After a collectively sturdy season on the clay and up to date success at majors, hopes have been excessive for Individuals coming into the 2025 French Open.
However few might have predicted simply how properly the US’ high gamers would fare in Paris. On Saturday, after 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys escaped fellow countrywoman Sofia Kenin in a three-set thriller, eight Individuals had formally reached the second week at Roland Garros.
That is essentially the most Individuals into the spherical of 16 in 40 years.
With 5 girls and three males remaining within the respective singles attracts, it additionally marks a historic run for the lads: The final time that many reached this stage within the occasion was 1995 — earlier than any of the present males have been born. The second has not been misplaced on the gamers this week.
“I feel that every one the Individuals are actually excited,” Ben Shelton mentioned Friday after he superior. “All of us at all times know that it is a event that traditionally we do not do properly in, a floor we traditionally battle on. It could imply so much, , how a lot respect you’d acquire for doing properly right here.”
Added Frances Tiafoe, who additionally gained Friday: “Guys are simply hungry, man. Simply consider it. That is type of all it’s.”
No American has gained the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015, and no man has executed so since Andre Agassi in 1999. Will certainly one of these gamers be capable of make historical past subsequent weekend in Paris? Listed below are the Individuals remaining within the draw, and the way they acquired right here.
Gamers she has crushed to date: Olivia Gadecki, Tereza Valentova, Marie Bouzkova
Up subsequent: No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova
There was maybe no participant with extra momentum — save for perhaps Carlos Alcaraz — coming into the French Open this yr than Gauff. The 21-year-old reached the ultimate in Madrid and Rome, notching wins over Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva (twice) and Zheng Qinwen, and enjoying the perfect tennis of her profession on the floor.
She was a pre-tournament favourite to win the title — and Gauff has proved why all through her three matches in Paris.
Gauff, who reached the ultimate at Roland Garros in 2022, cruised in her first two matches and seemed properly on her strategy to doing the identical in her round-of-32 conflict towards Bouzkova. Nonetheless, Bouzkova raised her stage within the second set, and Gauff seemed more and more susceptible. However there can be no upset Saturday. Gauff was relentless across the court docket, hitting 22 winners and profitable 5 of her eight internet factors within the second set. As soon as trailing 5-3, Gauff fought her manner again to power a tiebreak and guarantee there can be no third set. Gauff gained 6-1, 7-6 (3), and solely helped gas her self-belief earlier than her subsequent match.
Coco Gauff defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 (3) to achieve Week 2 of the French Open 👏 pic.twitter.com/mq5sD3WQO5
— espnW (@espnW) Could 31, 2025
“I feel, only for long-term-wise, and clearly mentally, it is so much higher to complete that in two units,” Gauff mentioned after the match. “Yeah, it provides me a little bit extra confidence find methods to win perhaps when enjoying opponents like that and take a look at to not type of self-destruct.”
On Monday, Gauff will tackle Alexandrova, towards whom she owns a 3-1 profession document. If she have been to advance, she would face the winner of the all-American blockbuster between Keys and Hailey Baptiste with an opportunity to return to the French Open semifinals for the second straight yr.
Gamers she has crushed to date: Anca Todoni, Ann Li, Marketa Vondrousova
Up subsequent: Lois Boisson
After lacking everything of the 2024 European clay season with harm, Pegula confirmed no indicators of rust by profitable the title on the inexperienced clay in Charleston in April. Though she did not have the identical success in her subsequent 4 occasions, every thing appears to be clicking for Pegula in Paris.
The 31-year-old, who reached her first main closing final season on the US Open, did not drop a set in her first two rounds after which dug deep to power a comeback in her round-of-32 conflict towards Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion and a 2019 French Open finalist. After not producing a single break level within the opening set, Pegula broke Vondrousova three straight occasions within the second set and was largely in management the remainder of the way in which.
Pegula takes down 2019 finalist Vondrousova in straight units 👊🇺🇸
Watch the highlights and relive the highest performs 📺👀#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wTVvrtvQ8a— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) Could 31, 2025
Pegula now has a good matchup within the fourth spherical Monday as she takes on Boisson, the shock French upstart ranked No. 361 and making her main most important draw debut as a wild card. Pegula instructed reporters Saturday that she had by no means confronted a French participant at Roland Garros however was excited for it.
“Clearly [she is] going to have some loopy assist,” Pegula mentioned. “I am fairly good at type of zoning out. I’ve performed in some fairly rowdy crowds. I feel it is going to be enjoyable. Will probably be cool to be part of that. Although they are not for me, it’ll nonetheless be enjoyable. They are going to be going loopy.”
If Pegula defeats Boisson, she would attain the quarterfinals on the French Open for the second time, the primary time since 2022. It could mark the seventh main quarterfinal of her profession and provides her the prospect to achieve her second Grand Slam semifinal.
No. 7 Madison Keys
Gamers she has crushed to date: Daria Saville, Katie Boulter, No. 31 Sofia Kenin
Up subsequent: Hailey Baptiste
It has been a dominant and resurgent yr for 30-year-old Keys. After making peace with the concept she may by no means win a serious, Keys rattled off one spectacular win after one other in Melbourne to say the Australian Open title in January.
Since that long-awaited triumph, Keys has returned to the highest 10 and has reached the semifinals at Indian Wells and the quarterfinals in Madrid.
And now, on the French Open, she has reached the fourth spherical for the primary time since 2022. She saved three match factors in her battle with Kenin, a fellow Australian Open champion and the 2020 French Open runner-up, for the 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Now simply Baptiste stands in her manner of reaching her first quarterfinal at Roland Garros since 2019. Keys gained their solely prior assembly on the floor on the inexperienced clay in Charleston in 2023 in commanding style 6-1, 6-2 and positively has expertise on her facet.
However Keys did not appear to be taking the matchup without any consideration when talking to the media shortly after her win over Kenin — and could not cover her satisfaction for Baptiste.
“I feel Hailey is a superb participant,” Keys mentioned. “… I am not shocked. I’ve seen her rising up. I feel she’s had unbelievable expertise all the time. So, actually joyful for her to see all the success that she’s having, type of placing that every one collectively and climbing up the rankings.
“All that mentioned, I feel it may be a very robust match. She’s very proficient. She has quite a lot of tangibles, and she or he is aware of tips on how to type of combine up paces, however may, unexpectedly, completely crack the ball. Going to be a very robust match, however trying ahead to it.”
Hailey Baptiste
Gamers she has crushed to date: No. 23 Beatriz Haddad Maia, Nao Hibino, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Up subsequent: No. 7 Madison Keys
Whereas all the different remaining Individuals are presently top-20 gamers and have reached main semifinals beforehand, 23-year-old Baptiste is having her profession breakthrough in Paris.
Earlier than the French Open, Baptiste had by no means superior previous the second spherical at a Slam and had made the primary draw at a serious simply twice prior to now three years. However she actually hasn’t seemed inexperienced or like an underdog at Roland Garros. Throughout her first-round match, she got here again after shedding the opening set to Haddad Maia — in entrance of a packed, closely Brazilian crowd — and stored her opponent to simply 4 video games within the closing two units mixed.
Baptiste, who’s coached by Frances Tiafoe’s twin brother, Franklin, hasn’t dropped a set since. Along with her career-best main consequence, Baptiste is projected to achieve a career-high rating of No. 58 following Saturday’s win — it doesn’t matter what occurs subsequent.
Whereas taking over Keys can be troublesome, Baptiste is aware of she will beat her. Baptiste earned the primary win of her WTA profession as a wild card on the Washington Open in 2019 towards Keys 7-6 (4), 6-2. Though Baptiste misplaced their different two conferences, she believes the preliminary victory might assist her Monday.
“It was my first WTA match. I imply, I feel I had quite a lot of nerves and quite a lot of pleasure, and I used to be clearly enjoying someone that I seemed as much as,” Baptiste mentioned. “I used to be simply unfastened, having enjoyable, I used to be in my hometown. So I simply bear in mind having fun with the second and enjoying in entrance of an enormous crowd. … That is type of the identical factor that I will do.”
Gamers she has crushed to date: Nina Stojanovic, Viktorija Golubic, No. 22 Clara Tauson
Up subsequent: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
Roland Garros was the location of Anisimova’s profession breakout in 2019, when she reached her first — and presently solely — main semifinal. It has been a curler coaster on and off of the court docket for the 23-year-old since then, however her play this season and through the first week in Paris has reminded everybody simply how harmful she might be when at her finest.
Anisimova gained the most important title of her profession, and first of any stage since 2022, earlier this season on the 1000-level Qatar Open and reached a career-high rating of No. 16 in March. Following her third-round victory Friday, she was projected to rise to No. 14 within the subsequent rankings.
She arrived in Paris with out a lot momentum on the floor — failing to win a match in Madrid or Rome — however that hasn’t proven at Roland Garros this far. Anisimova has but to drop a set and even recorded a bagel set in her second-round match.
Though going through top-ranked Sabalenka will not be straightforward, Anisimova has historical past on her facet. Of their seven earlier conferences, the American has gained 5 of them, together with their most up-to-date showdown in Toronto final yr. She sounded excited for the problem when talking to reporters Friday.
“It is at all times particular to play somebody who’s ranked No. 1 on this planet,” Anisimova mentioned. “It is not usually you get to try this, so I actually attempt to embrace the chance and the expertise. Will probably be on an enormous court docket, too. I like enjoying on massive stadiums. I am simply going to attempt to go in there and actually benefit from the environment and benefit from the crowd. And, yeah, attempt to put up a combat.”
Gamers he has crushed to date: Elmer Moller, Marton Fucsovics, No. 24 Karen Khachanov
Up subsequent: No. 25 Alexei Popyrin
In his three matches at Roland Garros, Paul has performed 14 units and has spent almost 11 hours on court docket. His match towards Khachanov — which lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes — was the third-longest of his profession. So, nothing has been straightforward for Paul, however he has continued to search out methods to win and is now into the fourth spherical on the French Open for the primary time in his profession.
He has had a robust season to date, reaching the quarterfinals on the Australian Open and cracking the highest 10 for the primary time. Paul, who gained the 2015 French Open junior title, has been notably spectacular on clay, with a semifinal look on the Italian Open earlier this month. He in the end fell to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner however pushed him to a few units, and the run in Rome nonetheless confirmed how succesful Paul might be on the floor.
Paul, 28, will now have the prospect to achieve his fourth main quarterfinal as he takes on Popyrin on Sunday. The 2 have met simply twice earlier than — and by no means on clay — with the collection break up. Paul gained their most up-to-date match, on the Rosmalen Grass Courtroom Championships in 2024. Paul mentioned that he knew Popyrin was able to enjoying “unbelievable” tennis (simply ask Novak Djokovic) however that he was going to attempt to relaxation and get as a lot sleep as attainable earlier than the match.
“I am simply excited to play,” Paul mentioned Friday. “I imply, that is Grand Slam tennis, and that is why we play the game, .”
No. 13 Ben Shelton
Gamers he has crushed to date: Lorenzo Sonego, Hugo Gaston (retired forward of match), Matteo Gigante
Up subsequent: No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz
Enjoying in simply the third French Open of his younger profession, Shelton opened his 2025 marketing campaign and the primary day of the event by enjoying the featured night time match on Philippe Chatrier. And with all eyes on him, the 22-year-old greater than delivered. Trailing two units to at least one, Shelton raised his stage beneath the lights and gained in 5 thrilling units.
And whereas lots of his friends needed to battle for his or her spot within the spherical of 32, Shelton was unexpectedly given the day without work when Gaston withdrew from the event the day earlier than they have been speculated to play. The prolonged relaxation appeared to do Shelton good as he dominated in his match Friday towards Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Victory by no means appeared unsure as he slid and moved everywhere in the clay with ease. He is now into the second week on the French Open for the primary time.
BEN SHELTON REALLY WON THIS POINT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/uC0mtOFRxt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) Could 30, 2025
Shelton, who reached the ultimate of the BMW Open in Munich in April, now faces a herculean problem in Alcaraz, the defending champion, Sunday. Shelton hasn’t crushed Alcaraz of their two prior conferences and the gang will definitely be on the Spaniard’s facet, however Shelton usually appears to be at his finest through the greatest moments.
“Enjoying the defending champion, spherical of 16, I am guessing middle court docket, that is a reasonably cool alternative, fairly cool expertise, that not lots of people get or see of their lifetime,” Shelton mentioned. “For me, I am positively going to get pleasure from it and go on the market and see what I can do, as a result of I am beginning to acquire some velocity, acquire a little bit little bit of traction on this floor, and beginning to see a few of my finest tennis. So I like to think about myself as harmful every time I get to that place. Yeah, actually trying ahead to it.”
If Shelton have been to drag off the upset, it might mark his fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal look and he would rise to a career-high rating of No. 11.
No. 15 Frances Tiafoe
Gamers he has crushed to date: Roman Safiullin, Pablo Carreno Busta, No. 23 Sebastian Korda
Up subsequent: Daniel Altmaier
Getting into the event, 27-year-old Tiafoe had reached the second week at each main besides the French Open. He has had some success on the floor, profitable the title on the U.S. Males’s Clay Courtroom Championships in Houston in 2023 and reaching the ultimate within the two years since. However he had only a 5-9 document at Roland Garros and had made it to the third spherical solely as soon as.
One yr can change every thing.
Regardless of lackluster leads to the lead-in occasions, Tiafoe has been almost unstoppable in Paris and has but to drop a set. Towards Korda, who had gained their earlier two conferences, Tiafoe wanted a tiebreak to win the opening set, however then took management to cruise into the fourth spherical.
And maybe nobody among the many American males has a greater probability of reaching the quarterfinals than Tiafoe. Dealing with Altmaier, who upset top-ranked American Taylor Fritz within the first spherical, Tiafoe is actually the favourite and has a 2-0 document towards him, together with most lately on clay in Rome in 2023.
If Tiafoe advances, it might mark the primary non-hard-court main quarterfinals of his profession, and his first time reaching the spherical exterior of U.S. soil since 2019. Tiafoe admitted he was having fun with the shortage of stress from enjoying in entrance of a house crowd.
“On the [US] Open, there’s a lot anticipation, there’s a lot power. Right here I really feel prefer it’s like a workman-type vibe,” Tiafoe mentioned Friday. “Nonetheless lots of people, [at the] French Open, it is superb right here. However there’s nothing just like the Open [in New York]. The Open is an entire totally different type of beast. Clearly I’ve expectations from y’all, being American. I’ve two semis, blah, blah, blah. I’ve made historical past. It is a totally different vibe. That is simpler in a way the place I can type of simply go and be me.”