The French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, is set to begin. One hundred twenty-eight players in both the men`s and women`s singles draws will compete for the coveted title at Roland Garros in Paris.
This year`s tournament includes a special tribute planned for retiring tennis icon Rafa Nadal on the opening day. The event promises numerous compelling storylines to follow.
Here is essential information about the tournament:
Schedule
The main draw matches for both men`s and women`s singles will commence on Monday, May 25. The women`s singles final is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, with the men`s singles final taking place on Sunday, June 8.
Note: The specific schedule for the opening day will be available following the singles draws ceremony on Thursday at 1 p.m. BST.
You can view the Men`s singles bracket and Women`s singles bracket once available.
Key Details and How to Watch
Dates: May 25 to June 8
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris, France
How to watch: In the UK, live broadcasts of the French Open will be available on TNT Sports and via the discovery+ streaming service.
Prospects for British Players
British tennis fans have reason for increased optimism this year, with key players like Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, and Katie Boulter showing encouraging results on clay courts recently.
Jack Draper reached the final of the Madrid Open before being defeated by Casper Ruud of Norway in three sets. He also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open in Rome, where his run was ended by the eventual champion, Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Draper has struggled at Roland Garros previously, exiting in the first round in the last two years. However, his recent form suggests he is well-positioned for a stronger performance this time.
In the women`s singles, Emma Raducanu has overcome her previous difficulties on clay, achieving notable success, including winning three consecutive matches on the surface for the first time in her career at the Italian Open.
Although her progress in Rome was halted by American player Coco Gauff, Raducanu is hoping to further refine her clay game at the Strasbourg Open this week, the final warm-up event before the French Open begins.
Katie Boulter secured only one victory between Madrid and Rome, defeating world No. 64 Katerina Siniakova. However, she recently competed in the lower-tier WTA 125k event in Paris last week and emerged as the champion, raising hopes that she has successfully adapted her game to the clay surface.
Other British players participating in the singles draws this week include Jacob Fearnley, Jodie Burrage, and Sonay Kartal.
Tournament Favourites
For the men`s title, the finalists from the recent Italian Open, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, are widely considered the top contenders. Alcaraz claimed victory in Rome, winning the final in straight sets, and is also the defending champion at Roland Garros.
However, Sinner should not be underestimated. The world No. 1 recently returned to tennis after a three-month suspension following two positive doping tests in March 2024, and his performance in Rome demonstrated his form.
The women`s draw appears more open.
Iga Swiatek is seeking her fourth consecutive French Open title and her fifth win at the event in the last six years. Despite her past dominance, her performance has seemed slightly less invincible in recent weeks, notably suffering a surprising third-round defeat to American Danielle Collins at the Italian Open.
Numerous players are strong contenders to challenge Swiatek. American Coco Gauff reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome recently, though she was defeated in both by Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini, respectively. All three players are seen as potential champions.
Another player to watch is 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who reached the semifinals last year and is having a breakthrough season in 2025, having already won two WTA 1000 events.
Prize Money
The French Open offers equal prize money for both the men`s and women`s singles champions. Each winner will receive £2.1 million from a total prize fund of £47 million.
The runners-up will earn just over £1 million, with prize money decreasing progressively for players eliminated in earlier rounds.
- Winner: £2,166,912
- Runner-up: £1,083,456
- Semifinal: £586,341
- Quarterfinal: £373,898
- Round 4: £225,189
- Round 3: £142,761
- Round 2: £99,423
- Round 1: £66,282
Marcus Bellamy