Coco Gauff receives French Open boost as Roland Garros draw announced
Coco Gauff lands in the bottom half of the French Open draw, avoiding Swiatek and Sabalenka until the final - giving her a real shot at a deep run in Paris
Coco Gauff’s road to a potential French Open title just got a little smoother.
The 21-year-old American tennis star received a significant boost as the 2025 Roland Garros draw was announced this week — and it’s about as favorable as she could’ve hoped for. Seeded second, Gauff landed in the bottom half of the bracket, which means she won’t have to face either of her biggest rivals — top seed Aryna Sabalenka or defending champion Iga Swiatek — until the final. For a player still seeking a second Grand Slam title, that’s a huge advantage.
Her tournament opens against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki, a qualifier, and from there, her projected path to the later rounds sets her up for potential all-American showdowns. She could meet Madison Keys in the quarterfinals and Jessica Pegula in the semifinals — a manageable run compared to the top half of the draw.
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Meanwhile, the top half is absolutely stacked.
Swiatek, a four-time French Open winner and the sport’s most dominant clay-court player, begins her title defense against Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova. She could run into Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals and Sabalenka in the semis — a brutal path even for a champion.
Sabalenka, who has been in excellent form this season, starts her tournament against Kamilla Rakhimova. She’s also coming off a deep run on clay and looks primed for another big showing in Paris. The top half of the draw is being dubbed the "Group of Death" by some fans for good reason — it’s packed with power hitters and recent champions.
That leaves Gauff in a much more navigable section. The U.S. Open champion has been in strong form this spring, reaching the finals in both Madrid and Rome.
Though she fell short — losing to Sabalenka in Madrid and Paolini in Rome — Gauff has consistently proven she belongs among the elite on clay. Her speed, defense, and improved serve give her a solid shot at a deep run.
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This year’s tournament also features some must-see early matches. One of the biggest first-round showdowns will see Naomi Osaka take on Spain’s 10th seed Paula Badosa. It’s a clash between two fan favorites, and it could set the tone for a wild first week at Roland Garros.
Gauff already made the French Open final once, back in 2022, when she lost to Swiatek. This year, she’s more experienced, more confident, and likely more motivated than ever. With Swiatek and Sabalenka out of her way — at least for now — the stage is set.
If all goes to plan, Gauff could get the ultimate shot at redemption — a championship matchup against one of the two women who have consistently stood in her way.
For now, though, she just has to take it one match at a time — and that starts with Gadecki.
