As the anticipation builds for the French Open, which begins this Sunday, tennis enthusiasts have a comprehensive guide to understanding everything there is to know about the 2025 tournament. This includes details on how to view the matches on television, who the favorites to win are, and more insights about this prestigious Grand Slam event.
**Start Date and Viewing Options**
The French Open kicks off on Sunday, with the first matches set to start at 11 a.m. local time in Paris—equivalent to 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Tennis fans in the United States can catch the live action on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max, marking the inauguration of a new decade-long broadcasting agreement valued at $650 million.
**A New Era Post-Nadal**
This tournament holds special significance as it is the first without Rafael Nadal, the acclaimed “King of Clay,” who announced his retirement last season. Having won 14 titles at Roland-Garros, Nadal’s legacy will be celebrated in a special ceremony at Court Philippe-Chatrier on the opening Sunday.
**Defending Champions and Top Contenders**
The current titleholders at the French Open include Iga Swiatek of Poland and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. Swiatek triumphed over Jasmine Paolini last year with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory, while Alcaraz clinched his win against Alexander Zverev. This established Alcaraz, at 21, as the youngest male player to capture Grand Slam victories across all playing surfaces: clay, grass, and hard courts.
In this year’s competition, Aryna Sabalenka is the top-seeded female, and the men’s top seed is Jannik Sinner, both ranked No. 1 in their respective categories. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Sabalenka and Alcaraz are considered the betting favorites for singles honors, with odds at +275 and +105, respectively.
**Tournament Name and Venue**
While English speakers typically call it the “French Open,” the tournament is widely recognized as “Roland-Garros” both in France and internationally, named after a celebrated World War I aviator. The tournament takes place on the iconic red clay courts of Roland-Garros, located on the outskirts of Paris.
**Format and Schedule**
This renowned clay-court major will unfold over 15 days, featuring both day and evening sessions, and taking advantage of the retractable roof above Court Philippe-Chatrier. Matches for women consist of best-of-three sets, while men compete in best-of-five sets, with tiebreakers in place at 6-all during decisive sets.
Here’s a look at the singles schedule:
– **Sunday through Tuesday:** First Round
– **Wednesday-Thursday:** Second Round
– **May 30-31:** Third Round
– **June 1-2:** Fourth Round
– **June 3-4:** Quarterfinals
– **June 5:** Women’s Semifinals
– **June 6:** Men’s Semifinals
– **June 7:** Women’s Final
– **June 8:** Men’s Final
**Prize Money**
This year’s French Open offers a total player compensation package of 56.352 million euros, which equates to approximately $62.5 million. Each singles champion will take home 2.55 million euros, or roughly $2.8 million, highlighting the tournament’s substantial financial rewards.
As excitement builds, numerous stories set the stage for the upcoming matches. Coverage includes the absence of Nadal’s and Swiatek’s formidable consistency, the profiles of leading players, a request for increased prize money by prominent tennis athletes, and a class-action lawsuit filed by players concerning the sport’s administration.
Whether you’re following the action for the love of tennis, looking to cheer on your favorite players, or interested in wagering on the outcomes, the French Open promises an exhilarating two weeks of top-tier sports this year.