ATP French Open Roland Garros 2025: Watch out for these 5 dark horses on clay

The second Grand Slam of the season is about to begin. Roland Garros 2025 kicks off with main draw action this Sunday, May 25. Paris welcomes the world’s best tennis players, all aiming to make history on Court Philippe Chatrier. While Jannik Sinner (1) and Carlos Alcaraz (2) are the clear favorites to meet in the final, several other players could shake things up in the French capital. Let’s take a closer look.

Rarely has the pre-tournament picture been so clear regarding the top contenders. Although the script often suggests a 1 vs. 2 showdown in the final, Roland Garros has a rich tradition of unexpected outcomes. Just think back 20 years—no one expected Rafael Nadal to win the French Open in his debut, at just 19 years old, defeating Federer in the semifinals.

Paris has a way of rewriting expectations—moments when logic makes way for the unexpected. That’s why, even though we all recognize Sinner and Alcaraz are a cut above the rest, players like Joao Fonseca, Francisco Cerúndolo, Arthur Fils, Jack Draper, and Hubert Hurkacz are the kind of dark horses no one wants to face on the clay courts of Paris.

Among the dark horses, Draper is the highest-ranked. The British lefty (No. 5) has been impressive on clay, reaching the final in Madrid and the quarterfinals in Rome. Alcaraz did beat him convincingly in the Foro Italico, but with his game and topspin-heavy shots, the Indian Wells champion could go deep. Unfortunately, he may face another dark horse, Joao Fonseca, as early as the third round. If not, he could become a serious threat to Sinner in a potential quarterfinal clash.

Next up in the rankings, Arthur Fils is a name many analysts are buzzing about as a potential giant killer in Paris. His explosive and well-rounded game could spell trouble for anyone—if he manages to handle the pressure of playing at home. He's also landed near Jannik Sinner in the draw, with a possible third-round matchup looming.

Francisco Cerúndolo The Argentine is the highest-ranked South American player and arrives in Paris in the best form of his career. With 26 wins so far this season, he thrives on clay. Ranked No. 18, Cerúndolo is in the same section of the draw as Zverev (3). But here's the twist—he’s 3–0 against the German, all on clay. They could clash in the fourth round, with Djokovic potentially waiting in the quarterfinals. Of all the dark horses, Francisco might have the most favorable path.

The young Brazilian star didn’t get the luckiest draw—he opens against another dark horse, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. Whoever survives this first-round clash becomes a dangerous floater, once again on Sinner’s side of the bracket. It would be a shame to see either of them exit so early. Fonseca hasn’t had standout results recently, but after the fire he showed in Australia, no one’s eager to face the 18-year-old.

As for Hurkacz, he’s one of the most effective servers on clay. That means he knows how to get the most out of his serve on a slow surface, and his mobility is impressive for someone his size. He’s returning to top form just in time.

Jakub Mensik, the Miami champion, had a solid performance in Madrid and only narrowly lost to Hurkacz. He’s also on Sinner’s side of the draw.

Tommy Paul got lucky with the draw, and after what he showed in Rome, he has a legitimate chance to make a deep run in Paris—possibly facing Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals as the Spaniard’s only real challenge on the road to the semis.

Alex De Minaur started the European Swing strong but could keep it up. Still, Demon has the wheels to be a real challenge on clay and he represents yet another threat on the same quarter as Jannik Sinner.

The action is about to begin—and now it’s just a matter of seeing which of these players has what it takes to steal the spotlight from the favorites and write their own chapter in the second major of the season.