Women’s French Open Draw Wide Open Ahead of Paris

Injuries, inconsistent form, and mounting pressure have left many of the sport’s biggest stars vulnerable – opening the door for a few unexpected contenders to make serious noise in Paris.

This competition promises to be the women’s tournament to provide most of the drama this year, as we can possibly witness some upsets.

On the men’s side, it already feels like Jannik Sinner’s coronation at Roland Garros is inevitable. While watching Sinner potentially join Carlos Alcaraz as a career Grand Slam winner will be impressive, suspense is always more entertaining, especially for those who enjoy the chaos in sporting events.

The ATP Tour has become increasingly dominated by two names. Sinner and Alcaraz have shared the last nine Grand Slam titles between them. The WTA Tour tells a very different story.

Across that same stretch, six different women have lifted Grand Slam trophies, with each of the last five majors won by a different player. That unpredictability appears set to continue in Paris.

Cracks Beginning to Show at the Top

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina remain the standout forces in women’s tennis.

Rybakina surged back into elite form with victories at last year’s WTA Finals and this season’s Australian Open, while world No.1 Sabalenka rebounded from her heartbreaking Melbourne defeat to capture both legs of the prestigious Sunshine Double.

Yet neither has looked entirely convincing heading into Roland Garros.

Rybakina reminded everyone of her clay-court quality by winning Stuttgart, but her momentum stalled in Madrid after a shock straight-sets loss to Anastasia Potapova.

Sabalenka’s clay preparation has been even lighter. Her only appearance on the surface ended in an early Madrid upset against power-hitting American Hailey Baptiste.

There’s also a sense that Sabalenka’s focus has been divided by the growing tensions surrounding the tour’s revenue-sharing dispute, with players pushing for a larger slice of the sport’s increasing profits.

Both players will hope Rome provides the final tune-up they need before Paris. Still, the women’s tour remains far less predictable than the increasingly two-man dominated ATP circuit.

Former Queens Searching for Answers

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek

Defending champion Coco Gauff is difficult to assess right now.

Her season has been solid on paper, improving to 17-7 after defeating Valentova in Rome, but she has appeared hesitant in the biggest moments. Heavy defeats to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals and Sabalenka in the Miami final exposed some lingering vulnerabilities.

Her clay season has also lacked momentum. She has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinal stage at either clay event she has played, while still managing the forearm injury that forced her withdrawal from Indian Wells.

That could become a significant concern at Roland Garros, arguably the most physically demanding tournament in tennis. Even so, Gauff’s competitive instincts make her impossible to dismiss.

Then there’s Iga Swiatek.

The four-time Roland Garros champion entered this era as a near-mythical figure on clay, but she now finds herself navigating the most difficult stretch of her career.

Swiatek pointed to food poisoning after withdrawing from Madrid, but the deeper issue is impossible to ignore: she has failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals in her last nine tournaments.

No one expected her to continue producing endless 37-match winning streaks, but this downturn has been startling.

Opponents have discovered a clear blueprint against her — rush her for time and relentlessly target the backhand side. Combined with ongoing hip and ankle concerns, Swiatek no longer looks like the overwhelming force that once dominated Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Watching her struggle has been genuinely jarring.

The Dark Horses Gathering Momentum

Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk

Ironically, the two most intriguing threats outside the established favourites come from opposite sides of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Even more remarkably, they recently contested a surprise Madrid Open final, where Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk emerged victorious before declining to acknowledge her teenage Russian opponent at the net.

The moment divided opinion, but the broader geopolitical realities surrounding the sport remain impossible to separate from these encounters. Andreeva, mature beyond her years, appears to understand that complexity.

Andreeva’s Rapid Rise

Mirra Andreeva

Even before her run to the Madrid final, I believed 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva was building toward a genuine Roland Garros breakthrough.

She has matured significantly over the past year, replacing many of her emotional on-court outbursts with a calmer, more composed mentality. Just as importantly, she has added noticeable power to her game.

Long admired for her defensive skills and court coverage, Andreeva can now suddenly accelerate rallies and dictate points from the baseline.

Her 2026 season has been outstanding. Titles in Adelaide and Linz were followed by an excellent clay swing that included a Stuttgart semifinal and a runner-up finish in Madrid.

The added strength in her game has allowed her to play more aggressively on slower surfaces, reflected in her impressive 13-2 clay-court record this season.

If anything, that Madrid final loss may only sharpen her motivation heading into Paris.

Kostyuk’s Transformation Paying Off

Marta Kostyuk

Andreeva’s conqueror in Madrid was the ever-entertaining Marta Kostyuk.

While Andreeva had long looked like a future contender, Kostyuk’s rise has arrived more unexpectedly. After an underwhelming 2025 season without a single final appearance, few predicted this level of resurgence.

Like Andreeva, Kostyuk spent the offseason refining the mental side of her game. Previously known for emotional swings and marathon rallies, she has become far more disciplined and efficient in high-pressure moments.

The changes have paid immediate dividends.

She reached the Brisbane final before truly flourishing on clay, winning consecutive titles in Rouen and Madrid.

Kostyuk has since withdrawn from Rome due to lingering hip concerns. But whenever I see the word “nagging” attached to a pre-Paris withdrawal, I can’t help assuming it’s more precaution than panic.

Call me cynical — but it looks very much like a player preserving herself for a serious Roland Garros push.

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