Three players who shocked everyone at the French Open 2025 and completely surpassed expectations

Add as preferred source on Google

With the French Open over, it’s worth quickly combing back over what has been a hugely memorable tournament.

After all, we were treated to some remarkable storylines, with some stunning matches, two enthralling finals, huge controversy and more.

However, amongst all this were three players who massively overperformed what was expected of them heading into Roland Garros, who deserve their flowers.

Novak Djokovic surprised many with his French Open run

Novak Djokovic may seem a strange pick in any list regarding overachievers, but the fact of the matter is that he headed to Paris as an underdog.

For someone so often regarded as a comfortable favourite to win any event he enters, he was returning to the French Open, despite being a three-time champion in the past, in unconvincing form.

He had lost in the opening rounds of both Monte-Carlo and Madrid, and opted out of playing in Rome. Had he not entered Geneva late on, a tournament which he eventually won, the Serbian would have been going into this Grand Slam with an 0-2 record in clay in 2025.

So, to see him soar all the way to the semi-finals, having lost just a sole set too before that round, was mesmerising.

It saw the 39-year-old roll back the years, even beating the world number three and last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.

Jannik Sinner proved a step too far in the semi-finals, but few can argue against the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s performances in an event where few expected much from him.

Especially after Djokovic confirmed he played Roland Garros with an injury too.

Lois Boisson: the French Open’s big fairytale

Inarguably, the story of this year’s French Open came from the women’s side in the form of Lois Boisson.

Heading into the event, the Frenchwoman was ranked 361st in the world, and had amassed a total of $148,009 prize money across her entire career.

Now departing her homeland, she is the new French number one, set to be ranked 65th in the world, and has quintupled her career earnings in just one tournament.

She did not reach the semi-finals based on fortune either, utilising the raucous home support to upset both Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva before losing to eventual winner Coco Gauff.

This was a tournament that Boisson will never forget, and could provide a springboard for many future successes for the 22-year-old.

Alexander Bublik makes history at Roland Garros

Whilst Boisson stole the hearts of the home crowd, it was Alexander Bublik who was quietly making history for his own country of Kazakhstan.

Nobody really expects a great deal from this enigmatic and unpredictable 27-year-old, who is widely regarded as a hugely talented player without the strategy or drive to truly challenge the elite.

And, for the most part, he seems okay with that.

However, it seemed like something changed for Bublik this tournament, spurring him on to some unlikely victories where he had to dig deep.

He blasted his way through the opening round and the third round, but between those matches had to come from two sets to love down against the ninth seed Alex De Minaur.

Then, he completed arguably the biggest upset of his career by beating Jack Draper, the new world number four, in the fourth round.

Coming from a set down against the high-flying Brit, Bublik showcased his emotional side after the match as he became the first Kazakhstani man in history to reach the quarterfinals of a singles Grand Slam match.

Naturally, his run was cut short once again by Sinner, but this was a tournament to be proud of for this born entertainer.