Jasmine Paolini, the world No. 4 and 2024 French Open finalist, identified four key rivals—Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina—as the primary contenders for the 2025 French Open women’s singles title, which began on May 25, 2025, at Roland Garros. In a pre-tournament press conference reported by Tennis.com on May 23, 2025, Paolini praised their form, stating, “Iga’s the queen of clay, Aryna’s power is unreal, Coco’s movement is a nightmare, and Elena’s serve is a weapon. They’re the ones to beat.” She acknowledged her own chances, buoyed by her recent Italian Open singles and doubles titles, but tempered expectations, saying, “I’m dreaming step by step, not assuming I’ll go all the way again.” Paolini, seeded fourth, faces Daria Saville in the first round, per wtatennis.com.
Rivals for Glory
Paolini’s selection reflects the WTA’s competitive landscape. Świątek, the four-time Roland Garros champion, remains the favorite despite a No. 5 seed after a shaky clay season, per Tennishead.net. Sabalenka, ranked No. 1, brings her Madrid final form, while Gauff, No. 2, leverages her 2024 semifinal experience and recent practice confidence on Court Philippe-Chatrier (Olympics.com). Rybakina, fresh off her Strasbourg WTA 500 title on May 24, 2025, adds her powerful game, climbing to No. 11, per wtatennis.com. Paolini’s 2024 runner-up finish to Świątek (6-2, 6-1) and her 6-0 clay head-to-head edge over Gauff, including the 2025 Italian Open final (6-4, 6-2), underline her competitiveness, per The Playoffs.
Apology to Pope Leo XIV
In a separate incident, Paolini issued a lighthearted apology to Pope Leo XIV after a humorous exchange during her Italian Open victory speech on May 17, 2025, as reported by CNN. After meeting the Pope days earlier alongside Jannik Sinner, where she gifted him a signed tennis ball, Paolini jokingly remarked to the Rome crowd, “I hope the Pope’s not watching, but I might’ve said I’d win for Italy, not just pray!” The quip, met with laughter, prompted her to clarify on X, posting, “Sorry, Holy Father, just a joke! Thanks for the blessing,” per @WTAInsider. The Pope’s visit, where Sinner gifted a racket, was described as “emotional” by Paolini, per CNN.
French Open Outlook
Paolini’s 2025 season, including her Dubai WTA 1000 title and Olympic doubles gold with Sara Errani, positions her as a dark horse, per Roland-Garros.com. Her Rome sweep—defeating Gauff and then Errani’s doubles win over Kudermetova/Mertens (6-4, 7-5)—earned her a career-high No. 4 ranking, matching Francesca Schiavone’s Italian record, per Wikipedia. Fans on X, like @TennisForum, hailed her “classical tennis” and movement, predicting a deep run, while @RolandGarros noted her “infectious smile” as a crowd-pleaser. Despite her apology, Paolini’s focus remains on navigating a tough draw, with her versatility and clay prowess making her a threat to her named rivals.
