Jannik Sinner’s defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the French Open has dramatically reshaped the men’s singles draw. World No. 1 Sinner had entered Roland-Garros as the heaviest favourite going into a Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal at the 2009 French Open — a tournament Nadal also failed to win.

With Sinner out and Carlos Alcaraz also sidelined through injury, attention now turns to who can claim the title. Here are the leading contenders.

Alexander Zverev (Ranking: 3, Age: 29)

Zverev is the bookmakers’ favourite following Sinner’s elimination. The German has reached three Grand Slam finals without winning any, most notably the 2020 US Open, where he led Dominic Thiem by two sets before losing. He has since recovered from a serious ankle injury sustained during the 2022 French Open semi-finals, in which he tore three lateral ligaments.

Four of Zverev’s seven Masters 1000 titles have come on clay, and his big serve and consistent groundstrokes have generally suited the surface throughout his career. The central question now is whether he can handle the weight of favourite status in the latter stages of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic (Ranking: 4, Age: 39)

Djokovic has been on 24 Grand Slam titles since September 2023. One more would take him past Margaret Court’s record for the most major titles won by any player. He has played sparingly this season, appearing in just four matches outside the Slams, and arrived at Roland-Garros with only one clay-court match to his name — a loss to Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open.

Djokovic has shown repeatedly that he can build form across a two-week tournament, as he demonstrated at this year’s Australian Open when he reached the final after beating Sinner in the semi-finals. At 39, his fitness remains the primary concern, and he faces a difficult path through the draw before any potential final.

Felix Auger-Aliassime (Ranking: 6, Age: 25)

Auger-Aliassime is one of the more prominent names in the top half of the draw. The Canadian has yet to reach a Grand Slam final, and while he has shown flashes of the potential that marked his early career, he has struggled to sustain his level deep into major tournaments. He is a more natural hard-court player, and questions remain about whether he has enough to go the distance on clay.

Source: French Open Men’s Draw Blown Open After Sinner’s Second-Round Exit