As the 2025 French Open approaches, Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star and World No. 2, has sparked excitement by sharing her predictions for the women’s singles title at Roland Garros. Fresh off a stellar clay-court season, Gauff’s insights carry weight, given her own status as a former finalist and her recent dominance on the red dirt. In a candid interview, she named five players she believes are the top contenders to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, offering a glimpse into the fierce competition awaiting in Paris. Her selections—Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, and herself—reflect a mix of proven champions, rising stars, and her own confidence, setting the stage for a thrilling tournament.
Gauff’s first pick, Iga Swiatek, remains a towering figure on clay despite a challenging 2025. The Polish star, a four-time French Open champion, has struggled with form, slipping to World No. 5 after a title-less year since her 2024 Roland Garros triumph. “Iga’s always a threat here,” Gauff said, acknowledging Swiatek’s unparalleled clay-court pedigree. “Her game is built for this surface, and even if she’s not at her peak, you can never count her out.” Swiatek’s 11-4 head-to-head edge over Gauff, including a 6-1, 6-3 rout in the 2022 final, underscores her dominance, though Gauff’s recent 6-1, 6-1 victory over her in Madrid suggests the gap is narrowing. Swiatek’s ability to rediscover her “A game,” as tennis legend Chris Evert put it, will be crucial if she’s to reclaim her throne.
Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1, is another of Gauff’s favorites, and her inclusion is no surprise. The Belarusian’s powerful game has evolved, with her 2023 French Open semifinal run proving her clay-court prowess. “Aryna’s been so consistent, and her aggression is tough to handle,” Gauff noted. Sabalenka’s 2025 season, highlighted by a Madrid Open title over Gauff, positions her as a formidable contender. Her ability to overpower opponents with blistering groundstrokes, combined with improved movement on clay, makes her a threat to go one step further than her 2023 semifinal loss to Karolina Muchova. Facing Elena Rybakina in the first round, Sabalenka’s path is fraught with challenges, but her hunger for a first Roland Garros crown is undeniable.
Jasmine Paolini, the Italian sensation, earned Gauff’s nod after a breakout clay season. The 29-year-old World No. 4 stunned the tennis world by winning the Italian Open, defeating Gauff 6-3, 6-4 in the final. “Jasmine’s playing with so much confidence right now,” Gauff said, praising her opponent’s aggressive style. Paolini’s 2024 French Open singles final run and doubles gold with Sara Errani at the Paris Olympics have solidified her as a force. Her compact frame belies her powerful groundstrokes, and her recent victory over Gauff in Stuttgart shows she can compete with the elite. As an unseeded player, Paolini could face top seeds early, but her momentum makes her a dark horse.
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, rounds out Gauff’s top four. The Kazakh’s quiet dominance, marked by her lethal serve and versatile shot-making, has made her a consistent Grand Slam threat. “Elena’s game is so solid, and she can hurt you on any surface,” Gauff observed. Rybakina’s 2023 Australian Open final and 2024 Stuttgart title highlight her ability to peak at crucial moments. Despite never advancing beyond the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, her 2025 clay form, including a semifinal run in Madrid, suggests she’s ready to break through. Her first-round clash with Sabalenka is a blockbuster, but Gauff believes Rybakina’s composure could carry her deep.
Finally, Gauff included herself among the favorites, a bold yet justified choice. “I feel like I belong in that conversation,” she said confidently. Her 2025 clay campaign—finals in Madrid and Rome, plus a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Swiatek in Madrid—has showcased her growth. A 2022 finalist and 2024 doubles champion with Katerina Siniakova, Gauff’s speed, defensive grit, and improved forehand make her a clay-court menace. Yet, her 42 double faults at the Italian Open highlight a lingering serve issue that could prove costly. Facing qualifier Julia Riera in the first round, Gauff is poised for a deep run, but she’ll need to channel her “killer instinct,” as Jim Courier noted, to claim her first Roland Garros singles title.
Gauff’s selections reflect a tournament brimming with talent and unpredictability. With Swiatek’s dominance waning, Sabalenka’s power surging, Paolini’s fearless rise, Rybakina’s quiet threat, and Gauff’s own ascent, the women’s draw is wide open. “It’s going to be a battle,” Gauff predicted, her excitement palpable. As Roland Garros kicks off, her predictions set the tone for a dramatic fortnight, where resilience, skill, and heart will determine the champion.
As the 2025 French Open approaches, Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star and World No. 2, has sparked excitement by sharing her predictions for the women’s singles title at Roland Garros. Fresh off a stellar clay-court season, Gauff’s insights carry weight, given her own status as a former finalist and her recent dominance on the red dirt. In a candid interview, she named five players she believes are the top contenders to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, offering a glimpse into the fierce competition awaiting in Paris. Her selections—Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, and herself—reflect a mix of proven champions, rising stars, and her own confidence, setting the stage for a thrilling tournament.
Gauff’s first pick, Iga Swiatek, remains a towering figure on clay despite a challenging 2025. The Polish star, a four-time French Open champion, has struggled with form, slipping to World No. 5 after a title-less year since her 2024 Roland Garros triumph. “Iga’s always a threat here,” Gauff said, acknowledging Swiatek’s unparalleled clay-court pedigree. “Her game is built for this surface, and even if she’s not at her peak, you can never count her out.” Swiatek’s 11-4 head-to-head edge over Gauff, including a 6-1, 6-3 rout in the 2022 final, underscores her dominance, though Gauff’s recent 6-1, 6-1 victory over her in Madrid suggests the gap is narrowing. Swiatek’s ability to rediscover her “A game,” as tennis legend Chris Evert put it, will be crucial if she’s to reclaim her throne.
Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1, is another of Gauff’s favorites, and her inclusion is no surprise. The Belarusian’s powerful game has evolved, with her 2023 French Open semifinal run proving her clay-court prowess. “Aryna’s been so consistent, and her aggression is tough to handle,” Gauff noted. Sabalenka’s 2025 season, highlighted by a Madrid Open title over Gauff, positions her as a formidable contender. Her ability to overpower opponents with blistering groundstrokes, combined with improved movement on clay, makes her a threat to go one step further than her 2023 semifinal loss to Karolina Muchova. Facing Elena Rybakina in the first round, Sabalenka’s path is fraught with challenges, but her hunger for a first Roland Garros crown is undeniable.
Jasmine Paolini, the Italian sensation, earned Gauff’s nod after a breakout clay season. The 29-year-old World No. 4 stunned the tennis world by winning the Italian Open, defeating Gauff 6-3, 6-4 in the final. “Jasmine’s playing with so much confidence right now,” Gauff said, praising her opponent’s aggressive style. Paolini’s 2024 French Open singles final run and doubles gold with Sara Errani at the Paris Olympics have solidified her as a force. Her compact frame belies her powerful groundstrokes, and her recent victory over Gauff in Stuttgart shows she can compete with the elite. As an unseeded player, Paolini could face top seeds early, but her momentum makes her a dark horse.
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, rounds out Gauff’s top four. The Kazakh’s quiet dominance, marked by her lethal serve and versatile shot-making, has made her a consistent Grand Slam threat. “Elena’s game is so solid, and she can hurt you on any surface,” Gauff observed. Rybakina’s 2023 Australian Open final and 2024 Stuttgart title highlight her ability to peak at crucial moments. Despite never advancing beyond the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, her 2025 clay form, including a semifinal run in Madrid, suggests she’s ready to break through. Her first-round clash with Sabalenka is a blockbuster, but Gauff believes Rybakina’s composure could carry her deep.
Finally, Gauff included herself among the favorites, a bold yet justified choice. “I feel like I belong in that conversation,” she said confidently. Her 2025 clay campaign—finals in Madrid and Rome, plus a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Swiatek in Madrid—has showcased her growth. A 2022 finalist and 2024 doubles champion with Katerina Siniakova, Gauff’s speed, defensive grit, and improved forehand make her a clay-court menace. Yet, her 42 double faults at the Italian Open highlight a lingering serve issue that could prove costly. Facing qualifier Julia Riera in the first round, Gauff is poised for a deep run, but she’ll need to channel her “killer instinct,” as Jim Courier noted, to claim her first Roland Garros singles title.
Gauff’s selections reflect a tournament brimming with talent and unpredictability. With Swiatek’s dominance waning, Sabalenka’s power surging, Paolini’s fearless rise, Rybakina’s quiet threat, and Gauff’s own ascent, the women’s draw is wide open. “It’s going to be a battle,” Gauff predicted, her excitement palpable. As Roland Garros kicks off, her predictions set the tone for a dramatic fortnight, where resilience, skill, and heart will determine the champion.
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