French Open’s Unseeded Threats: Dark Horses to Watch

The French Open 2025 is just around the corner, and while the top seeds are always the focus, several unseeded players could make a deep run and disrupt the established order. These dark horses possess the talent, experience, or recent form to cause upsets and potentially reach the later stages of the tournament. Here are some of the most dangerous unseeded men to keep an eye on at Roland Garros.

Lorenzo Sonego: The Italian Maestro

Lorenzo Sonego has the potential to be a significant threat to the seeded players. Sonego’s experience and aggressive playstyle make him a dangerous opponent on any surface.

• Experience and Recent Form: The 29-year-old Italian has been steadily improving his game. Earlier this year, Sonego reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, defeating young talents like Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien along the way.
• Playing Style: Sonego is known for his powerful forehand, aggressive net play, and strong serve. His ability to dictate points and hit winners from all areas of the court makes him a difficult opponent to handle.
• Clay Court Prowess: While Sonego’s best results have come on hard courts, he is still a capable player on clay. His aggressive baseline game and willingness to attack can be effective on the slow surface.
• Draw Dependency: Sonego’s potential for a deep run will depend on the draw. If he can avoid facing top seeds in the early rounds, he could build momentum and confidence.

João Fonseca: The Young Brazilian Sensation

João Fonseca is an 18-year-old Brazilian who has quickly risen through the ranks. Fonseca’s aggressive game and fearless attitude make him a player to watch out for in the coming years.

• Rising Star: Fonseca is one of the most promising young players in tennis. His breakthrough performance at the Australian Open earlier this year, where he reached the second round, showcased his potential.
• Aggressive Playstyle: Fonseca is known for his powerful serve, aggressive forehand, and willingness to take risks. His attacking style of play can be particularly effective on clay, where he has more time to set up his shots.
• Clay Court Experience: As a South American player, Fonseca has grown up playing on clay courts. He is comfortable on the surface and knows how to use it to his advantage.
• Mental Fortitude: Despite his young age, Fonseca has shown remarkable mental toughness. He is not afraid to compete against higher-ranked players and has the belief that he can win any match.

Other Unseeded Players to Watch

Besides Sonego and Fonseca, several other unseeded players could make a splash at the French Open:

• Dominik Koepfer: The German player has a solid all-around game and is comfortable on clay.
• Corentin Moutet: A talented French player with a flair for the dramatic, Moutet is always a threat on home soil.
• Thiago Seyboth Wild: The Brazilian player has a powerful game and can be dangerous on clay.
• Fabian Marozsan: With a tall frame, big serve and an aggressive baseline game combined with a great touch has translated into wins over top 10 players

Factors Favoring Unseeded Players

Several factors could contribute to the success of unseeded players at the French Open:

• Draw: A favorable draw can make a big difference for any player, but it is especially important for unseeded players who may not have the same level of confidence as the top seeds.
• Momentum: A few early wins can give an unseeded player the confidence and momentum they need to make a deep run.
• Court Conditions: Clay court conditions can be unpredictable, and some players are better suited to certain conditions than others.
• Injury/upsets to seeded players: Injury or early exit of top-10 seeds could leave the draw wide open for lower-ranked players to capitalize and advance further than expected.

Conclusion

While the top seeds are always the favorites to win the French Open, several unseeded players have the potential to surprise. Lorenzo Sonego and João Fonseca are two of the most dangerous unseeded men to watch out for, but other players could also make a deep run. The French Open is always full of surprises, and it will be interesting to see which unseeded players step up and make their mark this year.