Jannik Sinner favored in French Open draw

Jannik Sinner heads into Roland Garros as the player the men’s draw now runs through. The Italian arrives in Paris on a 29-match winning streak, and the biggest obstacle from the past two French Opens is not in the field: Carlos Alcaraz, the back-to-back champion, is out with a wrist injury. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff returns as defending champion in a field that still includes Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina. Main-draw play begins Sunday, May 24, at Roland Garros in Paris. ### Why is Sinner the center of the men’s draw? Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, arrives after titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome, according to CBS Sports. That run has pushed his winning streak to 29 matches entering the tournament and left him one French Open title away from completing the career Grand Slam. Carlos Alcaraz changed the shape of the draw by missing the tournament with a wrist injury. (cbssports.com) CBS Sports reported that Alcaraz, who won the last two French Open men’s titles, has also pulled out of Wimbledon later this summer. ### Who is left to challenge him in Paris? Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fils are among the names most often cited as Sinner’s main threats. (cbssports.com) CBS Sports listed Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, and Zverev among the leading challengers, while Roland Garros coverage and other previews have placed Fils among the home hopes in Paris. Novak Djokovic opens against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Stan Wawrinka, in what CBS Sports called his final Roland Garros appearance, faces Arthur Fils in the first round. CBS Sports also noted that Djokovic and Sinner would only meet if both reached the final. ### What does Gauff’s title defense look like? Coco Gauff begins against fellow American Taylor Townsend after winning last year’s title by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. (cbssports.com) The official Roland Garros site said Gauff and Sabalenka landed in the same half of the draw, which means a rematch of the 2025 final cannot happen in this year’s championship match. Coco Gauff said recently in Rome that she is trying to treat the event as “just another tournament” rather than as a title defense. CBS Sports quoted her saying, “I won it last year. I’ll try again to do it this year,” while adding, “I’m not going to be able to defend every year. I’m not Rafa (el Nadal).” ### How crowded is the women’s contender list? (rolandgarros.com) Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff form what Tennis.com called a “core four” in the women’s field. Tennis.com said Sabalenka is No. 1, Rybakina No. 2, Swiatek No. 3 and Gauff No. 4, with no clear runaway favorite entering Paris. The official Roland Garros preview said Sabalenka opens against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while Gauff faces Townsend in an all-American first-round match. (cbssports.com) The same preview said Gauff could run into Amanda Anisimova or Linda Noskova later in the draw, while Sabalenka’s projected quarterfinal threats include Jessica Pegula or Victoria Mboko. (tennis.com) ### When does the tournament start, and what are the next dates? Roland Garros begins Sunday, May 24, at Roland-Garros Stadium in Paris, CBS Sports said. Heavy’s draw and schedule coverage said the women’s singles final is set for Saturday, June 6, and the men’s singles final for Sunday, June 7. Prize money for the singles champions has risen to $3.2 million, CBS Sports reported. (rolandgarros.com) The opening round starts Sunday across the tournament grounds, with Sinner chasing his first Paris title and Gauff trying to become the first repeat women’s champion at Roland Garros since Iga Swiatek’s run ended before the 2025 event. (cbssports.com)