Jannik Sinner will head to Roland Garros as the overwhelming favourite to win the title.
In fact, it has been argued that never before has a player been so heavily fancied to cruise to Grand Slam success.
After all, not only is the world number one in unstoppable form at the moment, but his competition seems so sparse as well.
And, with Carlos Alcaraz having withdrawn from the French Open due to injury, the only real threat to the crown was eliminated before the event had even begun.
Despite the entire tennis world having already resigned itself to Jannik Sinner winning the Roland Garros title, Marion Bartoli is one of the few arguing otherwise.
Marion Bartoli on why Jannik Sinner might not win Roland Garros
That being said, the former Wimbledon champion is not insisting that the Italian will not win the event.
She has merely exercised caution in already awarding the title to Sinner, citing an example from over a decade ago involving Novak Djokovic.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
Bartoli argued, speaking on Les Grandes Gueules du Sport: “We must remember the Djokovic precedent in 2011, when he arrived with a dominance superior to Sinner’s, after having beaten Nadal in Madrid and Rome. Then he lost to Federer. So it’s never a done deal.”
With this in mind, Pam Shriver named two players she felt could challenge Sinner at the French Open.
Who could challenge Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros?
Whilst there are a handful of in-form players who will fancy their chances of a deep run at Roland Garros, almost all seem so far from the level that Sinner has exhibited throughout 2026.
After all, Arthur Fils was unbeaten on clay heading into his clash with the Italian, yet lost easily in Madrid.
Could a combination of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Joao Fonseca, and Alex de Minaur beat Jannik Sinner?
He's just too good!
Similarly, Rafael Jodar looked unstoppable, yet also lost in straight sets at his home event.
Novak Djokovic can never be discounted, but having lost his only clay-court match of the season in Rome this month, he is hardly a reliable option either.
Whilst Bartoli is right to exercise caution, it is hard to see anyone truly challenging Sinner as he bids to win his first Roland Garros title.
