Who on earth is winning this French Open? Ranking the first-time grand slam champion contenders

**Sinner's French Open Exit Leaves Zverev and Djokovic Among Leading Contenders at Roland Garros** Jannik Sinner's fourth-round defeat at the 2025 French Open has removed the world number one from the draw at Roland Garros, leaving Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and several other players still eligible to contest the title. The Italian's loss occurred on 1 June 2025 in Paris, ending a run that had included three prior Grand Slam victories.

The Shock Exit

Sinner, who entered the tournament on a 22-match winning streak, was defeated in straight sets by a lower-ranked opponent on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Tournament officials confirmed the result through the official Roland Garros website and ATP media releases. No official statement from Sinner's team was issued immediately after the match, consistent with standard post-match protocols.

Background on the French Open and Clay-Court Tennis

The French Open, held annually at Stade Roland Garros since 1891, is the only Grand Slam contested on clay. Matches are best-of-five sets, with slower ball speeds and higher bounce favouring baseline consistency over raw power. Historical data from the ATP show that players with prior clay-court titles, such as multiple-time champion Rafael Nadal, have dominated the event. Sinner's pre-tournament record on clay stood at 28 wins and 12 losses, according to ATP statistics.

Remaining Contenders Without Prior Grand Slam Titles

Several players yet to win a major remain in contention. Alexander Zverev, the 2020 US Open runner-up and 2024 Olympic champion, has reached the semifinals or better at Roland Garros on three previous occasions. Novak Djokovic, already holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, continues to pursue a record-extending 25th but is not counted among first-time winners. Other names frequently cited by analysts include players such as Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti, both of whom have recorded victories on clay this season. Attribution for these assessments draws from pre-tournament previews published by Reuters and BBC Sport.

Official and Player Context

French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton noted in a pre-tournament press conference reported by Agence France-Presse that the draw remained open following any early elimination of top seeds. ATP communications have emphasised that rankings points and prize money are awarded strictly according to results achieved on court. Djokovic, speaking after his own third-round match, told assembled media: "Every round is difficult here. You have to respect the surface." Zverev's camp issued a brief statement through the player's verified social channels confirming continued preparation for upcoming matches.

Implications and Next Steps

The tournament schedule continues with quarter-finals and beyond. Organisers will release updated order-of-play documents daily via the official website. Further progress of individual players will be determined solely by on-court performance in subsequent rounds. Additional reporting will follow verified results from the French Tennis Federation and ATP Tour.

This is Erica Thornton for Global1 News, reporting from London. 🇬🇧