In the women’s tournament, a much more open field
The women’s edition appears much less clear-cut. While the men’s draw seems to revolve around a massive favorite, the opposite is true in the women’s competition. Coco Gauff returns to Paris as the defending champion, brimming with confidence after her final in Rome. But the American is not alone in her quest. Aryna Sabalenka remains one of the top contenders, even though her preparation on clay has not been perfectly linear. Last year’s finalist, the world number one, aims to do better, fueled by a power that can demolish any match.
Iga Swiatek, four-time winner in Paris, may not have the aura of invincibility she once had in previous years, but underestimating her on clay, where she has crafted much of her legend, would be risky. Elena Rybakina also comes with solid credentials, following a title on clay in Stuttgart and a world number two ranking that places her among the major contenders. Elina Svitolina, winner in Rome, is among the players in top form this spring, along with Marta Kostyuk, the Madrid champion.
