For the first time since 1968, no former Grand Slam champions have reached the men's singles round of 16 at a major tournament. The French Open has become a stage for first-time champions and unexpected outcomes. Jannik Sinner's five-set loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Thursday marked a significant upset, followed by Joao Fonseca's stunning victory over 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic just a day later.
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The draw has entered uncharted territory, creating a round of 16 devoid of past champions. Fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime commented on Sinner's exit, saying, “Everyone thought he'd win this year's French Open. It's not going to be him. I guess that's the beauty of sports.” He acknowledged that Sinner's absence changes the dynamic for players only if they advance further.
Frances Tiafoe reflected on this shift, stating, “Now he's out, I think everyone is going to have even more hope, but ultimately it doesn't really matter. You've got to beat one guy – whoever is in front of you. It's a long two weeks – a lot of things can happen.”
Casper Ruud, one of the two former finalists remaining in the tournament, and No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, has battled through two grueling five-set matches. Ruud expressed excitement at the open nature of the tournament, remarking, “It's such an open tournament, which is kind of refreshing for everyone. To see that there will be a new Slam champion in about a week or so, I think every player is aware of it.”
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick noted the unusual state of the men’s draw, stating it hasn’t been this open since 2003. He suggested that Zverev will face significant pressure as the highest remaining seed, saying, “This is his moment, his time, and maybe the first time where he is the favorite at this point in a Slam.”
After his victory over Djokovic, Fonseca, just 19 years old, indicated that the focus should be on the established players left in the tournament. “Of course, Jannik and Djokovic are out and there's more chances for the guys that have more time on tour, like Sascha and Casper,” he said, adding, “I'm just going to enjoy the moment.”
With the absence of Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner, who won the last men's Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros in 2022, Ruud aims to leverage his experience in major finals as he pursues the Coupe des Mousquetaires. “I'm going to try to use the experiences that I've had of reaching far in Slams to my advantage and see where that takes me, but you focus one match at a time,” he concluded.