After a collectively strong season of clay and recent successes in the majors, there was high hopes for the Americans entering the 2025 French Open.
But few would have predicted how well the top US players would be in Paris. On Saturday, the 2025 Australian Open Champion Madison Keys escaped his fellow Sophia Kenin in a three-set thriller, with eight Americans officially arriving in the second week at Roland Garros.
It is the most American in 16 rounds in 40 years.
It’s also a historic run for men, as five women and three men remain in the draw for their respective singles. It was in 1995 that many stages of this phase were reached at events before any of the present men were born. This week, players have not lost that moment.
“I think every American is really excited,” Ben Shelton said Friday after moving forward. “We all know that this is a tournament that is historically unsuccessful and the surface we struggle with historically.
Francis Tiafour, who won on Friday, added: “Man is just hungry, man. Just trust me. That’s all.”
No American has won a French open single title since Serena Williams in 2015. No one has done that since Andre Agassi in 1999. Can one of these players make history in Paris the following weekend? This is what the Americans remain in the draw and how they came here.
Players she’s beaten so far: Olivia Gadecki, Tereza Valentois, Marie Bouzkova
Next: No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova
Perhaps no player had more momentum — except for Carlos Alcaraz — entered the French Open this year than Gouf. The 21-year-old reached the finals in Madrid and Rome, with Notching beating Iga Sweet, Mira Andreva (twice) and Zheng Qinwen, appearing to play the best tennis of her career on the surface.
She was a pre-tournament favorite to win the title – and Gauff proved why through three matches in Paris.
Gouf, who reached the final at Roland Garros in 2022, cruised in his first two matches and looked good in the middle of doing the same in a 32-round clash with Boozkova. However, Bouzkova leveled her in the second set, making Gauff seem increasingly vulnerable. However, there was no upset on Saturday. Goff mercilessly around the court, hitting 22 winners and earning five of eight net points in the second set. Following 5-3, Goff forces a tiebreak and comes back to make sure there is no third set. Gouf won 6-1, 7-6 (3) to help burn his self-confidence before the next match.
Coco Gouf defeated Marie Boozkova 6-1, 7-6 (3) to reach the second week of the French Open pic.twitter.com/mq5sd3wqo5
-ESPNW (@espnw) May 31, 2025
“In the long run, and obviously mentally, I think it would be much better to finish it in two sets,” Gouf said after the match. “Yeah, that gives you a little more confidence in finding a way to win when playing such an enemy, and try not to self-destruct.”
On Monday, Gauff assumes Alexandrova and owns a 3-1 career record. If she moved forward, she faced the winner of the national blockbuster between Keys and Haley Baptist, and had the opportunity to return to the French Open Semi-Finals for the second year in a row.
Her Hashharten is far away: Anca Todoni, Ann Li, Market Vondrousova
Next: Boisson Laws
After being injured throughout the 2024 European clay season, Pegra showed no signs of rust by winning the title at Charleston’s Green Clay in April. She didn’t have the same success in the next four events, but it appears that everything is clicking on the Pegra in Paris.
The 31-year-old, who reached his first major final at the US Open last season, did not drop a set in the first two rounds and did not dig deep to force a comeback in a round clash with 2023 Wimbledon champions and 2019 French open finalist Vondrousova. After not generating a single breakpoint in the opening set, Pegra broke Vondrousova three times in a row in the second set, primarily controlling the rest.
Pegula defeats 2019 finalist Vondrousova in a straight set 👊🇺🇸
Watch the highlights and relive top play#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wtvvrtvq8a– Roland Garros (@Roland Garros) May 31, 2025
Pegula held a lucrative matchup in the fourth round on Monday as she faces Boisson, a surprising French startup, ranked 361st and made her major main draw debut as a wild card. Pegra told reporters on Saturday that he had never faced a French player at Roland Garros, but was excited about it.
“Obviously (she) will have some crazy support,” Pegra said. “I’m pretty good at zoning a bit. I play in a pretty rough crowd. I think it’s fun. It’s cool to be part of it. They’re not for me, but they’ll still be fun. They’ll get hooked.”
If Pegra beat Boisson, she arrived in the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time since 2022. It marks the seventh major quarterfinal of her career and gives her the opportunity to reach her second Grand Slam semifinal.
No. 7 Madison Keys
Players she has beaten so far: Dahlia Saville, Katie Boulter, No. 31 Sophia Kenin
Next: Haley Baptist
It was a dominant and revived year for Key 30 years ago. After reconciling with the idea that she might never win the majors, Keys won one after another in Melbourne, winning the Australian open title in January.
Since the much-anticipated victory, the Keys have returned to the top 10, reaching the quarter-final semi-finals with Madrid’s Indian Wells.
And now, with the French Open, she has reached the fourth round for the first time since 2022. She saved three match points for a 4-6, 6-3, and 7-5 victory, with fellow Australian Open champions Kaenin and runner-up in the French Open in 2020.
Now, Baptist has been standing in the way to reach her first quarterfinals at Roland Garros since 2019. Keys certainly has experience on her side, leading 6-1, 6-2 at the only previous meeting at Green Clay in Charleston in 2023.
However, Keys did not seem to have made matchups the norm when talking to the media right after his victory over Kenin, and was unable to hide her pride in Baptiste.
“I think Haley is a great player,” Keys said. “…I’m not surprised. I saw her growing up. I think she’s been incredible talent all along. So I’m really happy to see all the successes she’s been doing and I’m all putting it all together and climbing the rankings.
“That said, I think it’s going to be a really tough match. She’s very talented. She has a lot of famous things. She knows how to mix up the pace, but suddenly, she can definitely crack the ball.
Haley Baptist
Players she has beaten so far: No. 23 Beatrice Haddad Maia, hibino, Jessica Boozacool
Next: No. 7 Madison Keys
All the other remaining Americans are currently in the top 20 players and have previously reached major semi-finals, but the 23-year-old Baptist has broken through her career in Paris.
Before the French opened, Baptist had never made any progress past the second round in the slam, making his major twice in the last three years. But she certainly doesn’t look like Roland Garros’ underdog or a loser. During her first round match, she returned in front of a packed highly Brazilian crowd after losing the opening set to Haddad Maia, keeping her opponent in just four games in the final two sets.
The Baptist, coached by Franklin, Francis Tierfour’s twin brother, hasn’t dropped the set since. In addition to her career-high major results, Baptist is predicted to reach the career-high ranking of No. 58 following Saturday’s victory – no matter what happens next.
It’ll be difficult to photograph the key, but Baptist knows she can defeat her. Baptist won his first WTA career victory as a wild card at the Washington Open against Keys 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the Washington Open in 2019. Baptist lost two other meetings, but she believes that her first victory could help Monday.
“It was my first WTA match. I mean, I think I had a lot of nerves and a lot of excitement. And I was playing someone I obviously admired,” Baptist said. “I was just relaxing, having fun and home, so I remember enjoying the moment and playing in front of a huge crowd.
Her Hashharten is far away: Nina Stojanovic, Victoria Gorvich, No. 22 Clara Touson
Next: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
Roland Garros was the 2019 Anishimova career breakout location, where she first reached the major semi-finals, and now only. It’s been a 23-year-old roller coaster ever since, but between her season and her first week in Paris, it reminded everyone how dangerous she is when she’s at her best.
Anishimoba won the biggest title of her career, winning the 1000-level Qatar Open earlier this season at all levels since 2022, reaching the 16th career-high ranking in March. After her third victory on Friday, she was expected to rise to 14th in the next rankings.
She arrived in Paris without much momentum on the surface — unable to win matches in Madrid or Rome — but that has not been shown in Roland Garros so far. Anisimova has not yet dropped the set and has recorded a bagel set in two rounds of matches.
It’s not easy to face the top ranked Sabalenka, but Anishimoba has a history. In the seven previous meetings, the Americans won five of them, including last year’s recent showdown in Toronto. She sounded excited by the challenge when she spoke to the reporter on Friday.
“It’s always special to play someone ranked number one in the world,” Anishimoba said. “I really try to embrace opportunities and experiences because you don’t do that much. It’s also going to be on a large court. I love playing in the big stadium. I’m just going to go there, enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the crowds.
Players he’s beaten so far: Elmer Mueller, Merton Fukkovis, No. 24 Karen Khachanov
Next: No. 25 Alexei Popyrin
In three matches at Roland Garros, Paul played 14 sets and spent nearly 11 hours on the court. His match with Kachanov, which lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes, was the third longest in his career. So, nothing was easy for Paul, but he continues to find a way to win, and is now in the fourth round with the French Open for the first time in his career.
He has had a strong season so far, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, breaking the top ten for the first time. Paul, who won the 2015 French Open Junior title, is particularly impressive for Clay, with a semi-final appearance at the Italian Open earlier this month. He eventually fell to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, but he pushed him into three sets.
Paul, 28, will have the opportunity to reach his fourth major quarterfinal when he faces Popilin on Sunday. The two have never met in clay, the series has been split, twice before, twice before. Paul won his most recent match at the 2024 Ross Mullengrass Court Championship. Paul said he knew Popilin could play “incredible” tennis, but he knew he was trying to rest before the game and get as much sleep as possible.
“I’m excited to play,” Paul said Friday. “I mean, this is Grand Slam tennis. This is why we play sports.”
No. 13 Ben Shelton
Players he’s beaten so far: Lorenzo Sonego, Hugo Gaston (retired before the match), Matteo Gigante
Next: No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz
Shelton played at the French Open for the third time in his youth career, opening the opening day of the 2025 campaign and tournament, playing the hottest night matches at Philip Chattlier. And with all his eyes, the 22-year-old gave birth. Shelton leveled up under the lights, dragging two sets to one, winning with five thrilling sets.
And while many of his peers had to fight for their spot in 32 rounds, Shelton was unexpectedly given a holiday that had withdrawn from the tournament the day before Gaston played. The extended rest looked to make Shelton better as he dominated in his match against Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. The victory didn’t seem to be in doubt as he easily slid through the entire clay. He is now in his second week of the opening in France.
Ben Shelton really scored this point pic.twitter.com/uc0mtofrxt
– Bleacher Report (@bleacherreport) May 30, 2025
Shelton, who reached the final of the BMW Open in Munich in April, faces the Hercules Challenge at defending champion Alcaraz on Sunday. Shelton had not beaten Alcaraz in two previous meetings, but the crowd is certainly on the Spanish side, but Shelton often appears to be at his best at his biggest moments.
“Defending champion, 16 rounds, I’m guessing center court. It’s a pretty cool opportunity, a pretty cool experience, and a lot of people won’t come in for the rest of their lives,” Shelton said. “For me, I definitely enjoy it, get out there and see what I can because I started gaining some speed, start gaining a bit of traction on this surface and start seeing some of my best tennis.
If Shelton pulls agitation away, it marks his fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance and will rise to the No. 11th career-high ranking.
No. 15 Frances Tiafoe
Players he has beaten so far: Roma Safiurin, Pablo Carre No. 23 Sebastian Corda
Next: Daniel Altmeyer
Participating in the tournament, 27-year-old Tiafoe reached her second week in all majors except the French Open. He won the title at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston in 2023, reaching the final two years later. However, he had a 5-9 record for Roland Garros, reaching the third round only once.
A year can change everything.
Despite poor results in lead-in events, Tiafoe has barely stopped in Paris and has yet to drop the set. Against Korda, who won the previous two meetings, Tierfoe needed a tiebreak to win the opening set, but controlled to cruise into the fourth round.
And perhaps none of the Americans will reach the quarterfinals than the tierfour. Faced with Altmeyer who confused top-ranked American Taylor Fritz in the first round, Tierfoe is certainly a favorite, with a 2-0 record in 2023 in Rome’s Clay.
As Tiafoe proceeded, he marked the first non-hard court major quarterfinals of his career, reaching the round outside of US soil for the first time since 2019. Tearfoe admitted he enjoys the lack of pressure from playing in front of the home crowd.
“There’s a lot of expectations at the open (we’re) there’s a lot of energy. I feel like it’s a craftsman-like vibe here,” Tiafoe said Friday. “There are still many people open in France, and it’s amazing here. But there’s nothing like Open (in New York), Open is a completely different beast.
