2025 French Open Women's Singles Preview: The Red Ground is in the Race for the Susan Lenglen Cup

In the scorching Parisian sun, Roland Garros' clay court reflects the brightest red, and the French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, arrives as scheduled. From 25 May to 8 June, this arena of courage and wisdom will take place for 15 days of fierce battles, with all walks of life coming together to compete for the highest glory in the Susan Lenglen Cup.

Stadio Philippe Chartier

Pictured: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

In 2019, Rolex, the renowned Swiss watch brand, became the Chief Partner of Roland Garros and the Official Timekeeper, completing the Rolex Grand Slam after reaching a partnership with all four majors. The Rolex Testimonee has a remarkable record at the French Open, including the "Ice Princess" Evert achieving seven titles in the tournament, Henin achieving four titles in five years, and Li Na winning Asia's first singles Grand Slam title.

Extra-field Rolex clocks

Pictured: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

During the six years that Rolex and the French Open have joined forces, Rolex Testimonee Swiatek has perfectly replicated the achievements of his predecessor Henin, achieving four championships in five years! The draw for the women's singles main draw of this year's tournament was officially released this Thursday, and the top players from all walks of life are making final preparations for the match.

In the first half: Zheng Qinwen and Swiatek welcomed hard signing, and masters gathered to strive for a breakthrough

Rolex Testimonee Zheng Qinwen is the No. 8 seed at the French Open, where top seed Sabalenka is in the quarter. As the gold medalist in tennis women's singles at last year's Paris Olympics, Zheng Qinwen returned to the blessed land with excellent form. Zheng Qinwen will face the winner of the match between Ella and Arango in the first round, with 28th seed Stearns and 11th seed Schneider and 19th seed Samsonova in the fourth round.

Rolex Testimonee Zheng Qinwen

Pictured: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

If he can successfully advance to the quarterfinals, Zheng Qinwen is expected to face his old rival and top seed Sabalenka again across the net; Entering the semi-finals, defending champion Swiatek and defending runner-up Paulini will both be potential opponents for Zheng Qinwen; And in the final, she is very likely to face American star Gauff.

Zheng won the most important Olympic gold medal of his career on clay at Roland Garros last year and established himself in the top 10 of the world with a year of outstanding performances. In this year's clay season, Zheng Qinwen suffered injuries in the early stages and failed to achieve good results, but she quickly regained her form in Rome, beating Sabalenka for the first time in her career and reaching the semi-finals for the first time. There is no doubt that Zheng Qinwen's future at this French Open is worth looking forward to, and I hope she can achieve another great result in the blessed land.

Rolex Testimonee Swiatek

Pictured: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Three-time defending champion and Rolex Testimonee Swiatek is the No. 5 seed in the quarter-finals, while the high-seeded player in her bracket is No.4 seed Paulini. Swiatek has won 21 straight matches at the French Open over the past three years, including classics such as last year's fierce battle against Naomi Osaka. Swiatek's first opponent this year is Schramkova, who will face the winner of China's Wang Xinyu and former US Open champion Raducanu in the second round. Swiatek could face Kostyuk, the No.26 seed who has been doing well on clay, in the third round, with 12th seed Rybakina and No.21 seed Ostapenko in the fourth round.

Heading into the quarter-finals, Swiatek is expected to face fourth seed Paulini in a repeat of last year's Women's Singles final, and if she can continue her winning streak at the French Open, she will be in for a tough semi-final battle, with top seed Sabalenka and eighth seed Zheng Qinwen both keen to make it out of the top half. Paulini's first-round opponent is China's Yuan Yue, who will need to be tested by 13th seed Svitolina before meeting Swiatek.

Garcia, Rolex Testimonee

Pictured: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex Testimonee Garcia, who is also based in the region, is undoubtedly one of the favourites for the tournament as a former French Open quarter-finalist and women's doubles champion who often brings out the best in her home country. Garcia will face Pera in the first round and will face 18th seed and last year's Paris silver medallist in the women's singles by Joshua Vikic, who will face 13th seed Svitolina if she advances to the third round.

In the lower half, Andreeva and Gauff are expected to meet and strive for the championship

No. 6 seed Andreeva and No. 3 seed Pegula sit in the 3/4 bracket. Last year, Andreeva unlocked her first career Grand Slam women's singles semi-finals at Roland Garros and won a silver medal in the women's doubles tennis at the Paris Olympics. Andreeva has made a strong break in the world this year's hardcourt season with two consecutive WTA1000 titles, and is eager to continue her breakthrough journey back at the French Open.

Rolex Testimonee Andreeva

Photo: Visual China

Andreeva will face Spain's Buxa in the first round, the winner between Ramens and Kruger in the second round, and 32nd seed Putintseva in the third round. Andreeva's fourth-round opponents are highly uncertain, with 10th seed Badosa and 17th seed Kasatkina facing Naomi Osaka in the first round on clay, and Kasatkina, the latter having a poor season. If they do so, Andreeva will face third seed Pegula or former tournament runner-up and 14th seed Mukhova for a place in the semi-finals. In addition, Abdul-Jabbar, who is expected to be one of the dark horses of the tournament, is in the zone, and her first-round opponent is 25th seed Freich.

Rolex Testimonee Gauff

Pictured: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

No.2 seed and Rolex Testimonee Gauff leads the quarter-finals, while the top seed in her bracket is No.7 seed Keys. Gauff has been successful on clay at Roland Garros since her teenage years, winning the junior women's singles title in 2018, finishing runner-up in the senior women's singles final in 2022 and winning the senior women's doubles title with Siniakova last year.

Rolex Testimonee Gauff won the French Open Women's Doubles title last year

Pictured: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Gauff has been in fine form on clay this season, winning two straight runners-up finishes in Madrid and Rome, beating the likes of Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen and Andreeva to secure her place as the No.2 seed in the French Open Women's Singles in the final moments. Sure enough, Gauff's excellent clay season earned her a draw at the French Open, with her main title rivals in the top half.

The first seeded player to face Australia's Gauff in the first round will be 30th seed Karinskaya; In the fourth round, Gauff could face former French Open champion Krejcikova and 20th seed Alexanova. In the quarter-finals, Gauff is expected to face compatriots Keys and Navarro across the net, and in the semi-finals she will most likely face Andreeva. Gauff has beaten Andreeva in both runners-up appearances on clay this year, and a successful meeting at the French Open will make for a thrilling matchup between the two players.

Motto for the entrance to the Philippe Chartier Stadium

Pictured: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

The 2025 French Open tennis tournament will kick off this Sunday, and in order to achieve their ambitions, they must live up to the motto engraved above the entrance to the Philippe Chartier court: "Victory belongs to the toughest of the toughest". Let's look forward to seeing the women of the Rolex Legion stand out from 128 brave and fearless players and lift the Susan Lenglen Cup, the highest honour in women's clay-court tennis!