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In the Open Era (from 1968), only six men have won each of the four tennis Majors at least once. Rod Laver achieved it in a single breathtaking year in 1969; Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic toiled long and hard, ranging from five years to more than eight; Carlos Alcaraz completed it early this February in less than three years and five months. At the latest French Open, however, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner can shade all except Laver by being the quickest after the legendary Aussie — in under two years and five months since winning his first at the 2024 Australian Open. The stars have aligned well for Sinner to hoist the Coupe des Mousquetaires and banish the bad memories from 12 months ago when he missed three championship points versus Alcaraz. He is on an awe-inspiring streak of 29 match wins and has swept all three ATP Masters 1000 competitions on clay leading in. The 24-year-old’s generational rival Alcaraz — whom he met in three Slam finals in 2025 — is missing because of a wrist injury, and Alexander Zverev, the second seed, has lost his previous nine contests to the Italian. Djokovic, 39 and a record 24-time Major champion, is undercooked, having played just four times since his worthy runner-up finish at the Australian Open.

There is no such overwhelming favourite among women, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina all fancied. World No. 1 Sabalenka, who lost a topsy-turvy summit clash to Gauff in 2025, has reached semifinals or better in 12 of her last 13 Slams. But she is without a final on clay this season, a first such occurrence since 2020. Swiatek is a four-time Roland-Garros titlist, and will look to reclaim her kingdom with some help from Francisco Roig, a coach who was once part of 14-time winner Nadal’s team. Gauff was a finalist in Rome recently, but has lifted just one trophy since her Paris success. Rybakina, champion in Melbourne, is capable, but dirt is her least-preferred surface. No. 7 Elina Svitolina is a contender, having overcome both Swiatek and Gauff in Rome for her biggest title after returning from a maternity break in April 2023. Mirra Andreeva, 19 and seeded eighth, boasts of two finals, a semifinal and a quarterfinal from her last four events. However, the setting for this high-quality fare is less than ideal, for players are miffed at the French Open organisers — and other Majors by extension — for denying a larger share of the tournament revenue as prize money. An amicable settlement that would help lower ranked youngsters is essential for the long-term health of the sport.