Roland Garros has now arrived, with the top WTA and ATP players soon to be aware of their potential routes to the final.
The draws for the clay-court Grand Slam will be confirmed shortly, where a long list of star-studded players are involved.
WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka has been tipped to win Roland Garros, but the likes of Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and defending champion Coco Gauff will all be eager to ensure that doesn’t happen.
The ATP draw is perhaps less competitive following the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz, although icons such as Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev will still like their chances of stopping world number one Jannik Sinner.
There are, however, several unseeded WTA and ATP players that nobody will want to face at Roland Garros, with five standing out in particular.
Jannik Sinner is now a bigger favorite to win Roland Garros than Rafael Nadal ever was
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Qinwen Zheng
Qinwen Zheng is perhaps the leading woman to watch in terms of unseeded WTA players at Roland Garros, where she has a 10-4 record.
The Chinese superstar has fallen to 53rd in the WTA rankings after undergoing elbow surgery in 2025, shortly before which she won 2024 Paris Olympic gold and lost the finals of the 2024 Australian Open and WTA Finals.
Barbora Krejcikova
One unseeded player that has previously managed to go all the way in Grand Slams – and then some – is Barbora Krejcikova.
She claimed the Roland Garros title as an unseeded player in 2021, also winning Wimbledon in 2024, along with seven doubles titles and three mixed doubles titles.
Alexandra Eala
Yet to claim a career WTA win, rising star Alexandra Eala remains a big threat thanks to her ongoing rise and many impressive upsets.
Moreover, the player who beat Swiatek, Madison Keys and Jelena Ostapenko in Miami in 2025 boasts a remarkable following that could really motivate her in Paris, and in turn unnerve her opponents.
Who is your favorite player – Alexandra Eala or Coco Gauff?
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Gael Monfils
One ATP player who should also receive heavy support in the French capital is Gael Monfils, who has been given a wildcard for his 18th appearance at the event.
It marks his final time at Roland Garros ahead of his retirement from tennis, with the iconic Frenchman certain to want to put on one final show for his adoring fans, which certainly isn’t welcome news for his opponents.
Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka is also playing his last-ever French Open ahead of his retirement, and is another who will be eager to go out on a high before hanging up his racket.
Again, the Swiss legend will receive heavy backing from the supporters, while he clearly knows what it takes to go all the way in Paris, reaching two finals and winning one.
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