Alcaraz Ready, Excited To Defend His Roland-Garros Title

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (photo: Roland-Garros video/YouTube)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 25, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

The good news for Carlos Alcaraz as he begins defense of his Roland-Garros men’s singles crown is that he doesn’t have to worry about facing World No. 1 Jannik Sinner until the title match. For the first time in a major, the two most-talented men’s players are seeded No. 1 and No. 2 and could be destined to meet in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

However, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves as a lot can happen over the duration of a Parisian fortnight.

The World No. 2 from Spain is the defending champion in Paris, after having beaten this year’s No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in a five-set final a year ago. On Thursday, he was drawn to begin this year’s second major against 35-year-old former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori of Japan, one of the great pure ball-strikers on the ATP Tour, and a past three-time quarterfinalist in Paris. However, by Saturday, Nishikori withdrew after the draw was made and, instead, Alcaraz will open against 306th-ranked Italian qualifier Giuliano Zeppieri.

“It’s been a great clay season so far,” Alcaraz said Thursday afternoon, during an onstage interview with draw ceremony host Marc Maury, reflecting on his title victories in a pair of ATP Masters 1000 clay-court events at Monte-Carlo and Rome. He defeated Sinner in straight sets to win the Rome title last Sunday.

“Roland-Garros is the most important tournament of the clay season and one of the best tournaments we have on the tour. So, right now, I’m excited to come here. I remember the emotions and the feelings that I had last year. My confidence is really high right now. I’ve been playing great matches. I have some great wins this clay season. It gives me a lot of confidence. I’m excited.”

Later on, Alcaraz could face No. 31 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France in the third round and either No. 13 seed Ben Shelton of the United States or No. 20 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the fourth round. Then, a possible quarterfinal opponent could be either No. 7 seed Casper Ruud of Norway or No. 12 seed Tommy Paul of the United States. No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States or No. 8 seed Lorenzo Musetti ot Italy looms large in the semifinals, then Sinner in the final.

Last year, en route to winning his first Roland-Garros crown, Alcaraz defeated J.J. Wolf, Jesper de Jong, Sebastian Korda, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Tsitsipas, Sinner and Zverev. Sinner pushed Alcaraz to five sets before the Spaniard prevailed in the semifinals, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Then, two days later in the title match, Alcaraz had enough energy remaining to beat Zverev in five sets, too. He won. 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

In an interview with Roland-Garros Magazine, Alcaraz was asked what has allowed him to achieve so much at an early age. The Murcia native replied:

“I’ve worked really, really hard to get here. You have to have talent, obviously, but that doesn’t get you anywhere if you don’t put in the work. For years I worked, sacrificed so much when I was younger to reach my goal, achieve my dreams and become a professional tennis player. I think the secret is to invest all the necessary time and energy on the court and grow up with the best possible people around you. It really helps if you’ve got good people around you and I think I’ve done that well. I work with great people, really professional, who help me become a better player and a better person. My parents played a key role too, of course.”

Alcaraz comes into this year’s French Open with an impressive 30-5 win-loss record – including three titles – and 15-1 during the European clay season. His only loss came against Denmark’s Holger Rune, 7-6 (6), 6-2, in the Barcelona final last month.

“It feels great to be back here in Paris, in Roland-Garros,” the four-time major champion Alcaraz said during his Media Day interview on Friday. “It reminds me a lot from last year, it’s great having the practices here.”

While it’s much too early to predict whether an Alcaraz-Sinner Roland-Garros final is in the cards, Alcaraz welcomes the challenge and he feels that mentally he’s in a good frame of mind.

“This week of practicing, [Jannik is] going to be better and better,” Alcaraz said during his champion’s news conference Sunday, after defeating the Italian No. 1 Sinner to win the Rome title. “If he’s winning in Roland-Garros and he’s going farther, I think much better he’s going to feel.

“He’s going to be dangerous. He’s going to be a really dangerous player in Paris. We’re going to be both parts of the draw. So, let’s see. But I’m pretty sure he’s going to feel much better in Roland-Garros. …

“The feeling I’m having right now, it is totally different feeling than I was feeling before, let’s say in Miami or before that tournament. I’m approaching every match in a different way, which I’m really proud about. I found the right path, the right way again.

“Right now, I’m focusing in totally a different way, in different things, which just being happy, being proud about the moments that I’m living. I think that’s the right path.

“So, I’m just feeling great, feeling great right now.”

Around Stade Roland-Garros

According to the Roland-Garros website, more than 102,000 fans have already passed through the gates at Stade Roland-Garros since May 19. More than 80,000 spectators attended Opening Week qualifying and an additional 23,000 fans were on hand at Saturday’s traditional Yannick Noah Day.

The traditional Roland-Garros charity day, held the day before Opening Day of the main draw, raised a record 320,735 euros.

Sunday’s Roland-Garros order of play

By the numbers

Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia return to Roland-Garros as defending doubles champions after winning last year’s title. This season, the Salvadoran/Croatian duo have won titles at Indian Wells, Miami and Rome. Australian Open champions Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain are the second seeds.

Arevalo and Pavic open their title defense against Spanish pair Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar.

“Quotable …”

“I don’t really look that far for my side. I just have a global view of the draw, because I know in the Grand Slams there are always really great matches in the first rounds. I’m just curious to see what first round is going to happen and to be able to watch it. I just love to watch the draws.”

– Defending champion and current World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, from his Media Day interview on Friday.

 

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