Jannik Sinner favorite at French Open

Jannik Sinner arrived at Roland Garros this week as the leading figure in the men’s draw after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament with a wrist injury in April, removing the two-time defending champion before play began. The official Roland Garros site said Alcaraz would be sidelined until at least June, leaving the Paris major without the player who beat Sinner in the 2025 final. (rolandgarros.com) CBS Sports said Sinner is pursuing a career Grand Slam in Paris, while Coco Gauff opened the tournament as the defending women’s champion. (rolandgarros.com) ### Why is Sinner being treated as the man to beat? Jannik Sinner’s position at the top of the draw has become more pronounced because Alcaraz is not in the field. (rolandgarros.com) Roland Garros’ draw preview quoted seven-time major champion John McEnroe as saying, “To me, ultimately, it’s Sinner against the field, and I’d take Sinner right now.” BBC Sport described Sinner as the biggest men’s favorite in Paris since Rafael Nadal’s peak years, according to the briefing provided for this story. The tournament’s own coverage also framed the draw around Sinner’s path through the field. (rolandgarros.com) ### What happened to Carlos Alcaraz? Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Roland Garros on April 24 because of a wrist injury, the tournament said. The official site said the Spaniard had already pulled out of Barcelona and decided not to play Madrid before announcing on social media that he would remain out until at least June. (rolandgarros.com) The 2026 tournament is the first Roland Garros Alcaraz has missed since 2021, according to the official event site. His absence removed the reigning champion and the player who had beaten Sinner in an “epic final” last June, the tournament said. (rolandgarros.com) ### What is at stake for Sinner in Paris? CBS Sports said Sinner is chasing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros. That means a French Open title would complete the set of major singles titles for the Italian. The official Roland Garros draw coverage has centered on Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev among the main names in the men’s bracket. (rolandgarros.com) With Alcaraz out, the tournament’s preview and outside commentary have both placed Sinner at the center of the title conversation. ### Where does Coco Gauff fit into the opening week? Coco Gauff entered the 2026 event as defending champion after winning the 2025 French Open, CBS Sports reported. Its draw coverage listed her as the returning women’s titleholder, and separate CBS reporting from last year said she beat Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 final for her first Roland Garros title. (cbssports.com) The women’s side opens with Gauff trying to defend the clay-court major she won a year ago, while the men’s side begins without its reigning champion. That split has made Sinner’s position in the men’s field one of the defining storylines of the opening days. (rolandgarros.com) ### Where can readers follow the tournament from here? Roland Garros has posted the 2026 draws, order of play and live tournament coverage on its official site. The tournament’s published dates run from May 18 to June 7, and the official results page is carrying the men’s and women’s singles brackets as matches begin in Paris. (rolandgarros.com) (cbssports.com)