The ranking points Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff, Raducanu & co will defend at the French Open
The French Open is underway, and several leading WTA stars have big points to defend at Roland Garros.
Here, we look at the ranking points being defended by the top eight seeds, alongside other big names starring at the tournament.
No 1 – Aryna Sabalenka
With 10,683 points to her name, Sabalenka will comfortably remain as the No 1 regardless of results in Paris.
The Belarusian was stunned by Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-final twelve months ago and therefore has 430 points to defend, meaning she could surge further ahead of the rest with a deep run.
No 2 – Coco Gauff
Gauff has reached at least the quarter-finals of the French Open every year since 2021 and was a semi-finalist in 2024, losing to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
The American has 780 points to defend as a result though, with an advantageous draw, another deep run into the draw looks likely.
No 3 – Jessica Pegula
The clay-court season has been somewhat of a mixed bag for world No 3 Pegula, whose momentum has tailed off after her triumph in Charleston.
However, Roland Garros effectively represents a ‘free hit’ for the 31-year-old, who has no points to defend after withdrawing from the tournament in 2024.
No 4 – Jasmine Paolini
Paolini was a surprise finalist at the French Open twelve months ago, beating the likes of Elena Rybakina and Andreeva before defeat to Swiatek in the final.
The Italian’s Rome triumph has given her a points cushion, though the world No 4 still has a staggering 1,300 runner-up points to defend over the next fortnight.
No 5 – Iga Swiatek
All eyes in Paris will be on three-time defending champion and four-time overall champion Swiatek, who has not won a title since beating Paolini in the final twelve months ago.
Ranked as the world No 1 as recently as last October, the 23-year-old has fallen to world No 5 in the rankings after failing to defend titleist points in Madrid and Rome.
Things do not get any easier for Swiatek in Paris, with a staggering 2,000 points to defend as the defending champion.
No 6 – Mirra Andreeva
Twelve months after her stunning breakthrough run to the last four in Paris, 18-year-old Andreeva returns to Paris as the sixth seed – and a two-time WTA 1000 champion.
The Russian has 780 points to defend over the next fortnight as she looks to cement her place as one of the WTA’s leading stars – and potentially contend for a maiden Grand Slam title.
French Open News
Tim Henman makes a bold Emma Raducanu claim as he suggests her critics got it wrong
Iga Swiatek reveals mindset and tactical shifts she has made for French Open title defence
No 7 – Madison Keys
Competing in her first major tournament as a Grand Slam champion, Madison Keys has the chance to add an even greater cushion to her top-10 status at the French Open.
The seventh seed has just 130 points to defend after being beaten in the third round twelve months ago, though has reached the last four of Roland Garros in the past.
No 8 – Zheng Qinwen
The Olympic champion at this venue last summer, Qinwen’s form has improved slightly in recent weeks after a slow start to 2025, and she has the chance to earn some valuable points in Paris.
Qinwen was stunned in the third round by Elina Avanesyan twelve months ago and, much like Keys, has just 130 points to defend as a result.
Who else to watch out for?
Wherever Emma Raducanu goes, the spotlight follows, and there is no doubt that the Brit has been drawn into an intriguing section of the draw.
The Brit could find herself up against Swiatek in round two but, having not played the event since 2022, has no points to defend – and can therefore approach the tournament with a little less pressure.
Another player to watch will be 12th seed Rybakina, who has fallen outside the top 10 after a difficult start to the season, but now comes in as the Strasbourg International champion.
The Kazakh has 430 points to defend as a 2024 quarter-finalist, though she could face Swiatek in the round of 16.
However, two women at huge risk of a major rankings drop are Marketa Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur, who reached the last eight a year ago as the fifth and eighth seeds, respectively.
Injury issues mean both are unseeded this year, and face an uphill task to defend their 430 points – meaning they are at risk of a significant drop.
Read Next: Can Swiatek hold off Sabalenka & Gauff? Our French Open predictions
