The men’s singles draw at French Open enters unfamiliar territory this year, with Jannik Sinner arriving as the clear favorite to win his first title at Roland Garros.
For more than a decade, Paris was defined by the dominance of Rafael Nadal. Now, with Nadal no longer at his peak and Carlos Alcaraz sidelined, the tournament appears wide open for a new leading force on clay.
Sinner heads into the Grand Slam in outstanding form after capturing Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome during a remarkable clay-court season. The Italian has looked increasingly comfortable on slower surfaces, combining consistency from the baseline with improved movement and composure in long rallies.
His draw has also added to expectations. Several of the tournament’s biggest threats, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, are positioned in the opposite half, giving Sinner a potentially smoother route into the later rounds.
Among the players in his section, Ben Shelton appears to be the highest-seeded obstacle, although Sinner has historically handled that matchup well. Young Spaniard Martin Landaluce and unpredictable shotmaker Alexander Bublik are also potential dangers capable of creating problems if they build momentum early in the tournament.
Elsewhere in the draw, Daniil Medvedev faces another difficult attempt to solve his struggles at Roland Garros. Despite strong overall form this season, Medvedev has historically struggled in Paris and will need to navigate a challenging section featuring players comfortable on clay.
Veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils is also expected to attract attention in what could be his final appearance at Roland Garros, adding emotional weight to the tournament atmosphere.
Source: ATP Tour
Djokovic remains one of the sport’s biggest question marks entering the event. The 39-year-old continues chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title despite limited preparation on clay this season. While concerns remain about his match sharpness, his consistency at major tournaments continues to make him a serious contender.
The Serbian’s projected path is demanding, with possible meetings against rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca, two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur later in the tournament.
Zverev, meanwhile, may view this year’s event as one of his strongest opportunities yet to return to the final. The German has remained one of the most reliable performers on clay outside of Sinner and Alcaraz, although he could face strong resistance from emerging French talent Arthur Fils.
Fils enters the tournament carrying both momentum and pressure as one of the home favorites. His aggressive game and athleticism have made him one of the breakout players of the season, though fitness concerns remain after his recent retirement in Rome.
Young Spanish prospect Rafael Jodar is another player attracting attention after climbing rapidly through the rankings and showing promise on clay.
Despite the depth of challengers across the field, Sinner remains the standout favorite heading into the tournament. With confidence high and his clay-court game reaching a new level, the Italian now has a major opportunity to establish himself as the new leading force at Roland Garros.
