Roland Garros is getting closer and closer and it is not easy to identify the favorites for this year’s edition. Several factors make it harder than expected to understand that he can triumph in Paris in 2025, but the Rome Masters 1000 could dispel some of these doubts.

Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in the French capital in 2024 and is considered as the top favorite by bookmakers, because red clay is his favorite surface and he won the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 a few weeks ago. However, the young Spaniard is still very erratic and has recently injured the adductor of his right leg as he is unable to play the Mutua Madrid Open. The world number 3 will return to action in Rome and test his level ahead of the second Major of the season.

Jannik Sinner is world No.1 and – although clay is not his best surface – he reached the semifinals in Paris a year ago, but the uncertainty is linked to his long absence from the professional tour after his agreement with WADA. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria will use the tournaments in Rome and Hamburg to recover the best sensations and seek the feat at the French Open.

Moya on the RG favorites

No one will be able to underestimate Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud, who have both already reached the final in Paris in the past. The German was last year’s finalist and came within one set of lifting the trophy, while the Norwegian – recent champion in Madrid – qualified for the final act in 2022 and 2023.

The unknown factor is represented by Novak Djokovic, who has not yet won a single match on this surface in 2025 and has decided to skip the Rome Masters 1000 where he had always played since 2007.

In an interview with ‘MARCA’, Rafael Nadal’s former coach Carlos Moya revealed his favorites for Roland Garros: “In my opinion, the top candidates are Alcaraz, Sinner, Ruud and Djokovic. Nole seems a bit empty to me after realizing his great dream of winning the gold medal at the Olympics, but you should never underestimate a legend of his caliber.”