With Roland-Garros just days away, it’s time to take a clear look at the favorites in the men’s draw. Earlier in the clay season, the tournament looked like it could be unpredictable for the first time in years, with at least six players in serious contention. But the Rome Masters shut that idea down. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner showed they’re not planning to let anyone else near the title. At this point, any final that doesn’t feature the world’s top two players would be a surprise. Even dark horses like Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev, both still chasing their first Slam, can only hope for a breakthrough if Alcaraz or Sinner slip.
On Monday, as qualifying got underway in Paris, Alcaraz moved past Zverev to reclaim the No. 2 spot in the rankings, guaranteeing he won't land in Sinner’s half of the draw. The Spaniard had skipped Madrid but returned in time for Rome, just as Sinner came back from a three-month suspension. In the final, Alcaraz silenced the Italian crowd and made one thing clear: he’s ready to win on clay, even against the tour’s top-ranked player. It was Alcaraz, after all, who ended Sinner’s 26-match win streak, which had started last October after a loss to Carlos in Beijing.
Naturally, Novak Djokovic can’t be ruled out at a Slam. But the most decorated player in tennis, who turns 38 on May 22, the day of the draw, faces a huge physical challenge in best-of-five matches on clay. That said, his warmest memories are linked to Paris. It was here that Djokovic completed his tennis “quest,” finally adding the one missing piece to his legacy — Olympic gold. Since then, his 100th career title has remained out of reach. There’s little doubt he’ll get there eventually, but whether it happens at a Slam is another matter. In fact, Wimbledon’s faster surface may give him a better chance.
For the Russian players, reaching the second week in Paris would already count as a success, especially after none of them got past the third round in Australia. Could one of them go as far as the quarterfinals or beyond? Given recent results, that feels more like hope than expectation. In May, not a single Russian was ranked inside the ATP top 10, for the first time since the summer of 2019. That drop means tougher draws by default. Still, there are positives: Khachanov has always liked Paris and Roland-Garros in particular; Rublev’s best tennis often comes on clay; and Medvedev surprised everyone in Madrid and Rome with aggressive shot-making, proof that he’s still working on evolving his game and fighting his way back.
First & Red ambassador Alexander Bublik is also heading to Paris in a good mood, having just picked up a Challenger title in Turin, where the draw was anything but easy. Before arriving in the French capital, he’ll make one more stop at the ATP 500 in Hamburg. The Roland-Garros main draw begins Sunday, May 26.
