The bell has rung — Roland-Garros 2025 is officially underway! After a fierce week of qualifying, the main draw has kicked off in earnest on the red clay of Paris. From early upsets to dominant wins, this daily live chronicle tracks the key storylines, standout performances, and emotional moments shaping the second Grand Slam of the season.
June 5-6: for the final
If fans were expecting another electric clash between Alcaraz and Musetti, they certainly got it, at least for one hour and 56 minutes. After two great sets, with the Italian taking the first 6-4 and the Spaniard leveling with a tight 7-6 (3), Musetti completely collapsed. He lost the next 8 games in just 33 minutes (6-0, 2-0) before retiring due to a physical issue. At 5-0 down in the third set, the Italian already called for the physio to treat his left inner thigh. After dropping that second set and realizing he couldn’t continue, he decided to retire. For Alcaraz, the job is done: he’ll have a chance to defend his title on Sunday. However, he’ll need to raise his level considerably after a sloppy start, despite showing a spark in the two sets that followed. The other clash was just as electric between Jannick Sinner and Novak Djokovic. The Italian played another demonstrating game and the Serb competed, but to no avail (4-6, 5-7, 6-7) after 3 hours 17 minutes of battle. Sinner was once again impressive with 79% and 63% of points behind his serves. The World No1 will face his Kryptonite, Carlos Alcaraz, in his first Grand Slam final in Paris.
The women’s semi-finals delivered some big clashes: Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek’s incredible 26-match winning streak in Paris. The Polish star, who hadn’t lost at Roland Garros for 3 years, 11 months, and 27 days, fell in three sets: 6-7, 6-4, 0-6. The early games of the match were a tight battle, featuring 8 breaks of serve in the first set alone, followed by a single break for Swiatek in the second. But it was the world No. 1 who ran away with the decider, hammering 5 winners and committing 0 unforced errors, while Swiatek faltered with 12 unforced errors and winning the decider 6-0 in 24 minutes. Sabalenka thus becomes the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach 3 consecutive Grand Slam finals. The second women’s semi-final was a one-sided affair, where rankings truly showed its weight. Coco Gauff swept aside the impressive Loïs Boisson in just 1 hour and 12 minutes, winning 6-1, 6-2. The French qualifier managed only 38% and 39% of points won on her serve, compared to 62% and 70% for the American. Boisson couldn’t produce another giant-killing act this time. “Physically, I felt fine at the beginning” Boisson said after the match. “But she made me run so much that it got harder and harder. That’s tennis, you have to bounce back week after week. It’s best to move on quickly from defeats.” Gauff, reaching her second final in Paris after her 2022 runner-up finish, will now have a full arsenal of shots ready to challenge Sabalenka. A confrontation we can’t wait to see.
June 3-4: Boisson, still alive!
Some big matches awaited us in these quarter-finals, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Lorenzo Musetti dropped a set for the third match in a row but overcame Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The Italian has now reached the semi-finals of every major clay-court event this season (Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, and now Roland Garros). However, the unfortunate image that will be remembered from this match is his moment of frustration in the second set, when he accidentally kicked a ball that hit a line judge in the chest. This impulsive act could have led to a default (like Djokovic’s disqualification at the 2020 US Open) had the rules been applied strictly. Fortunately for the seventh seed, umpire Janzen showed leniency, handing only a warning, and the line judge was unharmed. “To be honest, I was a bit scared [of being defaulted]” Musetti admitted. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I immediately turned towards the line judge and of course apologized. I’m sorry to everyone. It was fair to receive a warning, but it wasn’t intentional and that’s why I was allowed to keep playing.” There was much less suspense in the night session on June 3, as Carlos Alcaraz demolished Paul in just 1 hour and 36 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. The Spaniard dominated on serve with 88% and 83% of points won on first and second serves respectively, compared to a meager 56% and 38% for the struggling American. Jannik Sinner was equally ruthless against the surprise package Bublik, winning 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in just 1 hour and 51 minutes. The Italian never wavered, winning the crucial points and breaks exactly when he needed them. Finally, in a late-night clash finishing at 11:51 pm on June 4, Novak Djokovic booked his semi-final spot by defeating last year’s runner-up Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The Serb converted his fifth match point to secure the win, meaing we’re in for two blockbuster semi-finals: Alcaraz vs. Musetti and Sinner vs. Djokovic!
The first part of the women’s quarter-finals played out with no surprises as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek overcame Zheng and Svitolina respectively, setting up a highly anticipated semi-final between the two fierce competitors. Coco Gauff came from a set down to defeat fellow American Keys. After dropping the opening set, the world No. 2 took control late, winning 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, and will now try to reach another final after losing to Swiatek in 2022. FInally, Mirra Andreeva, just 18 but already such a force, faced France’s Loïs Boisson, the world No. 361, who came through the qualifiers and stunned Pegula in the previous out. And what a match! The Frenchwoman once again capitalized on her excellent forehand, her powerful serve, her effective backhand slice and, crucially, a wildly supportive home crowd that lifted her and rattled her opponent. Boisson won 7-6 (8), 6-3, taking advantage of Andreeva’s struggles under pressure: 9 double faults and 43 unforced errors compared to Boisson’s 27. The semi-final between Gauff and Boisson promises to be fascinating, just like all the other men’s and women’s semi-finals!
June 2: Bublik Stuns Draper, Boisson Shines in Paris
The quarter-finals are now set, and we’ve had two big surprises along the way. Before that, Tallon Griekspoor, who began his match against Zverev in excellent form, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, lost 9 of the next 10 games and was forced to retire after just 54 minutes of play. Norrie put up a solid fight against Djokovic, although the final score (6-2, 6-3, 6-2) didn’t quite reflect the resistance he offered the Serb. In the evening session, Jannik Sinner maintained his impressive form, defeating Rublev (6-1, 6-3, 6-4) in just 2 hours and 1 minute. Sinner won 81% of points behind his first serve and 77% on his second, massive numbers compared to Rublev’s meagre 29% on second serve. The men’s draw also saw a shock exit as Jack Draper, the recent Madrid finalist, fell to… Alexander Bublik! The Kazakh delivered the performance of his career in this fourth-round match, showcasing brilliant volleys and drop shots. When Bublik is focused, he can reach an extraordinary level and he’ll need that again in his first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final, where he’ll face none other than world No. 1 Sinner.
On the women’s side, Mirra Andreeva eased past Kasatkina, while the American contingent saw mixed fortunes: Coco Gauff advanced past Alexandrova, and Madison Keys defeated her compatriot Baptiste. But the biggest surprise of this 2025 edition came from France’s very own Loïs Boisson, ranked No. 361 in the world and coming through the qualifiers, who upset world No. 3 Pegula in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-4). Pegula looked steady in the first set, but was broken twice at 4-4: in the second set, allowing Boisson to level the match and in the decider. Pegula had four break points on the final game but couldn’t convert, while Boisson needed just one match point to seal the biggest win of her young career. The 22-year-old Frenchwoman now advances to her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final, where she will face Mirra Andreeva.
June 1: American breakthrough, Svitolina’s comeback
As the first week at Roland-Garros 2025 drew to a close, half of the men’s draw competed for a place in the quarter-finals and the results were mostly straightforward. Both Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe booked their spots in the next round. Paul dispatched Popyrin 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 in 1 hour and 52 minutes, impressively winning 74% of points behind his second serve and saving 9 of 10 break points faced. He thus became the only active American player to have reached the last eight at all three Grand Slams, following his 2023 Australian Open semi-final and 2024 Wimbledon quarter-final runs. As we’ve highlighted before, managing fatigue is crucial, especially for Paul, who had spent nearly 11 hours on court across his first three matches. This time, though, he handled things with ease: “I am very happy to get a straight-sets win. I have been playing some very long matches so that felt really good” he said. Tiafoe, meanwhile, got revenge for his compatriot Fritz, defeating Germany’s Altmaier 6–3, 6–4, 7–6 (4). This means the United States has placed more than one man in the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros for the first time since 1996, when Jim Courier and Pete Sampras both achieved the feat. What’s Tiafoe’s secret? “Playing hard-court tennis on a clay court” he said with a smile. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz also advanced, overcoming a spirited challenge from Shelton (7–6 (8), 6–3, 4–6, 6–4). Both players served consistently around 200 km/h, showcasing impressive drop shots and volleys that saw them smiling after some rallies. Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti cemented his top-10 status by defeating Rune 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2, extending his remarkable run as he arrived in Paris having reached at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters events this season.
The WTA tournament saw another top-10 seed exit as 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini fell to Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian staged a stunning comeback, saving two match points at 5–4 and 6–5 in the second-set tiebreak before sealing the win. Zheng Qinwen advanced in three sets against Samsonova, while three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek regained her confidence. She survived a scare against Elena Rybakina, coming from 1–6, 0–2 down: “It was tough. In the first, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner” she joked. The Pole then capitalized on her opponent’s mistakes and ramped up her own game. No troubles either for world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who eased past Amanda Anisimova 7–5, 6–3 in 1 hour and 34 minutes.
May 30-31: Paul’s marathon
In the 3rd round, Tommy Paul picked up where he left off from his previous two epic matches (3 hours 5 minutes, then 3 hours 42 minutes), enduring yet another test of stamina in a 4-hour, 11-minute five-set victory over Karen Khachanov (6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7), 3–6, 6–3). The American’s energy management will be crucial in the coming rounds if he hopes to continue his run. Rune also needed five sets to overcome Halys, while Sinner, Alcaraz, and Zverev advanced with relatively routine wins. The defending champion from Spain, Alcaraz, dropped a set to Bosnia’s Dzumhur but closed out the match comfortably.
Only three matches extended to three sets on the WTA tour: Pegula edged past Vondrousova (3–6, 6–4, 6–2), Keys survived a test from fellow American Kenin (4–6, 6–3, 7–5) and in an all-French battle, the surprise package Lois Boisson (WTA 361) defeated Jacquemot (6–3, 0–6, 7–5). Meanwhile, defending champion Iga Swiatek celebrated her 24th birthday on May 31 and advanced after defeating Cristian along with Sabalenka, Zheng, Gauff, Paolini, and Andreeva. Swiatek’s path opened up further thanks to the defeat of Ostapenko, who had recently triumphed in Stuttgart, by Elena Rybakina. The Pole, who has never beaten Ostapenko, now faces the Kazakh in the next round.
May 28-29: top seeds advance
The second round delivered its share of drama and unexpected twists. Lorenzo Musetti advanced with another straightforward straight-sets win, but the shock of the day came from Casper Ruud, who suffered a heavy defeat 6–2, 4–6, 1–6, 0–6 dropping the final two sets in under 27 minutes each. Injured and unable to find his rhythm, the Norwegian, considered one of the pre-tournament favorites, looked a shadow of himself on the clay he usually masters. Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz was pushed to four sets, while Tommy Paul needed five to get past Fucsovics. Stefanos Tsitsipas, struggling to find his confidence on his beloved clay in 2025, was stunned by Gigante 4–6, 7–5, 2–6, 4–6, adding another chapter to his recent woes on the surface. On Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Arthur Fils faced a four-hour, thirty-minute battle against Jaume Munar in an electrifying atmosphere that felt like a true tennis cauldron, eventually emerging victorious. Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner both advanced without dropping a set, Sinner ending the remarkable career of Richard Gasquet, who played his final match at Roland-Garros just as he had announced. The world No.1 gave the veteran a warm embrace at the net, capping a touching moment for the Parisian crowd. João Fonseca, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper also booked their spots in the third round with little fuss.
In the women’s draw, the top seeds largely sailed through, though Jelena Ostapenko needed three sets to get past Dolehide (5–7, 6–3, 6–3). The main upsets came from Veronika Kudermetova, who crushed a listless Barbora Krejcikova 6–0, 6–3, the Czech losing the first set in under 30 minutes, and Dayana Yastremska, who ousted Diana Shnaider in straight sets 7–5, 7–5.
May 27: Medvedev crashes out
It was a good start for Alex de Minaur, Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, Andrey Rublev, and Jack Draper who all advanced showing few signs of early rust. Djokovic, who has won 100 titles since his victory in Geneva, also made his debut in straight sets. But for Daniil Medvedev, the clay-court curse struck again. The world No. 5 was ousted in a dramatic five-setter by Cameron Norrie, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, after 3 hours and 52 minutes of up-and-down tennis. The Russian committed 52 unforced errors, once again voicing his discomfort on the surface where he’s yet to find consistent footing. It marks another early Grand Slam exit in 2025, following a second-round loss in Melbourne. The performance of the day, however, belonged to 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy João Fonseca, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 in just 1 hour and 42 minutes. Playing on a packed outside court with queues spilling into walkways, Fonseca’s blend of aggression and maturity turned heads and earned him a standing ovation. Gaël Monfils also brought the crowd to life in a dramatic comeback win over Hugo Dellien. Down two sets, the French veteran roared back to claim victory 4–6, 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(4), 6–1 in 3 hours and 36 minutes, feeding off the energy of Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
The action also continued on WTA tour, as Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Azarenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula all advanced comfortably in straight sets. However, Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur were both upset in their opening matches, along with former finalist Karolína Muchová and Anna Kalinskaya.
May 26: Sinner and Alcaraz impress
On Day 2, more big names made strong entrances. The recent Rome champion Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas all advanced in straight sets, while Holger Rune also joined the party. The biggest upset of the day also occurred on Simone-Mathieu, where Germany’s David Altmaier stunned No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in just under three hours. Altmaier, who caused a similar shock in 2023 when he knocked out Jannik Sinner, imposed his rhythm throughout and broke Fritz’s serve five times. Stan Wawrinka, marking the 10th anniversary of his 2015 title in Paris, bowed out in straight sets against British qualifier Henry Searle Fearnley (7-6(6), 6-3, 6-2). Francisco Cerundolo also fell early, beaten by Canadian rising star Gabriel Diallo. Sinner’s campaign began smoothly against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, winning 6-4, 6-3, 7-5, though the final set required grit, Rinderknech had led 4-0 before Sinner reeled off seven of the next eight games, breaking the Frenchman three times. It was still a good day for Frenchmen overall. Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert progressed, while the loudest ovation came for Richard Gasquet. The 38-year-old former World No. 7, who has already announced he will retire after this tournament, beat fellow Frenchman Terence Atmane 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the second round where he will face top seed Jannik Sinner.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek got off to a flying start with a quick 2-set victory, which delighted her: “I arrived here early to prepare, on the best clay courts in the world, and it was great. I tried to hold it together during the tribute to Nadal, but I shed a tear, it was very emotional” declared the Polish player after her victory. Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko dropped a set but came through their openers, with Ostapenko bouncing back emphatically after losing the first to Veronika Kudermetova (5-7, 6-0, 6-2). The first major upset on the WTA draw came from the Suzanne Lenglen, where American No. 9 seed Emma Navarro was blown off the court by Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, losing 6-0, 6-1 in just 58 minutes. Navarro hit just 4 winners during the match and never looked comfortable on the clay. An other emotionally charged moments came from Paula Badosa, who battled back to beat Naomi Osaka 6-7, 6-1, 6-4. The Spaniard was sharp and aggressive, while Osaka (dressed in a sumptuous floral kit) ended her press conference in tears, leaving many to wonder about her long-term plans. Caroline Garcia also saw her journey come to an end. The 2022 WTA Finals champion lost 6-4, 6-4 to Bernarda Pera in what appears to be her final professional match in Paris, closing the chapter of a career that brought joy to French fans for nearly two decades. Madison Keys, Barbora Krejcikova and Ekaterina Alexandrova also got off to a winning start at Porte d’Auteuil
May 25: Back in Paris
Among the ATP’s top 10, Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Musetti, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton all advanced on the opening day. One of the first notable twists came from the Simonne Mathieu, where Tomas Machac was forced to retire midway through the second set against Frenchman Quentin Halys. Trailing 7-6, 4-1, the Czech was suffering from a lower back injury, handing Halys his first win at the French Open in nine years, finally ending a streak of five consecutive first-round exits at his home Slam.
On the WTA side, several favorites advanced without trouble: Aryna Sabalenka, Qinwen Zheng, Diana Shnaider, Elina Svitolina, and Eva Lys all won in straight sets. Jasmine Paolini, after her title in Rome, needed three sets but looked composed as she overcame Yuan Yue 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Marta Kostyuk also exited earlier than expected.
