Jannik Sinner Enters 2026 French Open As Heavy Favorite After 29 Straight Wins

Jannik Sinner enters the 2026 French Open as a heavy favorite after winning 29 matches in a row and dropping only three sets in three clay-court tournaments this spring, with Carlos Alcaraz out for at least the next two Slams due to a wrist injury.

“The next fortnight feels like it will be Jannik Sinner versus the rest”

BBC

ESPN frames the men’s draw as a two-week journey with the bottom half including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, while noting that the last player not named Alcaraz to beat Sinner on clay was Stefanos Tsitsipas more than two years ago.

BBC

CBS Sports says the men’s first round at Roland-Garros gets underway on Sunday and calls Sinner the men’s moneyline pick at -310, pointing to 29 straight match victories since his last defeat and five consecutive titles.

The BBC similarly describes the next fortnight as “Jannik Sinner versus the rest,” adding that Sinner has won his past 29 matches and that the French Open starting on Sunday makes the question “Can anyone stop the Italian world number one” central to the men’s singles outlook.

Novak Djokovic, speaking as the BBC reports him as third seed, said, "He's maybe in the form of his life, and without Carlos being here increases his chances of claiming more Grand Slam titles," while also insisting, "But we are all here to try to win against him and prevent him from taking more titles."

Casper Ruud, quoted by the BBC after losing 6-4 6-4 to Sinner in the Rome final, described the pressure as relentless: "you get no breathing room from any corner," and he added that if you are not precise, Sinner will "punish you."

CBS Sports

The BBC also quotes Daniil Medvedev on what it takes to beat Sinner, saying, "The only way to beat him is being at your best for three sets, maybe even four, five sets," and tying that to the need to serve and return at the top level.

ESPN’s preview highlights Sinner’s vulnerability in five-setters, noting that he has lost seven of his past eight such matches and hasn’t won one since the 2024 Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev, while still calling him a significant favorite in a 128-man tournament.

While the men’s story centers on Sinner, CBS Sports says the women’s draw looks wide open for “any of five to 10 different potential winners,” naming last year’s winner American Coco Gauff as a contender at +650.

“The vibes are odd as the tennis caravan reaches Roland Garros”

ESPN

CBS Sports picks Iga Swiatek as the women’s moneyline choice at +275, citing that Swiatek won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and contrasting that with Aryna Sabalenka losing prior to the semifinals in Madrid and Rome to Hailey Baptiste and Sorana Cirstea.

ESPN’s preview similarly frames the women’s side as having depth after recent Slams, and it lays out potential quarterfinal matchups including No. 7 Elina Svitolina and No. 9 Victoria Mboko, while also discussing Swiatek’s recent clay results and her losses in three-setters.

Sportico adds that DraftKings gives Sinner -275 odds to win at Roland Garros and says sportsbooks don’t think the 29-match win streak will be broken any time soon, while also comparing the gap between the women’s favorite Iga Swiatek (+250) and the next contender Aryna Sabalenka (+275).