Mats Wilander predicts how Carlos Alcaraz will perform at the French Open next month as he looks to defend his title

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Mats Wilander assesses how he thinks Carlos Alcaraz will perform at the French Open.

In 2024 the Spaniard produced the majority of his best tennis during the summer, as Alcaraz claimed the title in Paris, in addition to winning his second successive Wimbledon crown.

2025 has been a more challenging one for Alcaraz, who has just one title to his name so far this season.

The 21-year-old will commence the European clay court season following an opening-round loss in Miami, but he will be more determined than ever to build his form ahead of Roland Garros.

Mats Wilander predicts how Carlos Alcaraz will do at the French Open

With the European clay court season due to begin, players will be looking to build their form ahead of the French Open.

One player who will relish this opportunity more than most is Carlos Alcaraz, who missed most of this portion of the 2024 season due to injury.

Despite the inconsistencies he has shown so far this year, Mats Wilander backs the World number three to have a strong French Open, despite thinking that clay is not his best surface.

“He can bounce back at any time. That’s the thing about Carlos Alcaraz. He could bounce back within two weeks because of the way he plays tennis,” the Swede told TNT Sports.

“Even though he won the French Open last year, I’m not sure clay is his best surface, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he goes and wins the French Open again, and does a repeat, because that’s the quality that he brings.

“I’m just saying that I think these results will happen here and there. Unfortunately, they have been happening in some Grand Slam tournaments.

“But I do think it’s more in the regular tournaments that Carlos Alcaraz will have problems and I do think that he will bounce back and do well at the French Open.”

How did Carlos Alcaraz win the 2024 French Open?

There were doubts surrounding Alcaraz’s fitness heading into the 2024 French Open after he missed the Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona and the Italian Open.

Wearing a protective sleeve on his right arm, Alcaraz dispatched JJ Wolf in the opening round, before needing four sets to get past Jesper De Jong.

A hat-trick of straight set wins against Sebastian Korda, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stefanos Tsitsipas followed, which set up a semi-final showdown against Jannik SInner.

The pair duelled for five sets before Alcaraz prevailed, and standing between him and a first French Open title was Alexander Zverev.

The German opened up a two sets to one lead, before Alcaraz stormed back to claim a 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 victory in four hours and 19 minutes.