Early exits re-shape the draw at the French Open

Iga Swiatek on her way into the fourth round. pic.twitter.com/909RulFhvt

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 30, 2025

Sad as it is, it was rational to expect both 2023 finalist Karolina Muchova and 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova to make early exits from the French Open. Krejcikova, who was out for six months with a back injury, did make it to the second round. Muchova, however--who had both a recurrence of her long-time chronic wrist injury, as well as an illness--lost in the first round to Alycia Parks. And the other great Czech, Petra Kvitova, back from maternity leave (though she had planned to retire), also went out in the opening round.

For me, having the great Czech players go out early in a major takes some of the fun out of watching the event. (2029 finalist Marketa Vondrousova, who--like Muchova--has been constantly plagued with injuries, lost in the third round to 3rd seed Jessica Pegula.) But they weren't the only ones to leave the tournament earlier than expected. First round exits included 9th seed Emma Navarro, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Elise Mertens, and Rome finalist Peyton Stearns, among other notable competitors. The biggest surprise for me was the first round defeat of Marta Kostyuk, who lost to qualifier Sara Bejlek (from the Czech Republic). Second round play resulted in the defeats of Danielle Collins, Donna Vekic and 11th seed Diana Shnaider.  

The most dramatic match that I saw was the one played between 10th seed Paula Badosa and Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round. It as dramatic because Badosa was ill--with a fever. She nevertheless defeated Ruse 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Defending (and four-time) champion Iga Swiatek, who hasn't won a tournament since her victory in Paris last year, has won her first three rounds, though, in the second set of her third round match, she got some serious push-back from the talented Jaqueline Cristian. And world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka has yet to drop a set.

Here is the draw for the round of 16:

Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Amanda Anisimova (16)
Liudmla Samsonova (19) vs. Zheng Qinwen
Jasmine Paolini (4) vs. Elina Svitolina (13)
Elena Rybakina (12) vs. Iga Swiatek (5)
Mirra Andreeva (6) vs. Daria Kasatkina (17)
Lois Boisson (wc) vs. Jessica Pegula (3)
Madison Keys (7) vs. Hailey Baptiste
Ekaterina Alexandrova (30) vs. Coco Gauff (2)

Boisson is one of two French wild cards who had to compete against one another in the third round. Boisson defeated Elsa Jacquemot 6-3, 0-6, 7-5. 

A lot of eyes are on Zheng Qinwen, who won an Olympic gold medal last year on the Roland Garros courts. Also of interest is the match to be played between Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek. I hope to be able to watch that one, and the round of 16 match that I hope I can watch (though so many of those matches are at times that I can't watch them) is the one between 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini and Elina Svitolina. Paolini had a tough first round match against Yuan Yue, which probably served as a confidence-builder.  

In doubles, top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend and 2nd seds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolin are into the quarterfinals.