The 2025 French Open is already delivering its fair share of drama, with several seeded players experiencing unexpected exits in the early rounds. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, the red clay of Roland Garros has proven unforgiving, paving the way for some surprising contenders. Here’s a rundown of the notable seeds who have seen their campaigns cut short.
Men’s Singles Shake-Ups
Taylor Fritz: A Top American’s Disappointing Exit
Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed and top-ranked American man, suffered a stunning first-round defeat at the hands of Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. Altmaier prevailed in four sets (7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1), marking a disappointing end to Fritz’s rough clay-court season.
Fritz struggled to find consistency throughout the match. After dropping the first set, he rebounded briefly in the second. However, Altmaier’s steady play and Fritz’s own mounting unforced errors led to a decisive shift in momentum. In the fourth set, Fritz appeared to lose his way completely, succumbing to three breaks of serve and displaying visible frustration. Altmaier capitalized on Fritz’s struggles, winning an impressive 10 of 11 points on the American’s second serve.
Casper Ruud: Injury Derails Two-Time Finalist
Casper Ruud, the seventh seed and a two-time French Open finalist (2022 and 2023), was another high-profile casualty. The Norwegian was defeated in the second round by Portugal’s Nuno Borges in four sets (2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0).
Ruud started strong, securing the first set comfortably. However, Borges responded by reducing his errors and increasing the pressure on Ruud’s serve. Ruud then took a medical timeout after the third set, due to an apparent calf muscle injury. Although he returned to the court, he was visibly hampered, and Borges completed the victory.
Stefanos Tsitsipas: A Shocking Second-Round Loss
Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded 20th and a former French Open finalist (2021), also experienced an early exit. The Greek player was stunned by Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante in the second round, with Gigante winning in four sets (6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4).
Gigante, playing with poise and aggression, delivered a composed performance. Tsitsipas, on the other hand, struggled to find his rhythm and consistency, resulting in his earliest Roland Garros exit since 2018. This defeat marks another setback in what has been a challenging season for Tsitsipas, who also exited the Australian Open in the first round.
Daniil Medvedev: First-Round Upset
Daniil Medvedev, the 11th seed, was ousted in the first round by Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Norrie managed to secure the win in five sets. Despite Medvedev’s powerful serving, including 16 aces, he was undone by a high number of unforced errors.
Francisco Cerundolo: Dark Horse Derailed
Francisco Cerundolo, seeded 18th, was considered a potential dark horse, especially after strong performances on clay leading up to the French Open. However, the Argentine suffered a surprising straight-sets defeat to Canada’s Gabriel Diallo.
Other Notable Men’s Seeds Losses
Several other seeded players also fell early in the tournament:
- Tomas Machac (No. 21)
- Brandon Nakashima (No. 28)
- Alex Michelsen (No. 32)
Women’s Singles Surprises
Emma Navarro: A Swift First-Round Exit
Emma Navarro, the No. 9 seed, suffered a crushing first-round defeat against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Navarro was routed in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) in just 57 minutes.
Navarro struggled immensely, failing to hold serve throughout the match. Bouzas Maneiro dominated on return, winning a remarkable 66 percent of her receiving points.
Other Notable Women’s Seeds Losses
Several other seeded players also experienced early exits:
- Marta Kostyuk (No. 26)
- Leylah Fernandez (No. 27)
- Linda Noskova (No. 29)
- Elise Mertens (No. 24)
- Diana Shnaider (No. 11)
- Donna Vekic (No. 18)
- Karolina Muchova (No. 14)
Key Takeaways and Analysis
Clay-Court Challenges
Several players known for their success on other surfaces struggled to adapt to the unique demands of the Roland Garros clay. Taylor Fritz, in particular, has historically found clay to be a challenging surface.
Injury Impact
Injuries played a significant role in some of the upsets. Casper Ruud’s physical struggles hampered his performance, ultimately contributing to his defeat.
Rise of Underdogs
The early exits of seeded players have opened up opportunities for lower-ranked players and qualifiers to make deep runs in the tournament. Matteo Gigante’s victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas is a prime example of an unheralded player seizing the moment.
Pressure and Expectations
The pressure of being a seeded player at a Grand Slam can be immense. Some players may struggle to cope with the heightened expectations, leading to tight performances and unexpected losses.
The Unpredictability of Tennis
These early upsets serve as a reminder of the inherent unpredictability of tennis. On any given day, any player is capable of defeating another, regardless of ranking or past results.
Seeds Still Standing
Despite the numerous upsets, many top seeds remain in contention for the title. These include:
Men’s Singles
- Jannik Sinner (No. 1)
- Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2)
- Alexander Zverev (No. 3)
- Novak Djokovic (No. 6)
- Lorenzo Musetti (No. 8)
- Holger Rune (No. 10)
- Tommy Paul (No. 12)
- Ben Shelton (No. 13)
- Karen Khachanov (No. 24)
Women’s Singles
- Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1)
- Coco Gauff (No. 2)
- Jessica Pegula (No. 3)
- Jasmine Paolini (No. 4)
- Iga Swiatek (No. 5)
- Zheng Qinwen (No. 8)
- Elena Rybakina (No. 12)
- Elina Svitolina (No. 13)
- Amanda Anisimova (No. 16)
- Liudmila Samsonova (No. 19)
- Jelena Ostapenko (No. 21)
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 French Open progresses, it will be interesting to see which of the remaining seeds can navigate the challenges of Roland Garros and contend for the title. The early upsets have undoubtedly shaken up the tournament landscape, creating opportunities for new stars to emerge and established players to reassert their dominance.
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