World number one Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to claim his maiden French Open title after two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament with a right wrist injury.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was forced to pull out of Roland-Garros following medical tests on his wrist.
Alcaraz had previously enjoyed a stellar start to the year, capturing his first Australian Open title to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
His absence clears the path for the top seed to secure his own career Grand Slam at the age of 24.
Unstoppable form on the clay
The Italian arrives in Paris in devastating form following a brutal 6-1 6-2 victory over Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open final.
That 57-minute demolition earned him a fifth successive Masters 1000 crown.
It adds to an incredible run of recent triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.
His sheer dominance is starkly reflected in the live ATP rankings.
The 24-year-old currently leads third-ranked Zverev by an astonishing 8,095 points.
To highlight the massive disparity, the world number 1,000 is closer in points to the German than Zverev is to the tour leader.
A devastating blow for tennis
The untimely withdrawal robs spectators of a highly anticipated battle between the sport’s two brightest stars.
Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend described the Spaniard’s injury as terrible news for the tournament.
“It’s pretty devastating because in men’s tennis it means Sinner and Alcaraz.”
“They’ve played many times already in their young rivalry but if we’re really honest they haven’t played a classic match since the French Open final of last season.”
Recent encounters on the tour have failed to replicate the high drama of their epic 2025 Roland-Garros showdown.
A largely one-sided clash in difficult Monte Carlo conditions saw the former Parisian champion capitulate in the closing stages.
“Are we ever going to hit the heights of Roland-Garros 2025 again? I hope we do, but we’ve had these one-sided matches and now we have the injury to Alcaraz, which is going to prevent us from seeing another battle between the top two for a couple of months at the earliest.”
A group of the world’s leading tennis players have expressed deep disappointment with the French Open prize money distribution, arguing they receive a declining share of tournament revenues.
Organisers of the Paris major recently announced a 9.5% increase in the total prize pot to €61.7m (£53.7m) for this year’s event.
However, elite competitors from both the ATP and WTA tours are frustrated that their overall revenue share is projected to drop to just 14.3%.
Push for revenue parity
High-profile stars including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have long advocated for a larger percentage of the income generated by the four grand slams.
The group are pushing for a figure closer to the 22% slice awarded at mixed events that offer equal prize money, such as Indian Wells and the Italian Open.
In response to the criticism, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) maintained that this year’s financial boost was specifically targeted at those exiting the clay-court tournament in the early rounds and qualifying stages.
Official figures show an 11% pay increase for players eliminated in the first three rounds, compared to a 9.8% bump for the eventual singles champions.
Players demand structural reform
Beyond immediate financial concerns, the leading names remain deeply dissatisfied with a perceived lack of consultation regarding the broader governance of the sport.
As Roland Garros looks to post record revenues, players are therefore receiving a declining share of the value they help create.
A collective statement argued that the grand slams remain resistant to change, failing to adequately invest in player welfare while other major international sports modernise.
The absence of player consultation and the continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who are central to the sport’s success.
The cohort initially outlined these proposals in a joint letter to all four major tournaments last March, seeking meaningful progress in fair financial distribution and administrative transparency.
Jannik Sinner has secured a record-breaking fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title by thrashing Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 in under an hour to win the Madrid Open on Sunday.
The Italian required just 58 minutes to dismantle his German opponent and claim the most comprehensive of straight-sets victories.
Storming into an immediate lead, the relentless baseliner restricted Zverev to a mere five points across the opening five games before taking the first set 6-1.
Dominant streak continues
The 24-year-old maintained his phenomenal momentum in the second set by breaking serve twice more to seal the championship with a 6-2 scoreline.
With this triumph in the Spanish capital, the world-class right-hander extends an astonishing 28-match winning streak at the prestigious Masters 1000 level.
This remarkable run includes consecutive trophy lifts in Paris late last year, followed by unparalleled success at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and now Madrid.
Chasing tennis immortality
By advancing to Sunday’s showpiece event, the San Candido native became the youngest player in history to reach the final of all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
He joins an exclusive and elite club featuring only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic to have achieved such a significant career milestone.
Attention now immediately turns to the Italian Open in Rome, which commences on May 4, where a hometown victory would cement his legacy even further.
Should the nine-time Masters champion triumph on the iconic red clay of the Foro Italico, he will complete a highly coveted career Golden Masters sweep.
Currently, only the 40-time Masters 1000 champion Djokovic has ever managed to win all nine active tournaments at this elite tier.
Marta Kostyuk has won her first WTA 1000 title by defeating Mirra Andreeva 6-3 7-5 in the Madrid Open final on Saturday.
The 23-year-old overpowered her teenage opponent in an impressive straight-sets victory in the Spanish capital.
Securing the biggest triumph of her career to date, the Ukrainian celebrated the landmark win by performing an acrobatic backflip on the clay court.
Dominant display on the clay
Kostyuk dictated the tempo from the baseline during the opening set, breaking serve decisively to establish an early advantage.
Despite facing firmer resistance in the second set, the newly crowned champion held her nerve to close out the match without dropping a set.
This impressive result highlights an exceptional run of form on the red dirt as the European clay-court swing gathers momentum.
Building momentum ahead of Roland Garros
Claiming a trophy of this magnitude provides a significant boost to her ranking and confidence with the French Open rapidly approaching.
Meanwhile, reaching a prestigious WTA 1000 final represents another major milestone in the rapidly developing career of her highly touted opponent.
Both players will now look to carry this promising form into the upcoming Italian Open in Rome.
World number two Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the French Open with a wrist injury, prompting Italian pundits to blame the 22-year-old’s off-court passion for golf and video games for the setback.
The Spaniard’s latest physical issue brings a premature end to his European clay-court campaign.
He had already been forced to pull out of recent tournaments in Barcelona and Madrid due to the persistent problem.
His absence at Roland Garros means the defending champion will be unable to pursue a third consecutive title in Paris.
Questions raised over off-court habits
As the reigning French Open winner focuses on rehabilitation, his lifestyle away from the tennis circuit has come under intense scrutiny.
Reports from Eurosport Italia suggest that excessive time spent on the golf course may have exacerbated the inflammation in his wrist.
Pundits have also pointed to long hours playing video games with friends as another potential aggravating factor.
Commentator Jacopo Lo Monaco argued on the Schiaffo Al Volo podcast that elite athletes must sometimes sacrifice their hobbies to preserve their bodies.
‘A life of sacrifice’
“The wrist is vulnerable, and sometimes you have to take care of your body while also understanding that, as a professional athlete, you may have to give up things you enjoy because it could make the situation worse.”
Lo Monaco suggested that the repetitive strain from gaming controllers or swinging a golf club could easily inflame delicate joints.
“Spending hours playing video games can cause pain in your fingers, hands, or wrists after a while, if you keep playing.”
The broadcaster further questioned whether the inflammation would have developed at all without these extracurricular activities, noting that rivals like world number one Jannik Sinner make greater personal sacrifices.
Wimbledon participation in doubt
Attention now turns to whether the talented right-hander will recover in time for the impending grass-court season.
He remains officially entered to defend his crown at Queen’s Club in June.
However, widespread reports indicate he is a major doubt for Wimbledon, which begins on 29 June.
Medical experts and his coaching team may decide to delay his return until the summer hard-court swing to ensure a complete and safe recovery.
Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 19th birthday by making history at the Madrid Open, while defending men’s champion Casper Ruud suffered a shock quarter-final defeat.
The ninth seed defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 7-6 (10-8) to become the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals.
Baptiste had previously stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals, but found her giant-killing run abruptly halted in the Spanish capital.
The Russian teenager dominated the opening exchanges, winning every point behind her first serve to claim the first set.
A tense finish in the Spanish capital
She continued that relentless serving rhythm to build a commanding 5-3 lead in the second set, before a late resurgence from her American opponent.
Baptiste valiantly saved a match point and broke back, eventually forcing a tense tie-break where she held two set points.
However, the birthday girl held her nerve to erase the deficit and convert her third match point.
“I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I’m still nervous,” Andreeva said.
“I’m so happy that I won and I was able to save all those set points. I was very happy with the way I was able to serve. I cannot find a lot of words to describe how I am feeling right now.”
Ruud title defence ends in ‘depressing’ fashion
In the men’s draw, defending champion Ruud saw his reign ended by rising 21-year-old star Alexander Blockx.
The Belgian delivered a composed display to win 6-4 6-4 and secure his first career Masters 1000 semi-final.
Prior to reaching the third round at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month, the world number 69 had never won an ATP Tour match on clay.
“To be honest, I’m just happy with being here. Even winning my first match here. I barely escaped in the first round, and I was happy about that already,” Blockx said.
“Semi-finals is something I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with.”
As a result of the early exit, the 12th seed will now drop out of the world’s top 20 for the first time in nearly five years.
The Norwegian admitted the defeat was incredibly difficult to process.
“I found it depressing this game, because he didn’t really have any weaknesses,” he explained.
“I was impressed because I didn’t really find any big weakness or hole in his game. And when you don’t do that, it’s easier to kind of over-hit and feel like you don’t get anything out of your own shots.”
What next for the teenage sensation?
With 12 victories on clay already this season, the 19-year-old finalist is cementing her status as a formidable force on the surface.
She will face either 26th seed Marta Kostyuk or lucky loser Anastasia Potapova in the showpiece event.
World number one Jannik Sinner has advanced to the Madrid Open semi-finals after securing a 6-2 7-6 (7-0) victory over 19-year-old Spanish wildcard Rafael Jodar.
The Italian became only the sixth player in history to reach the final four of all nine ATP 1000 Masters tournaments.
He will face either Arthur Fils or Jiri Lehecka in the next round as he pursues a second clay-court title of the season following his recent Monte-Carlo triumph.
Sinner survives second-set scare
The top seed produced a highly disciplined performance in the opening set.
He broke the local favourite twice to establish a 5-2 lead before sealing the set with a fierce backhand.
However, the teenager, who recently captured his maiden tour title in Morocco, mounted a much stronger challenge in the second set.
Jodar threatened to pull 4-2 ahead, but the world’s highest-ranked player saved two crucial break points to remain level.
Spanish resistance broken in tie-break
A double fault later put the 24-year-old under severe pressure once again.
The Monte-Carlo Masters winner responded emphatically, saving three more break points with a powerful cross-court forehand and consecutive backhand winners that brushed the sideline.
The match ultimately culminated in a one-sided tie-break, which the tournament favourite dominated before sealing his progression with an unreturnable forehand.
Praise for ‘incredible’ Spanish prospect
Following the hard-fought victory, the victor offered high praise for his teenage opponent.
Look, he’s an incredible player, Spain has one more incredible player and it’s great for the sport.
He acknowledged the unique difficulty of facing the youngster in his home country.
I knew already before the match it’s going to be very tough to beat him, especially here where he knows exactly how to play in these conditions.
With his main rival Carlos Alcaraz currently sidelined by injury, the path appears increasingly clear for the top seed to claim another prestigious Masters crown.
Britain’s Jack Draper will miss the French Open and the remainder of the clay-court season due to an ongoing right knee tendon injury.
The 24-year-old hopes to return for the grass-court swing in June but faces a significant drop in the world rankings.
The former British number one retired from his only clay-court match of the season in Barcelona earlier this month.
He subsequently withdrew from back-to-back ATP 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome before confirming his absence from Roland Garros.
Cautious approach to Grand Slam return
“My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros.”
“As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five-set tennis on clay.”
The tournament in Spain was just the fourth event of the 2024 US Open semi-finalist’s comeback from bone bruising in his serving arm.
That severe arm issue had sidelined the left-hander for most of the period since last year’s Wimbledon.
“Off the back of the arm injury, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again.”
Ranking drop and grass-court targets
Currently ranked 28th in the world, the Indian Wells champion will fall to around 50th following the conclusion of the Madrid Open.
This sharp decline is a result of losing 650 ranking points from his runner-up finish in the Spanish capital last year.
He will also be unable to recoup the points earned during strong runs at last year’s Italian Open and Roland Garros.
If fully fit, the rising star could begin his grass-court season at the Stuttgart Open on 8 June before heading home to Queen’s Club.
Consequently, he now has virtually no chance of being seeded for Wimbledon and will likely face a tough early draw at the All England Club.
Promising season disrupted by physical setbacks
The British talent enjoyed a brilliant start to 2025, claiming his maiden Masters 1000 title in California and peaking at fourth in the world.
During that impressive run at Indian Wells, he secured a statement victory over 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic.
However, his promising early career has been continually frustrated by a series of shoulder, hip, and arm injuries.
Establishing long-term fitness will now be the primary concern as he aims to challenge top-tier rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz over the coming decade.