Expert picks: Who will win Roland Garros in 2025?

PRATT: “Zverev always seems to find something special at the French, so he’s one to look out for.”

SA: "I think Casper Ruud and Lorenzo Musetti are probably the big names who can challenge those two, and you can never count out Novak Djokovic as well; I mean, the guy's a machine. But we'll see. It will be interesting to see."

REA: "I've been incredibly taken by Draper's 2025, and I think potentially he's pretty well suited to the clay. Certainly I think if it's dry, warm and lively, I think that will be right up his alley. I think he continues to go from strength to strength. He's not been on the scene long; if you look through his Grand Slam history, it's relatively light on. So there's a lot of upside there that still exists for Draper. Musetti I think has been really consistent; he brings a different element to the sport in terms of that counterpunching element and some of the variety... And then there's Holger Rune, who you can't discount. Talk about bringing firepower; if he brings his best tennis then good luck stopping him if he gets up and going. I think he's got the weapons to be able to take into that type of match-up and threaten those guys [like Sinner and Alcaraz].”

How do you think Iga Swiatek is placed, given her current form yet status as the three-time defending champion?

DELLACQUA: "I just know when you're in a form slump, and some of the results and scorelines, it's very worrying for me -- 6-0 against Madison Keys in Madrid was tough. A 6-1 6-1 result against Coco Gauff, that is a tough one to take as well. Watching her on court, seeing her just look unsure of herself. When she's walking up to the line to serve, just the doubt in her mind. The fact that she's obviously struggling so much with the mentality of where she is at the moment, it's absolutely affecting her physicality of her game.”

MASUR: “That gets a little bit back to the Novak question. Even though he's battling, can you discount him at the French over five where he’s been historically so hard to beat? And I think a little bit for Iga; she walks through those gates, does it give her that little bit of a lift? And there's so much belief given what she's achieved there. But I do find it interesting; it's not just the loss, it's some of the scorelines. You can lose some tight matches where maybe you're just a bit down on confidence and you're losing some of the big points that you normally win. But there was that match, I think it was Madrid, it was 1 and 1 [against Gauff]. That's surprising. I don't care how good you are, that's gotta dent your confidence a little bit.”

PRATT: “I feel Iga has been playing with pressure. Coming into clay she was trying to defend titles every week and it showed in her form. She always needs to play with intensity but the balance is out. As defending champ in Paris she needs to allow herself to breathe and enjoy the contest more if she wants to hold the trophy again.”

SA: "Well I think Iga is struggling a little bit. I mean, her mind is a little bit off. But every great champion in the big moments, they find a way, and I think she's going to be coming into Roland Garros as still a favourite. It's her favourite tournament to play and as a tennis player, you always find an extra gear when you are at your favourite place. So I'm pretty sure she's gonna try her hardest and is gonna do well."

REA: "I’d love to be inside the camp, because do you see that as a burden coming in, perhaps being a little bit more vulnerable or uncertain after some really unusually one-sided losses? Or do you look at it glass-half-full, turn the page, walk into Roland Garros [with her record] and every other player has the fear-factor [against her]? That's a whole new ballgame. I think that's the coaching challenge that awaits. I think potentially the field look at her as more gettable than they have over the last five years, but I think it's still gonna take a hell of an effort from someone to knock her off at Roland Garros.”

Could we see a new winner on the women’s side in Paris? And if so, who might it be?

DELLACQUA: I think this is probably the best chance in years. This is Sabalenka’s best chance to win a Roland Garros title, I believe. I think she’s in great form. After Madrid, it’s really hard then to go to Rome and continue that form. When you get to Sabalenka’s level, they’re going for records, they’re going for Slams, this is when they want to hit their peak. For Sabalenka, that Australian Open final that she lost against Madison Keys, I think she’ll want to bounce back from that. I think she’s in the best form to win this Roland Garros.”

MASUR: “Quite possibly. Gauff has improved on clay, no question about it. Paolini, I mean, wow. What a great couple of years she's had, so let's not discount her. Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Paolini – there's some names there that you sort of go, Hey, they're in form, they can win this. But I think like the men, there's a host of players that can do damage. Whether they can go on to win, it's completely another matter. Like Svitolina, Qinwen Zheng, played really well [in Rome]. Good athlete. And then you look at a young Mirra Andreeva, she just gets better all the time. Maybe this is a bit of a breakout major for her? Madison Keys on her day – not necessarily a claycourt player, but still very dangerous, because she's such a good shot maker and she's playing a little more judiciously, better shot selection.”

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