This year’s player line-up is guaranteed to deliver a fortnight worth of drama, intense rivalries, and standout performances from both established champions and breakthrough stars.

We’ve picked out a selection of players we think you should keep an eye on at Roland Garros this year - from past champions, to in-form players and dark horses.

Jack Draper

A breakthrough into the world’s top five, a maiden Masters 1000 title and a runner-up finish at the Mutua Madrid Open - it’s safe to say Jack Draper is one of the most in-form on the ATP Tour this year.

While the Brit began this clay court swing with fairly limited experience on the surface, he quickly adapted to the challenge, proving that he has the game to do damage on all surfaces. So far this year, Draper has already beaten the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune.

The British No.1 has yet to advance past the first round at Roland Garros, but with his game fuelled by confidence, Draper is a player many will fear heading into Paris.

Jelena Ostapenko

Former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko has shown signs of a resurgence during a standout start to the 2025 season.

After coming close to lifting the WTA 1000 title at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, Ostapenko hit the ground running on the clay at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, where won her first trophyof the year.

During her run to the silverware in Stuttgart, the world No.18 secured her sixth consecutive win over reigning Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek before beating world No.1 Aryna Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 in the final.

The Latvian won’t just be a favourite to go the distance in the singles draw, but will also be a strong threat in doubles. Ostapenko is currently sitting at a career-high of world No.4 in the doubles after winning the Credit One Charleston Open and Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.

Iga Swiatek 

World No.2 Swiatek is creating history at Roland Garros.

12 months ago, the Pole collected her third consecutive French Open title, matching Serena Williams as the last tennis player to win three successive titles at one slam (US Open 2012-2014).

In achieving the three-peat, Swiatek solidified her status as one of the most successful clay court players of all time and will undoubtedly be the one to beat heading into this year’s tournament.

Despite that, it’s been a mixed start to the clay swing for Swiatek, who failed to defend her titles in Stuttgart and Madrid but what better place to bounce back than on the courts where she’s claimed four of her five Grand Slam trophies?

Carlos Alcaraz

Last year’s tournament saw Carlos Alcaraz realise his childhood dream as he claimed his first Roland Garros title. 

The four-time Grand Slam champion took down the likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner on his way to the final where he edged Alexander Zverev in an epic five-set thriller.

The world No.3 kick-started his 2025 clay court campaign with an impressive victory at the Monte Carlo Masters title before backing that up with a final appearance at the Barcelona Open where he fell short in a close battle against Holger Rune.

With the defending champion bouncing back to action from a recent injury, he’ll be hoping he can make it two from two in the French capital.

Aryna Sabalenka

All three of Sabalenka's Grand Slam titles have come on the hard courts, but that doesn't mean she should be ruled out as a frontrunner to lift the title at Roland Garros.

Of her 20 WTA titles, only three have come on the clay at the Mutua Madrid Open. The world No.1 has dominated the field in Madrid over the last five years, having beaten Coco Gauff, Swiatek and Ashleigh Barty on her way to victory.

The 27-year-old’s best run on Parisian clay came in 2023 where she reached the final four but after bowing out in last year’s quarter-finals to young star Mirra Andreeva, Sabalenka will be hoping her luck will turn when she returns later this month.

Heading into Roland Garros, many believe it will be a battle between Sabalenka and Swiatek to determine who emerges victorious, and it’ll no doubt be a rilvalry you’ll want to watch unfold.

Casper Ruud

This year’s Madrid Open saw Casper Ruud get his hands around a long-awaited Masters 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open.

The past few years has seen Ruud establish himself as one of the Tour’s most dangerous clay court players with the recent Madrid Open final against British No.1 Draper marking his 18th final on the clay. 

Amongst those are two Roland Garros finals (2022, 2023) where he was marginally beaten by 14-time champion Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Now hitting peak form just weeks out from the tournament, the Norwegian will arrive in Paris as one of the leading favourites on the red clay and a serious contender for the men’s singles crown.

Sonay Kartal

When it comes to British interest, you’ll want to add Sonay Kartal to your list of players to watch in Paris.

The 23-year-old Brit has enjoyed a sensational rise up the WTA rankings over the past 12 months thanks to her unique game style that has caused plenty of trouble for her opponents.

If you’re not familiar with Kartal’s game, you can expect to see plenty of spin, depth and long rallies - making for an entertaining viewing on the clay. 

The British No.3 demonstrated the heights she can reach on the surface at the Lexus GB team’s recent Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier against Germany and the Netherlands, where she secured wins over Jule Niemeier and Eva Vedder to help the Brits book their spot in the Finals.

Kartal may still be finding her feet on the Grand Slam stage but a game fit for the clay, she could be one to rock the boat at the second major of the year.

Novak Djokovic 

While it’s been over a year since he won a tour-level title, you can’t rule out Novak Djokovic.

Last summer, the Serbian achieved one of the few remaining feats in his extraordinary career - capturing an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.

Among his vast collection of 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has etched his name on the Roland Garros trophy three times with his most recent triumph coming in 2023. 

While it’s been almost two years since the 37-year-old reached the final of a major, there’s no better place to reignite the fire than the place where he claimed gold almost 12 months ago.

Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina has thrived on the clay so far this year.

The Ukrainian has reached the quarter-final at Roland Garros on four previous occasions, but her recent form on the clay suggests she could surpass her tournament best this time out in Paris.

April saw Svitolina win her first title of the year at the Rouen Open where she wrapped up the crown without dropping a set. Riding the momentum, Svitolina was spurred on to the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open, where she was denied a spot in the final by eventual champion Sabalenka.

Currently resting at No.14 in the WTA rankings, Svitolina is primed for another deep run at a Grand Slam and could be a dark horse this year.

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