Players on the rise ahead of Roland-Garros

With the clay-court season in full swing and the Rome Masters underway, ATP stars are staking their claims ahead of the 2025 edition of Roland-Garros.

From Monte Carlo to Madrid, key names are hitting top form, including Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev, setting the stage for a gripping second Grand Slam of the year.

Alcaraz Rises in Monte Carlo

Alcaraz kicked off his clay campaign by capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo. The 21-year-old defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the final, notching his second trophy of the season and returning to No.2 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“I wasn’t expecting to win, just to get some time on clay,” Alcaraz said. “Ending up winning the title gives me a lot of confidence for what is to come.”

The win coincided with the launch of his Netflix documentary My Way, further boosting the young Spaniard’s profile as he eyes another deep run at Roland-Garros, where he’s the defending champion. The three-part series delves into the 22-year-old’s tennis journey, as he balances the pressures of professional tennis with his personal life. It includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage at Laver Cup Berlin and interviews with former Team Europe Captain Bjorn Borg and Team World Captain John McEnroe.

Alcaraz will also return for a second straight year to represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup in San Francisco, captained by Yannick Noah. Speaking ahead of the Barcelona Open, he acknowledged the depth of talent in today’s game, citing “at least six players” capable of winning the sport’s biggest prizes, including longtime rival Rune.

Rune Denies Alcaraz in Barcelona

Rune halted Alcaraz’s nine-match win streak in Barcelona, dethroning the two-time defending champion in the ATP 500 final and returning to the top 10 in the process. Their rivalry, which dates to their junior years, continues to be one of the most intriguing on the Tour. Rune’s recent victory split their head-to-head 2:2.

Meanwhile, home favorite Zverev – the defending champion in Rome this week – won his third Munich Open title, reclaiming the No.2 ranking from Alcaraz after defeating Shelton in the final. For Shelton, who will make his third appearance for Team World in September under captain Andre Agassi, the result marked a milestone: the first time an American had reached a clay-court ATP 500 final since Agassi himself triumphed in Rome in 2002.

Ruud Breaks Through in Madrid

Ruud, a perennial standout for Team Europe at the Laver Cup, delivered one of the most memorable performances of the clay swing by claiming his maiden Masters 1000 title in Madrid. Seeded No.14, the Norwegian didn’t drop a set until the final, where he overcame Britain’s Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

“I’ve always dreamed about winning tournaments like this or Grand Slams or becoming World No.1, and I’ve been fairly close,” said Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist. “Here in Madrid, it feels like I’ve taken four steps forward.”

In doing so, Ruud became the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title. Along the way, he defeated fellow Laver Cup alumni: Team World’s Taylor Fritz in the fourth round, former teammate Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, and Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the semis.

Cerundolo’s Steady Rise

Cerundolo’s semifinal run in Madrid earned him a career-high ranking of No.18 and a tie with Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur for most wins (24) on the ATP Tour in 2025. The Argentine, who has previously represented Team World in Vancouver and Berlin, is emerging as one of the most consistent clay performers this year, and described by Zverev as one of the most difficult players he has encountered. “I hate playing him, to be honest,” Zverev said ahead of his title defense in Rome.

What’s Next?

With just three ATP events remaining – Rome (Masters 1000), Hamburg (ATP 500), and Geneva (ATP 250) – before the draw begins in Paris, the race for form and momentum is intensifying. Alcaraz will look to defend his title at Roland-Garros, but with Ruud in resurgent form, Rune firing again, and dangerous players like Zverev, Fritz, Shelton, Tommy Paul and Medvedev still looming, the clay-court hierarchy is far from settled.

The three highest-ranked players from Europe and the World, based on their ATP singles ranking as of the Monday following Roland-Garros, receive an automatic invitation to play the Laver Cup. If one of these players chooses not to participate, the offer is made to another high-ranked player. The remaining three places on each team will be ‘Captain’s Picks’ and can be announced any time before the start of the US Open.

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