Iga Świątek is the favorite to win her fifth French Open title at this year’s event, according to the tournament’s betting odds, beating out defending champion Coco Gauff and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Given the Pole’s struggle with form this season, former American tennis players John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson have taken issue with Świątek’s status ahead of the clay-court Major.
Iga Świątek’s Advantage Over Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open Odds Sparks Debate
During a recent episode of the “Nothing Major” podcast, Sam Querrey expressed surprise that Gauff trails significantly behind Świątek and Sabalenka in the betting odds for the French Open.
“Iga is the favorite at +340 just a little bit ahead of Sabalanka and then Coco Gauff is +1,000. I guess I’m a little surprised that Iga is the favorite, and then I’m also surprised that Coco is +1,000, giving her a less than 10% chance to win. I think Coco should be much higher than that. I think she should be around where Iga and Sabalanka are just because how she played in Rome and Miami. And then Iga basically has had one good tournament and that was last week,” Querrey said.
John Isner concurred, calling attention to Świątek’s underwhelming 2026 season and proclaiming that he would favor Gauff, Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina in potential matchups against the Pole in Paris.
“I’m very surprised. I know Iga found some form in Rome for sure. We were talking about that maybe she needed to find that form to be able to play well in RG. But yes, I’m very surprised. She just hasn’t shown enough all year. I know she’s been dominant at this tournament before, but if we get down to the business end of the event and it’s Coco versus Iga, Sabalenka versus Iga, even like Rybakina on a hot day, give me those players against against Iga,” Isner said.
“For me, Sabalenka should be the favorite and then I like Rybakina after her as the second favorite. That’s how I would rank it. I put maybe put Iga third or fourth,” he added.
MORE: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek: Who Has the Tougher French Open Draw?
Steve Johnson voiced a similar opinion, despite acknowledging Świątek’s previous dominance at the clay-court Major, and expressed his belief that the title is ultimately Sabalenka’s to lose.
“I’m a little surprised Iga is the favorite though, just with she hasn’t won any tournaments, but she has dominated the French Open in the last five to seven years, winning a bunch of titles. So, I don’t know. I’m still not going to I wouldn’t bet against Sabalenka. She’s made the finals or semis of what is the last six slams, and she’s going to find a way to win a Slam outside of a hard-court in short order, and it’s going to be one of these in the summer,” he said.
No. 3 seed Iga Świątek faces a tough path to her fifth French Open title, with the likes of former Roland Garros champion Jeļena Ostapenko, Madrid Open winner Marta Kostyuk, and Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina looming in her draw. She will take on Emerson Jones in her opening match.
Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Coco Gauff will kick off her title defense against fellow American Taylor Townsend. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is on the hunt for her maiden French Open title, is set to face Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round.
