Daniil Medvedev let out a deep sigh. During his pre-French Open press conference, he was asked to share what he had learned from his last epic match, but for once, he didn’t have much to say. The week before, Medvedev had played brilliantly in the Italian Open semifinals, crushing the ball from both sides and pushing his opponent behind the baseline, barely making any mistakes despite the grueling, physical battle. It was the best anyone had played against Jannik Sinner, the current undisputed world No. 1, since the Australian Open in January. Still, Medvedev left the court with only one set.
“It’s super tough,” Medvedev said about facing Sinner. “Honestly, looking at any match this year—and he’s only lost two—the only way to beat him is to be at your best for all four or five sets. You have to run, be strong, serve well, and return well. Everything has to be top level, because his game is top level in every area.”
The story of the men’s tournament at this year’s French Open is straightforward. Sinner has proven he’s the best player in the world, and with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz out due to injury—Alcaraz saved three championship points to beat Sinner in one of the greatest Grand Slam finals last year—few players have shown they can even keep up with the No. 1. This French Open is Sinner against everyone else: 127 of the world’s best tennis players are trying to stop him. Anything can happen in sports, but their chances don’t look great.
A year after the most heartbreaking loss of his career, Sinner returns to Paris in arguably the best form of his life. He’s already achieved so much in recent weeks. Winning his first title on home soil at the Italian Open was one of the most impressive feats in history. At 24, he became only the second man to win every Masters 1000 title, following a 31-year-old Novak Djokovic in 2018.
Sinner’s winning streak at Masters 1000 events now stands at 34 matches, and he’s won six straight titles at that level. He starts this tournament on a 29-match winning streak overall. The potential rewards here are even bigger. Sinner is chasing immortality in Paris as he tries to complete a career Grand Slam. If he does, he’ll follow Djokovic again by becoming the second player ever to win every major annual tournament on tour: four Grand Slams, nine Masters 1000 titles, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup.
Multiple things can be true at once. Sinner is playing at an incredibly high level in almost every match, but it’s hard to remember a weaker field of challengers. Alexander Zverev, the second seed, has lost nine straight matches to Sinner and 14 consecutive sets. It’s remarkable that Djokovic, who beat Sinner to reach the Australian Open final in January, is still a contender. But after turning 39 on Friday, he’s struggled to stay healthy all year. Aside from Medvedev, the rest of the top players are either out of form, at their worst on clay, or simply not at the level Sinner brings every week.
Things couldn’t be more different in the women’s draw, which is packed with contenders. The current top 10 is one of the strongest and deepest in years, and many of them could win the title. Nine of the top 10 players currently hold a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 title.Aryna Sabalenka has been the clear best player in recent years, performing with incredible consistency. She remains a top favorite, having put together an amazing four-year run at Grand Slams, reaching the semifinals in 12 of her last 13 appearances. However, after failing to make the semifinals in either of her pre-Paris clay-court tournaments, the world No. 1 is more vulnerable heading into a major than she has been in recent years.
If Sabalenka slips up at all, there are plenty of players who can take her down. Elena Rybakina continues to lead the WTA race after winning the Australian Open in January, and she’s dangerous on any surface. Iga Swiatek has a tough draw, but she seems to be improving after hiring Francisco Roig as her new coach, and she’s aiming to win the French Open for an incredible fifth time. Coco Gauff, who beat Sabalenka in an unforgettable three-set match last year, has found her form at just the right time as she defends her title.
There are many others. Elina Svitolina is coming off a title win at the Italian Open and has never looked more ready to compete for a Grand Slam. Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva will be tough opponents for anyone. While the men’s field is chasing one remarkable, all-time great champion, the women’s event is shaping up to be a huge battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Jannik Sinners pursuit of a career Grand Slam at the French Open
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is a Career Grand Slam
A Career Grand Slam means a tennis player has won all four major tournaments at least once during their career
2 Which titles does Jannik Sinner already have
He has won the Australian Open and the US Open He needs to win the French Open and Wimbledon to complete the set
3 Why is the French Open so important for Sinner right now
If he wins the French Open in 2025 he will be halfway to the Career Grand Slam Its the next major title on the calendar after his Australian Open victory
4 Has Sinner ever won a match at the French Open before
Yes but he has never won the tournament His best result was reaching the semifinals in 2024 where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz
5 What makes the French Open different from other Grand Slams
It is played on clay courts which makes the ball bounce higher and slower It requires more endurance sliding and patience compared to the fast grass of Wimbledon or the hard courts of the US Open
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 Is Sinner considered a favorite to win the French Open this year
He is a strong contender but not the clear favorite His main rival Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion and an excellent claycourt player Rafael Nadal is also a historic threat on clay
7 What is Sinners biggest weakness on clay
His biggest challenge is his movement and stamina While he is very athletic clay requires constant sliding and long rallies He has improved his defensive game but top clay specialists can exploit his occasional tendency to rush points
8 How does Sinners game style translate to clay
His powerful groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play are effective on clay but he must adapt by using more topspin and constructing points patiently His serve is less dominant on the slower surface so he relies more on his return game
9 What would a Career Grand Slam mean for Sinners legacy
It would immediately put him in
