French Open 2025: A wide-open women's field at Roland Garros; who are the top 3 contenders?

French Open 2025: A wide-open women's field at Roland Garros; who are the top 3 contenders (AP Photo)

As the red clay of Roland Garros beckons for the 2025 French Open, the women's singles draw presents a fascinating and unpredictable landscape. With no single dominant force currently reigning supreme, the chase for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen feels more open than it has in years, promising thrilling battles and potential surprises.

The top contenders and their form...

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is a formidable opponent on clay (AP Photo)

The reigning "Queen of Hard Courts" has truly evolved into a versatile threat, demonstrating her prowess across all surfaces. Her powerful game, combining ferocious serves and groundstrokes with surprising finesse, has made her a formidable opponent on clay. Heading into Roland Garros, Sabalenka boasts an impressive win-loss record, highlighted by her third Madrid Open title this season where she decisively defeated Coco Gauff. Her belief in her clay-court ability is palpable, and her recent form suggests she's primed to capture her first Grand Slam on the red dirt. She's a clear frontrunner and incredibly hard to stop once she finds her rhythm.

French Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz’s tournament to lose; who are top 3 title contenders in men's event?

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff's athleticism and tenacious spirit make her a perennial threat to go deep in Paris (AP Photo)

Since her breakthrough US Open victory in 2023, Coco Gauff has been a blend of brilliant highs and challenging lows. However, her recent clay-court performances, including reaching the finals in Madrid and Rome, indicate a significant surge in form. Her improved forehand and serve, meticulously tweaked by her coach Matt Daly, are allowing her to be more aggressive and precise. Her decisive win over Iga Swiatek in the Madrid Open semifinals, Swiatek's most lopsided clay loss in years, will undoubtedly fuel her confidence. Gauff's athleticism and tenacious spirit make her a perennial threat to go deep in Paris, and she's hungry for a second Grand Slam title.

Mirra Andreeva

Mirra Andreeva is a genuine title threat (AP Photo)

At just 18 years old, Mirra Andreeva has burst onto the scene as a true prodigy, and she's now firmly entrenched as a top contender. Despite her youth, her tactical intelligence, powerful serve (often topping 120 mph), and fearless approach have allowed her to rack up impressive wins, including victories over Swiatek and Sabalenka this season. She's already lifted two WTA 1000 titles this year, showcasing her rapid ascent and ability to perform on the biggest stages. Her comfortable movement on clay and varied game, including deceptive drop shots, make her a dangerous opponent. With a 2024 Roland Garros semifinal run already under her belt, Andreeva is a genuine title threat.

Watch: Rafa Nadal honoured with ultimate footprint tribute at Roland Garros; Federer, Djokovic, Murray join celebration

The Dark Horse

The most intriguing dark horse is undoubtedly Jelena Ostapenko (AP Photo)

While the top contenders present strong cases, the French Open is notorious for its upsets. This year, the most intriguing dark horse is undoubtedly Jelena Ostapenko. A former Roland Garros champion from 2017, the Latvian powerhouse possesses an unbridled, go-for-broke style of play that, when clicking, can overwhelm anyone. What makes her particularly compelling is her astonishing 6-0 head-to-head record against Iga Swiatek, even on clay. While her consistency can be an issue, leading to early exits in some tournaments, her ability to beat and even crush top players, as evidenced by her recent win over Sabalenka in a final, makes her a truly unpredictable and dangerous opponent. If she can find her rhythm and maintain her aggressive game, she has the firepower to surprise the entire field and make a deep run, potentially shaking up the draw significantly.