During tennis’s brief offseason, people begin predicting what will happen in 2025. The crown jewels are the Grand Slams: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz each won two last year. Sinner won the Australian Open and US Open. Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon.
June 8, 2008: Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 to win his fourth French Open in a row.
Some crazy points played by Rafa 😮🙌 pic.twitter.com/faW0ZFn5tr
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) June 8, 2023
The French Open has been Rafael Nadal’s tournament. A statue of Nadal is on the Roland Garros grounds. His astounding 14 wins in Paris seem unlikely to be matched. Though Nadal retired in November, oddsmakers still have him on the list of players with the seven best odds to win at Roland Garros next May.
Papa Nadal coming out to admire Rafa’s statue yesterday hit me in the feels.
What a legacy. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/y6AxBMfRNJ
— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) May 26, 2024
Who Else Made The List?
The top five players with the best odds to win in Paris are Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Only Alcaraz and Djokovic are former champions so the playing field appears to be opening up for a new champion. Zverev and Tsitsipas have knocked on the door for years and are the best players never to win a Grand Slam. Both have strong clay court games.
Only Rafael Nadal could literally retire and still be 7th favorite to win Roland Garros in 2025 😭 pic.twitter.com/1yYGIRUdkj
— Swish 🍒 Tennis (@Zwxsh) December 12, 2024
The French Open sans Rafael Nadal will be odd. While it is true that he has not played or won the tournament since 2022, there was always a feeling or expectation that he would make one last stand at Roland Garros. It did not work out that way though fans did get to see him at Roland Garros during the Paris Olympics. That will have to suffice. He will be missed and discussed for at least the next 20 years when play begins at Roland Garros. And in 2025 that is evident with his appearance on the oddsmakers Top Ten list to win the tournament.
