Roland Garros Aussie preview
The 2025 French Open at Roland Garros marks a historic moment for Australian tennis, with a record-breaking 16 players—the largest contingent in 35 years—competing in the main draws across men’s and women’s singles. This surge reflects the growing depth and confidence in Australian tennis, particularly on clay, a surface where Aussies have traditionally faced challenges.
Below is a bAlex de Minaur (No.9 seed): Strong chance to advance past the first round (faces Laslo Djere, whom he leads 3-0 head-to-head). However, deeper runs are challenging due to a tough quarter featuring top seed Jannik Sinner and other strong clay-courters like Jack Draper and Arthur Fils. Experts suggest de Minaur lacks the weapons on clay to seriously challenge Sinner, but he could reach the third or fourth round if he maintains his current form15.
Alexei Popyrin (No.25 seed): Likely to advance past the first round against Yoshihito Nishioka. Popyrin is in a difficult quarter with Alcaraz, Ruud, and Khachanov, so advancing past the third round is unlikely unless he produces a major upset15.
Jordan Thompson: Faces a tough first-round match against Jiri Lehecka. Even if he advances, the draw is tough, and his clay form is not as strong as his opponents’.
Aleksandar Vukic: Faces No.24 seed Karen Khachanov in the first round—a tough ask. Unlikely to advance unless he produces a major upset1.
Rinky Hijikata: Faces Reilly Opelka, who is returning from injury. Hijikata could win, but the next round would likely be against a seeded or higher-ranked player.
Chris O’Connell: Faces No.22 seed Ugo Humbert. Unlikely to advance unless he produces a major upset.
Adam Walton: Faces a qualifier—reasonable chance to advance to the second round, but the draw gets tougher afterward.
James Duckworth: Faces Alexander Bublik—a tough but winnable match. Advancement past the second round is unlikely.
Tristan Schoolkate: Faces Marton Fucsovics—a tough match for the wildcard. Unlikely to advancereakdown of the Australian players in the main draw, their first-round opponents, and their current rankings.
Men’s Singles: Australian Contingent
| Player | World Rank | First-Round Opponent | Opponent Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex de Minaur | 9 | Laslo Djere (SRB) | 50 |
| Alexei Popyrin | 25 | Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) | 75 |
| Jordan Thompson | 38 | Jiri Lehecka (CZE) | 37 |
| Aleksandar Vukic | 78 | Karen Khachanov (RUS) | 24 (seed)** |
| Rinky Hijikata | 79 | Reilly Opelka (USA) | 95 |
| Chris O’Connell | 82 | Ugo Humbert (FRA) | 22 (seed) |
| Adam Walton | 91 | (Q) Maximilian Marterer (GER) | 237 |
| James Duckworth | 92 | Alexander Bublik (KAZ) | 51 |
| [WC] Tristan Schoolkate | 127 | Marton Fucsovics (HUN) | 134 |
- Daria Saville: Faces No.7 seed Madison Keys—unlikely to advance past the first round unless she produces a major upset.
- Kimberly Birrell: Faces Jaqueline Cristian—has a good chance to advance to the second round, but the draw gets tougher quickly.
- Maya Joint vs. Ajla Tomljanovic: This all-Australian clash means only one will advance. Joint is favored due to recent momentum, but neither is expected to make a deep run unless they produce an upset in the next round.
- Olivia Gadecki: Faces No.2 seed Coco Gauff—unlikely to advance past the first round1.
- Destanee Aiava: Faces Dayana Yastremska—unlikely to advance past the first round unless she produces a major upset
Women’s Singles: Australian Contingent
| Player | World Rank | First-Round Opponent | Opponent Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daria Kasatkina | 17 (seed) | Katerina Siniakova | 62 |
| Kimberly Birrell | 63 | Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) | 74 |
| Maya Joint | 78 | Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) | 79 |
| Ajla Tomljanovic | 79 | Maya Joint (AUS) | 78 |
| Olivia Gadecki | 93 | Coco Gauff (USA) | 2 (seed) |
| (WC) Destanee Aiava | 157 | Dayana Yastremska (UKR) | 48 |
| (Q) Daria Saville | 134 | Madison Keys (USA) | 7 (seed) |
Key Storylines
- Alex de Minaur leads the charge as the top-ranked Australian and the No.9 seed at Roland Garros. He faces Laslo Djere, whom he has beaten in all three previous encounters.
- Maya Joint and Ajla Tomljanovic are set for an all-Australian clash in the first round, following their semifinal meeting in Rabat. Joint, just 19 years old, is making her Roland Garros debut and is on the verge of breaking into the world’s top 60 after a remarkable rise.
- Daria Saville secured her spot in the main draw via qualifying, defeating Taylor Townsend in a grueling final round. She faces a tough opener against the No.7 seed, Madison Keys.
- Olivia Gadecki has drawn world No.2 Coco Gauff, a formidable challenge for her first-round match.
- Kimberly Birrell and Destanee Aiava face Jaqueline Cristian and Dayana Yastremska, respectively, both winnable matches for the in-form Australians.
A Thriving Force on Clay
This year’s Australian contingent is not just larger—it’s more competitive than ever. Players like Jordan Thompson and Aleksandar Vukic have demonstrated they can thrive on clay, with Thompson’s physicality and Vukic’s recent semifinal run at the Estoril Challenger highlighting their potential. The women’s group is also making waves, with Joint’s rapid ascent and Saville’s resilience setting the tone for a strong showing in Paris.
Conclusion
As the tournament gets underway, Australian fans have plenty to cheer for. With a mix of experienced campaigners and exciting young talents, the 2025 French Open could see the best collective performance by Australians at Roland Garros in decades. Whether it’s de Minaur’s quest for a deep run or Joint’s debut on the big stage, the green and gold are ready to make their mark on the red clay of Paris.
Men’s Singles Predictions
| Australian Player | Opponent | Prediction & Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Alex de Minaur | Laslo Djere (SRB) | De Minaur to win. He leads their head-to-head 3-0 and is the higher-ranked, seeded player. His recent quarterfinal run in Paris (2024) gives him confidence on clay. |
| Alexei Popyrin | Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) | Popyrin to win. Popyrin is seeded and has shown strong clay-court form this year. Nishioka is a tough competitor but less consistent on clay. |
| Jordan Thompson | Jiri Lehecka (CZE) | Lehecka to win. This is a close match, but Lehecka’s slightly higher ranking and recent form on clay give him an edge. |
| Aleksandar Vukic | Karen Khachanov (RUS, seed 24) | Khachanov to win. Vukic is capable, but Khachanov’s experience and power as a seed make him the favorite. |
| Rinky Hijikata | Reilly Opelka (USA) | Hijikata to win. Opelka is just returning from injury, and Hijikata is in better form. |
| Chris O’Connell | Ugo Humbert (FRA, seed 22) | Humbert to win. Humbert is the higher-ranked, seeded player and will have home support. |
| Adam Walton | Qualifier | Walton to win. Walton is favored against a qualifier, though this could be close depending on the opponent. |
| James Duckworth | Alexander Bublik (KAZ) | Bublik to win. Bublik’s unpredictable game and slightly higher ranking make him the favorite. |
| Tristan Schoolkate | Marton Fucsovics (HUN) | Fucsovics to win. Fucsovics is more experienced and has a slight edge in ranking. |
Women’s Singles Predictions
| Australian Player | Opponent | Prediction & Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Daria Saville | Madison Keys (USA, seed 7) | Keys to win. Keys is a top seed and in strong form, making her the clear favorite. |
| Kimberly Birrell | Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) | Birrell to win. Birrell is higher-ranked and in good form, but Cristian is a solid competitor. Birrell gets the nod based on recent results. |
| Maya Joint | Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) | Joint to win. Joint is on a rapid rise and has shown impressive form recently, though Tomljanovic is experienced. This could be tight, but Joint is favored for her momentum. |
| Ajla Tomljanovic | Maya Joint (AUS) | (See above) |
| Olivia Gadecki | Coco Gauff (USA, seed 2) | Gauff to win. Gauff is a major favorite and in excellent form, making her the strong pick. |
| (WC) Destanee Aiava | Dayana Yastremska (UKR) | Yastremska to win. Yastremska is higher-ranked and in better form coming into the tournament. |
Summary
- Strongest Australian favorites: Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, Rinky Hijikata, Adam Walton, Kimberly Birrell, and Maya Joint.
- Toughest matches: Chris O’Connell, Aleksandar Vukic, James Duckworth, Tristan Schoolkate, Daria Saville, Olivia Gadecki, and Destanee Aiava all face higher-ranked or seeded opponents and are underdogs.
- All-Australian clash: Maya Joint is favored over Ajla Tomljanovic based on recent momentum and form.
These predictions reflect the current landscape and expert consensus, but upsets are always possible in Grand Slam tennis