The likes of Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will be seeking to add to America’s Grand Slam collection when they compete at Roland Garros over the next fortnight.
Gauff is the defending champion in Paris, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the 2025 final.
Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova – the two other American players in the WTA top-10 – will both be looking to win their first Grand Slam title in the French capital.
Give us your one wild prediction for Roland Garros!
On the men’s side, world number five Ben Shelton represents America’s best chance of having a male Grand Slam champion for the first time in 23 years.
Jimmy Arias, a winner of five ATP titles during his 14-year career, has offered his thoughts on the chances of there being an American champion at this year’s French Open.
Jimmy Arias names Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula as America’s best hopes of winning Roland Garros
“Well, I mean, obviously Coco and Jessie are the two names you think of that have the best chance of winning this title,” Arias stated while on the Tennis Channel.
“I would love to see [Jessica] Pegula finally get a major. She’s gotten all the way to a final.
“She’s been third or fourth best player this year so far when she’s played. So I’d love to see her do great.”
Arias went on to discuss which American male players have the best chance of winning Roland Garros.
No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.
In fact, no American man has won the French Open Men’s Singles title since Jim Courier in 1992.
American French Open Men’s Singles champions in the Open Era
- 1989: Michael Chang defeated Stefan Edberg 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the final
- 1991: Jim Courier defeated Andre Agassi 3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4 in the final
- 1992: Jim Courier defeated Petr Korda 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 in the final
“On the men’s side, the players that I’m thinking about, I’m a little worried because they did well this week,” Arias admitted.
“And that is Tommy Paul, who I think can play very well. He’s been to semifinals a couple times in Rome. Just coming off the final in Hamburg.
“And Learner Tien is learning how to play on clay, and it looks like the curve is beautiful, how quickly he’s learning how to play on the clay— just winning a title [in Geneva] —but the problem is they just finished playing and now the next tournament starts and that gives me pause.
Arias also added: “I probably should have mentioned Ben Shelton. He’s in Sinner’s quarter, but that’s okay. He’s dangerous, and when he serves the way he serves, he’s good on any surface.”
Since winning the Munich Open in April, Shelton has struggled to locate his best form.
The American star has won just one of his four ATP matches since lifting the title in Munich; suffering opening-round exits at the Madrid Open and Italian Open.
With Shelton’s recent results noted, does he truly represent America’s best chance of having a male Grand Slam singles champion at Roland Garros?
How have Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula performed in the lead-up to Roland Garros?
Coco Gauff has enjoyed a good spell of form ahead of her eighth Roland Garros campaign.
The American recently qualified for the Italian Open final, defeating Iva Jovic and Mirra Andreeva en route.
In the final, Gauff was defeated by Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6.
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Prior to the Italian Open, Gauff made a quarter-final appearance at the Stuttgart Open and a fourth round appearance at the Madrid Open.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula has not demonstrated her best form in the lead-up to Roland Garros.
Pegula began her clay-court swing in some style, beating Iva Jovic on her way to a second consecutive Charleston Open title.
Since transitioning to the European clay courts, Pegula has to struggled perform at her best.
In Madrid, Pegula was defeated in her second match by eventual champion Marta Kostyuk.
Three weeks later, Pegula was defeated 6-1, 6-2 by a rampant Iga Swiatek.
The American will certainly need to improve her form quickly if she wishes to win her first Grand Slam title in Paris.
