The men head into the Spring 2026 part of the season after Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open in four exciting sets over Novak Djokovic. Naturally, we eagerly anticipate the clay court season for 2026, which gets underway next month.
In 2025 it was Carlos Alcaraz who won the French Open. So, yes, the Grand Slams were split between Alcaraz and Sinner. Their battles have been impressive. However, this year’s Australian Open had a twist as Sinner failed to get to the final.
But can the big hitter from Spain win a third consecutive French Open? We will examine the top two choices and maybe several longer shots in the men’s field and provide you with our free tennis betting picks to see if we can continue this momentum with the 2026 Men’s Tennis season.
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Below you will find some early numbers for the second grand slam of the tennis season.
| Men's French Open Numbers | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | +120 | +125 | +125 |
| Jannik Sinner | +140 | +135 | +130 |
| Alexander Zverev | +1100 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Novak Djokovic | +1400 | +1600 | +1500 |
| Lorenzo Musetti | +2000 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Jack Draper | +2000 | +1800 | +2000 |
| Joao Fonseca | +2500 | +2200 | +2500 |
| Casper Ruud | +3500 | +3500 | +3500 |
Despite playing really well, Jannik Sinner must now try and rebound at the French Open. He is 13-2 on the current season and just won at Indian Wells. However, the clay season is a little different for the Italian. Sinner possesses a career record of 22-6 at the French and reached the Final last year, losing to Alcaraz in five sets. This was the match where Sinner held a 2-0 sets lead before the Spaniard roared back in what became an instant classic.
Sinner and Alcaraz continued their rivalry into the rest of the year and split the 2025 Grand Slams. Again, the Italian’s serve and return of serve have improved markedly on clay. Sinner had the blueprint to beat Alcaraz on clay until Alcaraz lifted his level of play. Few, if any, can match the artistry and shotmaking of Alcaraz on the dirt surface (Rafael Nadal).
Naturally, 2026 will need to be different for Sinner and has started oddly. Sinner lost at his best surface (hardcourt) to Alcaraz in Australia. It will be interesting to see how Sinner schedules his clay season which starts April 5th at Monte Carlo. Sinner will be at the Italian Open but the question will be where else. Do not look at last year’s schedule as Sinner served a suspension.
So, the difference last year was that Sinner came into the French Open very rested. It will be something to see what Sinner does against some of the clay specialists. Are they at the same level as some of the older generation specialists? No. Sinner remains the second favorite even for Paris because of how machine-like he plays, period!
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So, Men’s 2026 French Open futures look at Carlos Alcaraz as he goes for the three-peat again. Like we mentioned above, the Spaniard won consecutive Wimbledon titles before losing to Sinner in 2025. Sinner tried this at Melbourne and did not even make the final for example. Think of the amazing streak that Rafael Nadal set in Paris. Nadal was 14-0 in the last match and had three streaks of 4,5, and 4 respectively.
The Spaniard will finish out Miami and maybe take a week off before the clay season. Last year, Alcaraz skipped Madrid. Does he take a break sooner or later? Again, the one certain event will be the Italian Open. That tuneup in Rome is crucial to his run in Paris. He knows it and so does Sinner.
As expected, Alcaraz is favored slightly to win in Paris. Remember, Sinner showed he can win on clay last year in the Final. The resolve that Alcaraz showed to come back will play in the mind of the Italian tennis star. Having that edge figures to help Alcaraz when it counts.
Yes, the numbers could shorten some but do not expect much until the clay season plays out. Alcaraz remains the choice here to complete the three-peat.
Can anyone spoil the inevitable party between Sinner and Alcaraz? Men’s French Open 2026 futures grasp at straws to find someone that can challenge The Big Two.
The big dilemma is trying to figure out just who might surprise. Remember, the tiebreaker decides proceedings at the French Open in the case of a fifth set. Can Novak Djokovic pull off something? Will Alexander Zverev score an upset? Lorenzo Musetti is gaining traction along with Jack Draper as potential foils to the pre-destined finale. Musetti might have had a chance but retired in the semifinal round.
Some carry faith that maybe a Joao Fonseca or Casper Ruud might be worth a look. Fonseca has the game to disrupt on clay but has not quite shown that against some of the bigger Top 5 talent just yet. People forget that before Nadal and now Alcaraz/Sinner, clay was a far bigger adventure. This 2026 clay season hopefully reveals a player or two that tosses a twist.
A trio of Americans pull in at +5000. Taylor Fritz appears not to be a much of the factor. Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul might have a chance to get to the second week. Shelton has the bigger game and can test a Sinner or Alcaraz. Musetti may provide the biggest obstacle. This will be special!
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Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."