French Open 2025: 5 upset alerts on Day 1 at Roland Garros ft. Frances Tiafoe, Leylah Fernandez
The 2025 French Open will feature the best players in the world this week. The first-round action in the men's and women's competition will begin on Sunday (May 25, 2025).
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be the top two seeds in Paris. While Alcaraz will enter after a title-winning run in Rome, Sinner secured a promising runner-up finish at the Italian Open.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will headline the competition this year. Sabalenka has already tasted success on clay by winning in Madrid, while Gauff chalked up runner-up finishes in Madrid and Rome.
While most of the top players seem ready to make an impact this year, some are still working towards finding their best rhythm on clay. On that note, let's look at the potential upsets on Day One of the 2025 French Open.
5) Donna Vekic
First up is Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic.
Vekic has made an average start to the season by amassing seven wins from 19 matches, including fourth-round exits in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Madrid. She also participated in Adelaide, Doha, Dubai and Miami but couldn't make her mark at any of those events.
The Croat will enter Paris after a second round exit in Rome. She is scheduled to take on Anna Blinkova in the first round, who has already defeated her in the past. The Russian eliminated Vekic in the 2023 China Open, 6-3, 7-5.
The 28-year-old also lost to a player ranked outside the top 140 in Stuttgart this year. She is usually reliable on clay, but her poor form could boost Blinkova's chances to begin with a win.
4) Brandon Nakashima
Next up is World No. 29 Brandon Nakashima.
Nakshima has had an optimistic season this year. After a quarterfinal run in Delray Beach, he reached the semifinals in Acapulco and Houston. He also reached the fourth round of the Madrid Open but lost to Daniil Medvedev in three sets.
Nakashima has drawn talented Italian Luciano Darderi in the first round. His opponent will enter Paris after solid quarterfinal runs in Munich and Hamburg. Considering their freshness on court and results in the last two months, Darderi has a decent chance to cause an upset in Paris. The 23-year-old also won a clay-court event in Marrakech this year.
3) Frances Tiafoe
Third on the list is out-of-form American Frances Tiafoe.
There will be alarm bells ringing in Tiafoe's camp after a slow start to the season this year. He's hardly made a notable contribution on tour and will be desperate to find his form in Paris.
The American will enter the French Open after second-round exits in Rome and Geneva. He will take on Roman Safiullin in the first round, who defeated him in Shanghai last year. Considering their sharpness on tour and skill set on clay, the Russian could have a say in this bout.
2) Leylah Fernandez
Second on the list is Leylah Fernandez.
The Canadian has yet to make a significant impact since reaching the finals in Eastbourne last year. She will enter Paris after a second-round exit in Madrid and a third-round finish in Rome.
Fernandez will take on Olga Danilovic in the first round. The Serb recently came close to winning the title in Rouen and has put up some strong performances this year. She will have an equal chance against Fernandez and could upset the 27th seed in the first round.
1) Ben Shelton
astly, Ben Shelton could bow out early at the French Open this year.
Shelton has yet to win a title in 2025. After a semifinal run in the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells and secured a runner-up finish in Munich. He also reached the third round of the Madrid Open but lost to Jakub Mensik in straight sets.
The American will enter the French Open after a second-round exit in Rome. He will take on stubborn Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the first round.
Sonego reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year, where he lost to Ben Shelton in an absorbing four-set bout. He also reached the fourth round at the French Open twice in the last five years. Considering their record in Paris and results on tour, the Italian could trouble Shelton in the first round.