The French Open is now into its second week, with WTA stars Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff all remaining in the Grand Slam.
Gauff faces Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the French Open, with Sabalenka and Swiatek both already into the quarter-finals.
Elena Rybakina thinks Swiatek can win the French Open, having just lost their fourth round encounter at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka may be encouraged by Swiatek, who needed to come from behind to defeat Rybakina and set up a meeting with Elina Svitolina.
The WTA number one meanwhile takes on Qinwen Zheng in the quarter-finals of the French Open, the second Grand Slam of 2025.
Paul Annacone picks French Open favourite between Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff
And after the latest wins from Sabalenka and Swiatek, Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone has shared his verdict on his favourite to lift the trophy between the duo.
He said on Tennis Channel: “I still lean with Sabalenka. Before the tournament, I felt like she was a little bit of a favourite.
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“I think everybody’s second favourite to Coco. That’s my own just gut feeling from what I’ve seen from Coco on the clay, and I think this is her time. But those two are right there as well, and I just give Sabalenka a little edge.”
Tracy Austin makes ‘important’ Aryna Sabalenka claim as she reaches French Open quarter-finals
It was WTA number four Jasmine Paolini who entered the French Open as arguably the most in-form player.
She won the Italian Open right before Roland Garros, and even clinched the doubles title in Rome last month.
But she fell in the fourth round in Paris to Svitolina, who can now pull off another huge upset if she gets past Swiatek.
The Pole has won the French Open in each of the last three years, picking up final wins over Gauff, Karolina Muchova and Paolini.
Sabalenka meanwhile has only ever reached the semi-finals of the clay-court Grand Slam, but former professional Tracy Austin is confident of her chances this year after a hard-fought fourth round win over Amanda Anisimova.
“Well, I think that Sabalenka knew that she had to be very focused right from the beginning,” commented Austin.
“I called her match where she lost to her in Toronto last summer, where she lost to Anisimova. And Anisimova has that ability to hit the ball early, to rob Sabalenka of time, particularly on that forehand side.
“I actually think this match was important for Sabalenka if she wants to win this tournament, because the first three rounds, she was winning so easily.
“And it’s going to get tougher with each round as you move your way through a Grand Slam. Next up for her, Zheng, who she lost to in Rome.
“And so now she’s hit against a player that hits so hard in Anisimova, she got used to that power with Zheng right around the corner and fought her way through. She needed to kind of toughen up. You know, have those tough moments in sets.”
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