By Tony Fairbairn
- Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff lead the charge to dethrone Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.
- Top Seeds: Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini
- British Interest: Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Sonay Kartal, Emma Raducanu
PARIS, FRANCE – Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff lead the charge to attempt to dethrone defending champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.
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[1] Aryna Sabalenka
Best Result: Semi-Final (2023)
World number one Sabalenka suffered a shock setback in Rome but will be hoping to produce her best tennis when it matters most as she bids to reach the final in Paris for the first time.
Sabalenka’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Kamilla Rakhimova | H2H: Sabalenka leads 2-0
- R2: Jil Teichmann | H2H: Sabalenka leads 1-0
- R3: Leylah Fernandez [27] | H2H: Fernandez leads 1-0
- R4: Amanda Anismova [16] | H2H: Anisimova leads 5-2
- QF: Qinwen Zheng [8] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 6-1
- SF: Jasmine Paolini [4] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 5-2
- F: Coco Gauff [2] | H2H: Tied at 5-5
It’s a favourable draw for Sabalenka with Kamilla Rakhimova and Jil Teichmann expected to be easy opponents for the world number one. A sterner test will arrive in the third round in the form of Danielle Collins or Leylah Fernandez who have both proven in the past that they can provide stern tests on clay. In the fourth round one of Amanda Anisimova, Clara Tauson or even Petra Kvitova will test Sabalenka’s title credentials before the top seed searches for Rome revenge over Qinwen Zheng. Overall this is an achievable draw for Sabalenka as she searches for a first final in Paris but will need to be aware of a potential semi-final against Paolini or Iga Swiatek as she will look to keep her emotions under control with so much on the line against fierce rivals.
[2] Coco Gauff
Best Result: Final (2022)
Back-to-back finals for Gauff in Madrid and Rome will give the American confidence but now Gauff will need to go one better if she wants to claim a second Grand Slam title.
Gauff’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Olivia Gadecki | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Chloe Paquet | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Anna Kalinskaya [30] | H2H: Kalinskaya leads 1-0
- R4: Barbora Krejcikova [15] | H2H: Krejcikova leads 2-0
- QF: Madison Keys [7] | H2H: Keys leads 3-2
- SF: Jessica Pegula [3] | H2H: Pegula leads 4-2
- F: Aryna Sabalenka [1] | H2H: Tied at 5-5
Gauff has a relatively comfortable opening two matches but could have some difficulties in the third round against Anna Kalinskaya. A potential fourth round against either former champion Barbora Krejcikova or Ekaterina Alexandrova will test Gauff’s skillset on clay while a quarter-final with Madison Keys could be one of the matches of the year. This is a decent draw for Gauff with this being the American’s best chance to win a Roland Garros title. An easier half of the draw can work in Gauff’s favour but the second seed now needs to show she can elevate her game when it matters most given her final defeats in Spain and Italy.
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[3] Jessica Pegula
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2022)
It hasn’t been the best clay court season for Pegula, but the American is aiming to build on her improved Grand Slam form over the last 12 months.
Pegula’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Anca Todoni | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Ann Li | H2H: Li leads 1-0
- R3: Magdalena Frech [25] | H2H: Pegula leads 3-0
- R4: Karolina Muchova [14] | H2H: Pegula leads 2-0
- QF: Mirra Andreeva [6] | H2H: First Meeting
- SF: Coco Gauff [2] | H2H: Pegula leads 4-2
- F: Aryna Sabalenka [1] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 7-2
Pegula will be fairly happy with her opening two rounds but in the third round either Marketa Vondrousova or Ons Jabeur could await with both being former Grand Slam finalists. Should a healthy version of Karolina Muchova turn up then that will be an extremely difficult last 16 clash with last year’s semi-finalist Mirra Andreeva awaiting in the last eight. The American has a doable run to a potential second Roland Garros quarter-final but that is where Pegula’s journey is expected to end.
[4] Jasmine Paolini
Best Result: Final (2024)
Last year’s finalist couldn’t be in much better form having won the singles and doubles final in Rome as she is now full of confidence heading into Roland Garros.
Paolini’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Yue Yuan | H2H: Paolini leads 2-0
- R2: Maya Joint | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Linda Noskova [29] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Elina Svitolina [13] | H2H: Svitolina leads 1-0
- QF: Iga Swiatek [5] | H2H: Swiatek leads 4-0
- SF: Aryna Sabalenka [1] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 5-2
- F: Coco Gauff [2] | H2H: Tied at 2-2
A comfortable first two rounds for Paolini in this draw although Ajla Tomljanovic or Maya Joint offer different things to throw the Italian off her game. A fourth round match against Elina Svitolina promises to be one of the matches of the tournament before a potential quarter-final showdown with Swiatek. This will be a good test of Paolini’s belief and confidence and should the Italian play her best tennis then there is no reason why she shouldn’t be considered a contender for the title.
Roland Garros begins on the 25th of May and concludes on the eighth of June.
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