The second Grand Slam of the season is now less than a month away as the stars of the women’s game prepare for Roland Garros.
America’s Madison Keys won the Australian Open in January, shocking the world’s top two players, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, on her way to the title.
However, she likely won’t be the favorite on the clay, as three-time defending champion Swiatek looks to become the first player to win four in a row in Open Era history.
World number one Sabalenka is also likely to challenge, having picked up another ‘big’ clay-court title recently.
Immediately after Sabalenka’s Madrid Open victory, one former British star revealed who he is picking to win Roland Garros in 2025.
Colin Fleming says Aryna Sabalenka is the ‘firm favorite’ to win the 2025 French Open
Speaking to Sky Sports after Sabalenka took down Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open final, former British doubles star Colin Fleming made his French Open predictions.
“I think she [Aryna Sabalenka] is now pretty firm favourite for Roland Garros, with all that has gone on, as we stand here in Madrid,” he said.
“Before this tournament started, I would still have picked [Iga] Swiatek as the favourite, despite the fact she was out of form, because I would have said I think she will find something in Madrid and Rome and by the time Roland Garros comes around [she’ll be back].
“But although Iga made the semis you would say it’s not a terrible result, the manner of the semi-final I just think there is a question mark of how she will be in Rome and Roland Garros.”
Swiatek lost to Gauff, 1-6, 1-6, in this year’s Madrid Open semi-finals, suffering her worst loss on a clay court since she won just one game in defeat to Simona Halep at the French Open six years ago.
The Brit is far more confident of Sabalenka’s chances after watching her dominate the WTA Tour in 2025.
“Sabalenka is just going from strength to strength,” said Fleming.
“I know she has not won every tournament this season, but she has been close, if not won it, and she is the one primed and ready to get that first Roland Garros title.”
Sabalenka has remarkably reached the final at six of the eight tournaments she’s played in 2025, picking up three titles, the most of any player in women’s tennis.
| Tournament | Tier | Result | Score |
| 2025 Madrid Open | WTA 1000 | Won – Beat Coco Gauff in final | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix | WTA 500 | Runner up – Lost to Jelena Ostapenko in final | 4-6, 1-6 |
| 2025 Miami Open | WTA 1000 | Won – Beat Jessica Pegula in final | 7-5, 6-2 |
| 2025 Indian Wells | WTA 1000 | Runner up – Lost to Mirra Andreeva in final | 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships | WTA 1000 | 3R – Lost to Clara Tauson | 3-6, 2-6 |
| 2025 Qatar Open | WTA 1000 | 2R – Lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova | 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 |
| 2025 Australian Open | Grand Slam | Runner up – Lost to Madison Keys in final | 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 |
| 2025 Brisbane International | WTA 500 | Won – Beat Polina Kudermetova in final | 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
Barring a minor blip in the Middle East, Sabalenka has been a consistent feature in the latter stages of WTA tournaments this year, helping her further extend her gap at the top of the world rankings.
When the next set of rankings are released on Monday, Sabalenka will lead her closest rival, Swiatek, by 4,345 points.
With Swiatek set to defend 3,000 points (Italian Open/French Open victories) over the next month or so, it certainly looks like the Belarusian will hold on to the number one spot for quite some time.
The 26-year-old has accumulated 36 total weeks as world number one, placing her 15th in the all-time list.
How has Aryna Sabalenka performed at the French Open during her tennis career?
Fleming thinks the world number one will pick up her maiden Roland Garros title next month, and when looking at form, the prediction makes a lot of sense.
But how has Sabalenka actually performed in the French capital over the years?
- 2024 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Mirra Andreeva in QF
- 2023 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Karolina Muchova in SF
- 2022 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Camila Giorgi in 3R
- 2021 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 3R
- 2020 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Ons Jabeur in 3R
- 2019 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Amanda Anisimova in 2R
- 2018 French Open – Aryna Sabalenka lost to Kiki Bertens in 1R
Sabalenka came closest to reaching the French Open final two years ago, when she lost a three-set thriller to Czech star Karolina Muchova, 6-7, 7-6, 5-7.
The three-time Major champion holds a 16-7 record (70%) at Roland Garros, but would no doubt love to take her game to another level on the clay in 2025 and lift the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup for the first time.
Sabalenka will begin her 2025 French Open campaign when the tournament begins on Sunday, May 25.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
