Jannik Sinner Chases Career Grand Slam at French Open
After winning the Italian Open and completing the Masters 1000 set, Sinner arrives in Paris in dominant form. Djokovic remains his biggest threat with Alcaraz sidelined.
Sinner hasn’t dropped a set in his last two Masters events and is unbeaten in 34 matches at Masters level. The only thing missing is a French Open title...
Jannik Sinner goes into the French Open as the strongest favourite to win the men’s title since Rafael Nadal’s peak years. The career Grand Slam is now within his reach.
The Italian won’t have to face Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him in last year’s dramatic Roland Garros final. Alcaraz has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Sinner could become the ninth man to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four majors. He would follow Carlos Alcaraz, who achieved the feat at the Australian Open earlier this season.
The world number one enters Roland Garros in top form after a dominant win at the Italian Open on Sunday.
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) May 18, 2026
That victory over Casper Ruud made the 24-year-old only the second player to win all nine Masters 1000 titles after Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is likely his biggest threat at the French Open, which begins on Sunday.
🏆👀💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/APeufEd2JQ
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) May 18, 2026
Sinner has won six Masters titles in a row and is on a record 34-match winning streak at the level below the Slams.
It would be a surprise if he fails to carry that form onto the clay in Paris.
Sinner reached the 2025 final without losing a set but missed three championship points. Alcaraz then came back from two sets down to take the title in a remarkable turnaround.
Casper Ruud has never won a set against Sinner in five meetings. The Norwegian knows how tough it will be for anyone else trying to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
Sinner has lost just twice in 10 tournaments since retiring injured against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai last September.
Jakub Mensik beat him in the Doha quarterfinals in February. Novak Djokovic then produced a vintage performance to defeat him in the Australian Open semifinals.
“I never played the big three in their prime... But I'm sure Roger (Federer), Novak, Rafa, 25, 26 years old, were also the same feeling for the other players,” said Ruud of Sinner after being swatted aside 6-4, 6-4 in Rome.
“I don't see him getting any worse, unfortunately. You just have to think that you have to be better and better because he's also going to get better and better.”
Can Djokovic Stop Sinner?
Novak Djokovic remains the most likely player to block Sinner’s path, even though his form and fitness have dipped since losing to Alcaraz in the Melbourne final.
Players to complete the Golden Masters:
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 17, 2026
Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner 🆕
End of list. pic.twitter.com/cRQyVs13TF
The Serb turns 39 just before the tournament and holds a 5-5 record against Sinner across 11 meetings.
Djokovic is still chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title. He has reached at least the semifinals at each of the last five majors.
He hasn’t won one of tennis’s four biggest titles since tying Margaret Court’s record at the 2023 US Open.
Now ranked fourth, Djokovic has played only two events since the Australian Open. He lost to Jack Draper in the Indian Wells fourth round and suffered a surprise first-round defeat to Dino Prizmic in Rome.
Alexander Zverev will be seeded second with Alcaraz out, and he will hope to finally win his first Grand Slam title.
There is little recent evidence to suggest the German can deliver in the big moments.
The world number three has lost three finals and nine semifinals since his last ATP title in Munich 13 months ago.
Zverev has lost nine matches in a row to Sinner, with the last six all ending in straight sets.
French fans will be hoping for a strong run from Arthur Fils, who has returned from injury in excellent form this season.
No French man has reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros since Richard Gasquet in 2016.
Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar will be seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time after a strong run on clay. Brazilian fans are also expected to turn out in force to support rising star Joao Fonseca.
Everything still points to Sinner lifting the trophy on Court Philippe Chatrier on June 7th. If he does, an Olympic gold medal would be the only major title missing from his career so far.
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