Jannik Sinner is the heavy favourite to win the 2026 French Open.
The Italian is unbeaten on clay this year, winning titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.
Sinner’s rival, Carlos Alcaraz, will miss the French Open due to injury, leaving Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic as the two most likely challengers.
Which player is most likely to stop Jannik Sinner from winning the French Open? 🤔
Desperate for someone else to enter the conversation, four-time Roland Garros semi-finalist Jimmy Connors issued a plea to ‘second-tier’ players on the ATP Tour.
Jimmy Connors wants second-tier and third-tier players to make a name for themselves at Roland Garros
During the latest episode of ‘Advantage Connors‘, the 73-year-old delivered his verdict on the current state of men’s tennis.
“Now you’re seeing how you’ve missed [Carlos] Alcaraz, with [Jannik] Sinner just dominating,” said Connors.
“But he was dominating when Carlos was out there too, he won the hard court Slam from Palm Springs down to Miami, when Carlos was in there, so maybe injured or not, that’s not the point, the point is he was dominating then too.”
Jannik Sinner’s record in 2026 (36-2)
| Tournament | Performance | Wins | Defeat |
| Australian Open | Semi-finalist | Hugo Gaston, James Duckworth, Eliot Spizzirri, Luciano Darderi, Ben Shelton | Novak Djokovic |
| Qatar Open | Quarter-finalist | Tomas Machac, Alexei Popyrin | Jakub Mensik |
| Indian Wells | Champion | Dalibor Svrcina, Denis Shapovalov, Joao Fonseca, Learner Tien, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev | – |
| Miami Open | Champion | Damir Dzumhur, Corentin Moutet, Alex Michelsen, Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka | – |
| Monte Carlo Masters | Champion | Ugo Humbert, Tomas Machac, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz | – |
| Madrid Open | Champion | Benjamin Bonzi, Elmer Moller, Cameron Norrie, Rafael Jodar, Arthur Fils, Alexander Zverev | – |
| Italian Open | Champion | Sebastian Ofner, Alexei Popyrin, Andrea Pellegrino, Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud | – |
With Sinner dominating, Connors believes it’s now time for the rest of the tour to step up.
“You’re seeing now that it’s an opportunity for second-tier, third-tier players at Roland Garros to make a name for themselves, too,” he said.
“Hopefully, they’re lucky enough to be on the other side of the draw from Sinner.
“But, on the other hand, there are other players there that are dangerous. But, as we’ve talked about for the last, I don’t know how many months, it’s Sinner and Alcaraz and then everybody else, and I’m putting Djoker [Novak Djokovic] up there, too.”
Connors was relieved to hear that Sinner had been placed on the opposite side of the draw from Novak Djokovic.
“And they better have done that!” he said.
“Even if you have to redraw it five times, to do that!
“But it’s an opportunity for second-tier players now to make a name for themselves.”
The former world number one is also keen for players to build on any potential breakout performances at Roland Garros.
“Here is another problem that I have, don’t come up and make a statement and play great tennis and do really well at a tournament, then live off it for five or ten years,” said Connors.
“Go and continue that, make a career out of it.
“A career is not a tournament; a career is years of competing, grinding, winning, and putting your reputation on the line.
“But at least it’s an opportunity for other guys to come up and show their goods, which will be fun to watch.”
Connors mentioned second-tier and third-tier players, but who fits that bill, and who could challenge at the French Open?
Three players who could cause Jannik Sinner problems at the French Open
Daniil Medvedev
Perhaps an obvious choice, Daniil Medvedev has already caused Sinner problems this clay-court season.
The Russian had Sinner on the ropes during their Italian Open semi-final and threatened to cause an upset on Campo Centrale.
He couldn’t quite get over the line, but had it not been for a controversial medical time-out and a rain delay, who knows if Medvedev could have got the job done?
Was Jannik Sinner wrong to call a medical time-out?
Daniil Medvedev wasn't happy!
The French Open isn’t Medvedev’s favourite Grand Slam by any means, but with his experience and talent, it would be foolish to count him out.
Medvedev could meet Sinner in the semi-finals of Roland Garros.
Corentin Moutet
Corentin Moutet isn’t in the best form of his career, although that might not matter.
Why? Well, have a quick look at the weather forecast!
The heat is arguably Sinner’s greatest rival, and unfortunately for the world number one, it’s going to be hot in Paris this year.
If the French Open tournament directors want to see one of their own upset the top dog in men’s tennis, it might be worth scheduling him during the hottest part of the day.
They might have a chance to try that in the third round, where Sinner could play Moutet.
Moutet is a tricky opponent on any day, and if he can wind up Sinner, when he’s already struggling with the conditions, there’s a chance he could deliver an all-time upset on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Rafael Jodar
With Alcaraz injured, Spain found themselves another tennis superstar during the 2026 clay-court season.
Rafael Jodar won his first ATP title in Morocco, before impressing in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome.
The 19-year-old lost to Sinner in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open, but even in defeat, he proved he has the potential to compete at the top of men’s tennis.
If Jodar can make it all the way to the final, he might just follow in Alcaraz’s footsteps and stop Sinner from taking the Roland Garros title…
Only time will tell if anyone can stop Sinner in Paris, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Sinner will begin his French Open campaign on Tuesday, May 26, against Clement Tabur.
