Tough road for defending champion Keys
It was the 27-year-old Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023.
As the 2025 French Open looms, all eyes may be on reigning champions and top seeds - but lurking just beneath the surface are several players quietly building momentum, ready to crash the party in Paris. From seasoned champions finding renewed form to rising stars with something to prove, here are four dark horses who could shake up the women's singles draw at Roland Garros.
The Czech Republic won a heavyweight clash against the United States with a deciding doubles victory sending them through to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals in Seville.
Petra Kvitova withdrew from the French Open before her first round match, on Monday, due to an injury to her forearm but the Czech is hopeful she will be able to compete at Wimbledon.
Third seed Paula Badosa made quick work of French wildcard Fiona Ferro by winning 6-2 6-0 in under an hour to book a spot in the second round of the French Open
IMAGES from Day 5 of the US Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday.
Thirteen-time champion Rafael Nadal, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer and world number one Novak Djokovic were placed in the same half of the French Open draw on Thursday.
* Swiatek started playing tennis in an attempt to emulate her older sister, who competed briefly on the junior circuit.
Sania Mirza along with her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok suffered an opening-round loss in the women's doubles event
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, who recently announced that 2022 would be her last season, says she had made the announcement too soon and is "regretting" it since she is being asked about it all the time.
Factbox on Iga Swiatek, who defeated Sofia Kenin to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open on Saturday.
The 37-year-old knows that if she wants to hoist the Rosewater Dish for an eighth time, she needs to improve in all departments.
Images from Day 5 of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Thursday.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the Wimbledon Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Friday.
Naomi Osaka settled her nerves and stepped up her preparations for the Australian Open by beating Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Gippsland Trophy warm-up tournament in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Images from Day 6 of Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, on Saturday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the US Open played at Flushing Meadows in New York on Tuesday.
Images from Day 2 of the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Monday
World number one Ash Barty delighted the Memorial Drive crowd by breezing through to the Adelaide International semi-finals with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sofia Kenin on Friday.
IMAGES from the matches played during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, at Wimbledon in London on Thursday
The veteran American set up a showdown with Romanian former world number one Simona Halep in Saturday's final.
Seven-time champion Serena Williams endured an unlikely scrap in her Wimbledon opener and will look to shake off more rust in the second round on Thursday when she faces another qualifier in 18-year-old Kaja Juvan.
Images from the action on Day 2 at the Australian Open.
Images from Day 1 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
PHOTOS from the Wimbledon Championships matches played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Saturday
A summary of Day 2 at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances