The second Grand Slam of the season will be held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris from May 25th – June 8th 2025 this year. The French Open is the only Grand Slam of the year which is played on the clay courts.
The Red Clay of Roland Garros has been one of the toughest tests for professional tennis players as it is one of the most difficult surfaces to play on due to its slowness and bounce. It’s also one of the most physically demanding tournaments to play as players have to generate their own pace with the surface being slow.
Last year, the Women Singles Finals was contested between defending champion Iga ?wi?tek and Jasmine Paolini. ?wi?tek completed a third consecutive and fourth overall French Open title beating her Italian opponent in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in a dominating encounter from start to finish.
Let’s take a look at the top contenders for the Women’s Singles Title at the French Open this year –
Iga ?wi?tek (Poland)
The four times French Open champion is the prime contender for the title yet again. Iga ?wi?tek hasn’t had a great 2025 season so far considering her consistency on the WTA tour but the Polish player is currently the best female player on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Last year, she won the French Open title dropping only one set and winning matches with utter domination, often humiliating her opponents.
?wi?tek is an aggressive baseline player who dictates rallies with her dominating style of play. In addition, she possesses great mental fortitude that has enabled her to win matches from losing positions. She may not have the fastest of serves, but her serve is a reliable option that helps her win a lot of points.
This season, ?wi?tek has failed to win a WTA tour title which is a surprise as she has been the one of the most consistent players when it comes to the WTA tournaments. However, the World No. 2 remains the toughest opponent on clay and could go on to win her fifth Roland Garros crown this year.
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
The World No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka is another serious contender for the French Open title this year.
Even though she failed to make it a third straight title at the Australian Open, losing to American Madison Keys in the finals, hard-hitting Sabalenka can never be counted out. Sabalenka has recently lost the Stuttgart Open final on Clay but since the Miami Open, she has regained her form and looks more prepared for the upcoming tournaments.
Sabalenka had a decent outing at last year’s French Open where she reached the Quarter Finals.
Sabalenka is known more for her powerful groundstrokes and serves. The strong Belarussian prefers the hard courts but she has performed consistently on other surfaces as well. She has the game and the mentality to win on any surface and with the Madrid Open and the Italian Open still to play to get comfortable on the clay surface, Sabalenka could go all the way to a French Open title.
Mirra Andreeva (Russia)
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has taken the tennis world by storm this season. By winning back-to-back WTA Masters 1000 titles at the Dubai Tennis Championships and the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, she proved that she could compete in the big league. Enroute both titles, she beat the heavyweights of women’s tennis like Elena Rybakina, Iga ?wi?tek and Aryna Sabalenka.
Mirra Andreeva’s run-in last year’s French Open was commendable too as she beat Victoria Azarenka and Sabalenka on her way to the Semi-finals. The Russian has massively improved her all-round game and her ability to keep her composure in tough moments has led to big trophies.
Andreeva’s coming-of-age season positions her as a genuine contender for the title. With growing confidence, unwavering self-belief, and sharp tactical awareness, she has all the tools to make a deep run—and potentially claim her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year.
Coco Gauff (United States of America)
Coco Gauff announced herself to the tennis world at a very young age and was widely regarded as a tennis prodigy to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Williams sisters.
The current World No. 3 is already a Grand Slam and WTA Finals champion and therefore knows what it takes to win big tournaments. She is another big contender for the French Open title.
Like Sabalenka, Gauff is also a hard-hitting powerful player who prefers the hard courts but her performances on Clay in recent years has also suggested an affinity to the red clay. In the last three years, Gauff has made two Quarter-finals and one Semi-finals appearance at Roland Garros which bodes well for the American as she prepares for the French Open.
Gauff undoubtedly has the talent to beat anyone when she’s at her best, and if she can replicate or build on her deep run from last year, this could very well be her breakthrough year at the French Open.
Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
Elena Rybakina is an enigma of a player. While she has dropped out of the Top 10 rankings this season, Rybakina cannot be underestimated.
Armed with one of the best serves on the Women’s tour, Rybakina’s effortless and calm approach on the court has made her a Grand Slam champion. Though she prefers the hard courts and the grass courts more, her performances at the French Open have improved over the years. Last year, she made it to the quarter finals at Roland Garros, only to lose to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini.
Rybakina is a feared opponent on the Women’s tour as she is difficult to predict. Even though she hasn’t won a WTA title this year, she has consistently made Quarter-finals and Semi-finals at recent WTA Tournaments which indicates that she is in decent form.
Even after slipping in the rankings, Elena Rybakina remains one of the most gifted players on the WTA Tour. If she rediscovers her top form at Roland Garros, few in the field have the tools to derail her pursuit of the French Open crown.
Jessica Pegula (United States of America)
Jessica Pegula has been one of the most consistent performers on the Women’s tour for a while now but reaching last year’s US Open Finals has added a much-needed belief which she was lacking earlier.
Pegula is currently ranked in the Top 10 Women’s Player and will be in decent form going into the French Open as she was the Runner-up at the Miami Open and followed it with winning the Charleston Open and reaching the Quarter-finals at the Stuttgart Open. She also made it to the French Open Quarter-finals back in 2022 but had to miss out in 2024 due to injury issues.
Jessica Pegula brings a calm demeanor to the court, backed by consistent baseline play, a strong return of serve, and skillful net play. Her recent deep runs at the Grand Slams have boosted her confidence and self-belief — and this could very well be the tournament where she finally captures her maiden Grand Slam title.
Je?ena Ostapenko (Latvia)
Je?ena Ostapenko is undoubtedly one of the most exasperating and entertaining players on the WTA tour. The former French Open winner is one of the most unpredictable players on tour as you will never know which Ostapenko will turn up – the one who will scorch winner after winner or the one who will make way too many errors.
However, the Latvian knows her way through the Red Clay at Roland Garros having won the tournament in 2017. Though after her win in 2017, Ostapenko has struggled to make it past the second round at the French Open.
The reason for having her as an outside contender is that she has been in decent form this year. At the recently concluded Stuttgart Open, she defeated both Iga ?wi?tek and Aryna Sabalenka, clinching the title.
Jelena Ostapenko is a predominantly aggressive player who never shies away from going for her shots. When she’s in form, her fearless, high-octane style makes her a formidable opponent—capable of taking the match out of anyone’s hands. However, her high-risk game can be a double-edged sword, leaving her vulnerable to unforced errors and inconsistency. Still, as a former Roland Garros champion, she knows what it takes to triumph in Paris.
With the right momentum, Ostapenko could very well be the dark horse of the tournament—and if she catches fire, it won’t be a surprise if she lifts the trophy for a second time.
Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
The 2024 season was a breakthrough season for Jasmine Paolini. She reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. She won an Olympic Doubles Gold medal with Sara Errani and climbed up the Singles rankings, ending 2024 ranked World No. 5.
Though 2025 hasn’t started as well as the previous season, Paolini is a competitive and energetic player with a tough mentality. She has recently regained her lost form with back-to-back Semi-finals at the Miami Open and the Stuttgart Open. Paolini was the French Open finalist last year which indicates her affinity to the Red Clay.
The Italian is known for her aggressive style of play, marked by powerful groundstrokes and remarkable agility that allows her to cover the court with ease. After reaching the finals last season, Paolini has shown she has the tools to compete at the highest level. If she can maintain her form through the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, she could very well be on track to make a serious run at the French Open title this year.
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