New French Open Men's Favorite Emerges After Janik Sinner Elimination
Top-ranked men’s tennis star Janik Sinner entered the 2026 French Open looking to capture his first win at Roland Garros, only to suffer a devastating upset loss in the second round.
Heading into this event, Sinner was a massive favorite at many sportsbooks and prediction markets to capture the French Open title, which would’ve completed a Career Grand Slam.
However, Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo defeated him in five sets, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, sending Italy’s Sinner home on Thursday, much earlier than most had anticipated.
With his surprising exit, it opened the door for someone else to emerge as this year’s favorite and potential winner. One individual took over that distinction, but another familiar tennis star isn’t far behind.
Read more:Jannik Sinner Eliminated From Roland-Garros After Stunning Upset
According to the Kalshi prediction market, Germany’s Alexander Zverev is now the favorite to win at Roland Garros. Zvereve also moved to odds-on favorite status at sportsbooks. He’s yet to win this event or any of the four major events in his career, but it seems imminent.
Zverev flirted with a potential win when he reached the finals at the 2024 French Open, only to lose to superstar Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2.
With Sinner’s elimination and Alcaraz out of this year’s French Open due to an ongoing wrist injury, the door has certainly opened for Zverev to win. It would be a major disappointment if he couldn’t finally capture his first career major win in Paris this year.
That said, right below him on Kalshi and sportsbook odds is a serious potential threat in Novak Djokovic, who holds the experience and the ability to win this event again.
The Serbian tennis great won the French Open three times in his superstar tennis career, most recently in 2023. He reached the semifinals of the event last year, where he lost to Sinner. However, Djokovic eliminated Zverev in the tournament quarterfinals.
One would think these two might meet again as the action continues in France, making for an exciting rematch of last year’s clash, and a chance for Zverev to avenge last year’s loss.
For his third-round match, Zverev may have a tough battle due to crowd preference when he plays France’s Quentin Halys on Thursday afternoon. Djokovic plays Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in a third-round match on Thursday morning.
Read more: Novak Djokovic Ruthlessly Booed at Roland-Garros - ‘No Respect'
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 10:10 AM.