be opposed to the British Cameron Norrie (14th).
The two French hopefuls Luca van Assche (79th) and Arthur Fils (112th), finalists of Roland-Garros juniors in 2021, could face each other in the second round of the main draw this year, provided that the first beats the Italian Marco Cecchinato (73rd) and the second defeats the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (34th).
In the women's draw, world No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who won the title in Rome, are also in the same half. They will not be able to cross paths before the semi-finals.
Iga Swiatek titled at Roland-Garros, June 4, 2022 © Thomas SAMSON / AFP / Archives
The other theoretical semifinal would pit Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) against American Jessica Pegula (3rd).
France's Caroline Garcia (N.5) could be on the road to Sabalenka in the quarters. Lyon will face China's Xiyu Wang in the first round.
The American Coco Gauff, beaten in the final last year by Swiatek, is placed on the trajectory of the Pole on the horizon of the quarterfinals.
© 2023 AFP