Getty ImagesThe clay season is upon us as we prepare for Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam staged on this grueling surface.
Top players from across the ATP and WTA tours will all be hoping for glory in this year's edition of the French Open, but who are the favorites set to lift the Musketeers Cup in June?
From reigning champions looking to defend their titles to fresh faces looking to claim their first Grand Slam title, GOAL brings you a guide to the biggest names playing in the French Open 2024.
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Getty ImagesThe defending champion and world number 1 is always a contender to lift major honors. The evergreen 36-year-old recently parted ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic but is still a red-hot favorite to win his 25th major.
Getty Images The 22-year-old Pole has won three of the last four titles at Roland Garros and will be difficult to stop in 2024. Often lauded for winning when she's not at her best, Swiatek's steely never-say-die attitude suits the clay surface. In 2022 she strung together a stunning sequence of 37 tour wins but hasn't won any of her last three Grand Slam entries. That's a drought by her insane standards.
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Getty ImagesArguably the best player on the planet right now, 22-year-old Italian Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam in Australia by defeating Djokovic in a scintillating semi-final performance and then coming from two sets down to see off Daniil Medvedev in the final. The hard-court specialist wouldn't say clay is his favorite, but he's constantly improving, and a 19-match winning streak earlier this year makes him the hottest property in the world.
Getty ImagesThe Belarussian beat Elana Rybakina in an epic three-setter in this year's Australian Open final to win her second consecutive crown in Melbourne. She made last year's semi-final at Roland Garros, and her relentless ball-striking from the baseline makes her a strong favourite to go one better this time.
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Getty ImagesDefending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz has been hot and cold since his stunning win over Djokovic at SW19 in London last year. However, he was the man to halt Sinner's win streak this year, and you can always expect the unexpected when this ridiculously talented 20-year-old takes the court in Paris. He lost in last year's final four to Djokovic after being plagued by muscular cramps.
Getty ImagesAlready a Grand Slam winner after winning the US Open in 2023, Coco Gauff was only 18 when she made the French Open final in 2022. The occasion got the better of her that day, but the 20-year-old looks like the finished article now and ready to make a splash in Paris again.
Getty ImagesThe gifted Greek star has slipped out of the world's top 10 but still has the tools to go far in this tournament. He reached the final in 2020 but heartbreakingly lost to Djokovic after leading by two sets.
Getty ImagesThe Kazakhstani's best showing at the French Open was a quarter-final appearance in 2021. Her ultra-aggressive style may not be best suited to clay, but not many women can live with her when she's at her best. The 24-year-old also possesses arguably the best serve in today's game.
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Getty Images"Sasha" as he's endearingly known has unfinished business at Roland Garros. The tall German suffered a freak ankle injury in the 2022 semi-final against Rafael Nadal in a match en route to becoming a classic and in 2023 he was dumped out emphatically by Casper Ruud at the same stage. The tall German has a superb backhand and the weapons needed to cause a stir on the Paris dirt.
Getty ImagesOften going under the radar, 30-year-old Pegula is an expert on all surfaces, but her best showing is her quarter-final appearance at all four slams. The New Yorker is a dark horse capable of ruffling a few illustrious feathers with her expert touch honed on the doubles scene.
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Getty ImagesThe French Open, aka Roland Garros, is the most prestigious clay court tournament on the tennis calendar. It runs from 26 May until 9 June 2024.
Serbian Novak Djokovic won the men's crown in 2023 after defeating Norway's Casper Ruud in the final. In the ladies' draw, Poland's Iga Swiatek beat Czech player Karolina Muchova in last year's showpiece.
The winners in both singles draws receive €2.3m for their efforts.
The legendary Spaniard, a record 14-time winner at Roland Garros, has been nursing an injury but is making a comeback at the Barcelona Open, ahead of the French Open.
In the United States, fans can catch the French Open 2024 live on the Tennis Channel and NBC Sports. To stream the matches online, fans can sign up for Peacock - in past year's Peacock has shown every single court, and the same can be expected for this year.
In the United Kingdom, coverage of the French Open 2024 will be shown on TNT Sports via Discovery+. To watch the French Open you will have to sign up to the Discovery Plus Premium plan (£30.99/month), which allows you to view TNT Sports live streams.
