A Standout 2025 Season
Aryna Sabalenka has been nearly unstoppable in 2025. The world No. 1 entered the French Open with titles in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid, along with four consecutive finals appearances— a streak that showcases both consistency and adaptability. Now, she aims for the crown jewel missing from her résumé: a Grand Slam victory on clay.
Mastering the Clay Surface
For years, Roland Garros posed a challenge for Sabalenka, whose power-based game once struggled to adapt to the slower surface. However, this season, she’s rewriting that narrative. With a 12-2 record on clay heading into Paris, Sabalenka has shown she’s no longer just a threat on hard courts. Her improved movement, court awareness, and shot selection, including strategic drop shots and net approaches, have made her one of the most well-rounded players in women’s tennis draw.
Resilience Under Pressure
Sabalenka’s transformation isn’t just physical; it’s also mental. She has become known for her resilience, particularly in high-stakes moments. Since 2024, she has won nine WTA 1,000 matches after dropping the first set. That kind of grit could make all the difference on the pressure-filled courts of Roland Garros.
Bouncing Back From Setbacks
Though she suffered a quarterfinal loss in Rome earlier this spring, Sabalenka quickly rebounded, demonstrating that setbacks don’t shake her confidence. Her ability to reset and refocus has become a defining trait of her game. In interviews leading up to the French Open, she’s expressed a clear hunger to lift the trophy, not just to silence doubters, but to mark a turning point in her already decorated career.
A Title Within Reach
With her powerful serve, aggressive groundstrokes, and newfound patience on clay, Sabalenka possesses all the tools to win in Paris. The question is whether she can maintain that level throughout two weeks of the sport’s most grueling Grand Slam. If she can, 2025 may finally be the year she adds “French Open champion” to her name and further solidifies her place at the top of women’s tennis.
