Efficient Sinner underlines status as favourite

Thursday, 28 May 2026 03:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner underlined why he is the overwhelming favourite to win this year’s French Open with an efficient first-round win against French wildcard Clement Tabur.

With reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz out injured and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic nearing the end of his illustrious career, Sinner is the heaviest odds-on favourite at a major since Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2009.

The top seed will hope to avoid the same fate as Nadal 17 years ago, when the four-time defending champion fell in the fourth round to Robin Soderling in one of the tournament’s biggest-ever upsets.

The Italian, 24, began his bid for the career Grand Slam with a 6-1 6-3 6-4 victory against world number 171 Tabur.

It was Sinner’s first French Open match on Court Philippe Chatrier since his five-set defeat by Alcaraz in last year’s final, in which he missed three championship points.

The French Open is the only major missing from Sinner’s collection and he would become just the 10th man to complete the career Grand Slam if he wins in Paris.

Sinner and rival Alcaraz, who became the ninth man to accomplish the feat at January’s Australian Open, have won the past nine majors between them.