IGA SWIATEK, ARYNA SABALENKA, COCO GAUFF, EMMA RADUCANU: HOW ARE FAVOURITES LOOKING FOR FRENCH OPEN? WHO’S MISSING OUT?

Who are the favourites for the 2024 French Open women’s title and who are the players to look out for at the Grand Slam? The tournament starts on Sunday, May 26, live and on-demand on discovery+. Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will be among the star names at the tournament, while Emma Raducanu and Karolina Muchova will be missing from the draw.

The 2024 French Open will see Iga Swiatek bidding to become the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to win the tournament three years in a row.
Swiatek has beaten Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in the last two finals and starts as the strong favourite at Roland-Garros, which starts on Sunday, May 26.

Naomi Osaka will be aiming for her first match win at the Grand Slam since 2021, while Emma Raducanu has opted not to play and focus on preparing for the grass season.
We preview the chances of the leading contenders and look at the other notable names playing in Paris as well as those who are missing out…
IGA SWIATEK
Iga Swiatek will start her French Open title defence on a 12-match winning streak after completing the Madrid-Rome double.
In winning Rome she opened up a 3,557-point lead at the top of the world rankings.
Given her tremendous form, and with wins over Aryna Sabalenka in both the Madrid and Rome finals, Swiatek is clearly the one to beat again in Paris.
ARYNA SABALENKA
At times Aryna Sabalenka’s clay season has looked like hard work, with five three-set matches in Madrid and then two more in Rome.
But were it not for the brilliance of Swiatek on the surface it likely would have been Sabalenka who would have won both titles and would be flying into the French Open full of confidence.
French Open ‘toughest’ Slam for Sabalenka to win – Corretja
Corretja: Gauff the player to avoid in French Open draw
Eurosport expert Alex Corretja thinks the French Open is the “toughest place” for Sabalenka to win another major due to the presence of Swiatek, but says she has been “improving unbelievably” on clay.
“There’s so much pressure off the return, so much pressure with the serve. If someone is ready to win another major, it’s Aryna,” added Corretja.
COCO GAUFF
Coco Gauff started out the clay season with hopes of ending a three-year wait for a title on the surface.
That has not come about after early exits in Stuttgart and Madrid, before a semi-final run in Rome.
But Corretja thinks Gauff, who made the French Open final in 2022, will be a player that Swiatek and Sabalenka will be hoping to avoid in the draw.
“If you are Iga or Aryna, I don’t think you like to see her on the side of the draw that is in the semi-finals to you because, you know, it’s such a tough match you need to play before the final,” said Corretja.
ELENA RYBAKINA
Before pulling out of the Italian Open due to illness, Elena Rybakina was having a fine clay swing, beating Swiatek on her to victory in Stuttgart and then pushing Sabalenka all the way in the semi-finals in Madrid.
She’s only made it past the third round once in five appearances at the French Open but with her impressive form this year should be a strong contender.