Expert Picks, Writer Edition: The champions and surprises in store for Roland Garros
Our final fours in France, and more predictions for the clay-court Slam.
It's time, once again, for TENNIS.com's editors and writers to give their predictions for Roland Garros.
This time, we asked for the final fours in France, which players would win it all, and a special surprise. (For the special Player Edition of Expert Picks, click here.)
PETE BODO
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Sinner d. Cerundolo; Musetti d. Alcaraz
Champion: Sinner
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Sabalenka d. Ostapenko; Gauff d. Andreeva
Champion: Gauff
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
Novak Djokovic, the No. 6 seed, is in the second quarter of the draw, which is loaded with players who are not only interesting but attention-generating: Frenchmen Ugo Humbert and wizardly Corentin Moutet, former champion and Djokovic’s fellow war dog Stan Wawrinka, as well as Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic is just too good a player (it sounds surreal to say that), and too experienced, not to have a few more shots to fire across the bow of rivals. It would be a mistake to look beyond Mackie McDonald in the first round, especially in light of Djokovic’s recent struggles. After that, the hype machine kicks in.
FRANZISKA BRUELLS
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Sinner d. Zverev; Alcaraz d. Musetti
Champion: Sinner
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Sabalenka d. Ostapenko; Gauff d. Andreeva
Champion: Sabalenka
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
Even though Iga Swiatek hasn’t been able to build on her results from the previous year in her last tournaments, as the defending champion she is still one of the favorites. However, I can imagine that Jelena Ostapenko will stop her from achieving her goal in the round of 16, paving the way for herself to go far in Paris. As a former Roland Garros champion (2017), the Latvian has already proven how dangerous she can be in on clay—plus, she often brings her best tennis against top players.
DAVID KANE
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Sinner d. Djokovic; Alcaraz d. Musetti
Champion: Alcaraz
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Zheng d. Ostapenko; Gauff d. Andreeva
Champion: Gauff
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
I think this is the year we’ll be talking about American excellence on clay. With names like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula on the women’s side and an American-heavy bottom half on the men’s side including Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda, we could see U.S. players go deep in both draws, finally exploding the truism that Americans underperform on the terre battue.
JON LEVEY
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Sinner d. Cerundolo; Alcaraz d. Musetti
Champion: Alcaraz
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Sabalenka d. Paolini; Andreeva d. Gauff
Champion: Andreeva
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
There are truisms in sports: Prevent defenses don’t work, free throws win games and U.S. players struggle to win on clay. No American player this century not named Serena Williams has won Roland Garros. Coco Gauff, finalist in 2022, is the betting favorite to end this streak, but after her longshots abound. However, what the U.S. may lack in legitimate threats at this tournament, it will make up for with depth. There very well may not be a winner or finalist in the bunch, but when the draws are whittled down to 32 players (16 on each draw), at least one quarter will be playing with a U.S. flag by their names.
EMMA STOREY
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Zverev d. Sinner; Alcaraz d. Musetti
Champion: Alcaraz
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Sabalenka d. Paolini; Gauff d. Andreeva
Champion: Sabalenka
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
Gael Monfils defeating Jack Draper in the second round: My heart may be overruling my head, but Monfils, with the roar of his home crowd behind him, is a tough challenge for any player—and it may come a round or two early for Draper. Despite the Brit's enormous progress in the rankings, he's never been past the first round at Roland Garros. I predict the emotion of the occasion, combined with the Frenchman’s vast experience, will seal an early exit for the number five seed.
STEVE TIGNOR
Who will reach the final four in the men’s draw?
Sinner d. Cerundolo; Alcaraz d. Musetti
Champion: Alcaraz
Who will reach the final four in the women’s draw?
Sabalenka d. Paolini; Andreeva d. Gauff
Champion: Sabalenka
What’s the biggest surprise we’ll be talking about by the middle of the tournament?
Big surprise: I’m not ready to count Iga Swiatek out quite yet. No, she hasn’t won a title this year. Yes, she suffered a collapse in confidence in Madrid and Rome. And yes, there are tough opponents, like Elena Rybakina and her nemesis Jelena Ostapenko, in her section. But Swiatek is a four-time champion here, and if she gets, say, three wins under her belt at her favorite venue, muscle memory may kick in, and her crisis may be a thing of the past.