PARIS — With two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz on the sidelines, Jannik Sinner was anticipated to seize his inaugural French Open title this year. However, the top-seeded Italian faced an unexpected exit in the second round, leaving the men’s tournament wide open for surprises.
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic stood as the most seasoned competitor, hunting for a historic 25th Grand Slam title. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old Serbian will have to postpone his ambitions until Wimbledon after succumbing to a five-set showdown against 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca on Friday.
This outcome may not have been entirely shocking, as Djokovic entered the tournament with lingering doubts about his form, following a loss to a Croatian qualifier at the Italian Open—his only preparation on clay after a two-month hiatus due to a right shoulder injury.
Let’s explore some of the contenders still in the chase for the crown:
This might be his golden opportunity to clinch his first major title. The 29-year-old German, who was the runner-up to Alcaraz in 2024, has reached three semifinals and a quarterfinal in Paris. In peak form, Zverev recently finished as a finalist in Madrid and reached the semifinals in both Monte Carlo and Munich. As the second seed, he has yet to drop a set and will face Frenchman Quentin Halys in the evening session on Friday.
Ranked No. 4, the Canadian represents the highest seed remaining in the top bracket and is set to take on Brandon Nakashima in the third round. Auger-Aliassime almost faced elimination in the first round, narrowly overcoming Daniel Altmaier in a dramatic five-set match before defeating Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets. His previous best at Roland Garros was reaching the fourth round in 2022 and 2024.
Meet the latest tennis prodigy from Spain. The 19-year-old Jodar has made it to the fourth round of a major for the first time after a gripping five-set victory over Alex Michelsen. Having won his first ATP title in Marrakech last month, Jodar’s impressive journey continued with semifinals in Barcelona and quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. With an 18-3 clay record, he showcases potential that rivals the early records of legends like Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz.
Can the young French star create a historic upset, mirroring the triumph of Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to conquer Roland Garros in 1983? Kouame advanced to the third round after a thrilling five-set battle that captivated the home crowd. Currently ranked No. 318, he will face Chilean Alejandro Tabilo next. Kouame made history by defeating Marin Cilic in straight sets during the first round, marking him as the first player born in 2008 or later to secure a Grand Slam victory.
Ruud, who lost back-to-back finals to Nadal in 2022 and Djokovic in 2023, has encountered challenges in the sweltering Paris heat, needing five sets to advance past the first round. He will meet American Tommy Paul in the third round.
Not to be overlooked is Fonseca, who achieved a spectacular comeback against one of the sport’s all-time greats. The teenager made headlines as the first to defeat Djokovic at a Grand Slam event, propelling him into the fourth round for the first time in his career.
