British Players in the French Open

This season's second Grand Slam, the French Open, is nearly upon us and it is fair to say British success has been limited at the Paris major.

In the men's singles event, Andy Murray's run to the 2016 final was the only notable high point in recent years, while Sue Barker is the only woman to win the French Open singles title, doing so back in 1976.

There was not much for the UK to shout about at the 2024 French Open, with Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper both enduring first-round exits against Pavel Kotov and Jesper de Jong respectively.

Murray, before announcing his retirement and featuring in his final Grand Slam, also lost in the opening round against Stan Wawrinka.

In the women’s event, it was another disappointing competition as Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart also lost their opening round match while Emma Raducanu missed the Paris Major for a second year running due to injury.

Jack Draper

Young Brit Jack Draper will be disappointed with his showing at Roland Garros last year, losing in five sets to world number 176 De Jong.

Having also lost in the opening round in Paris in 2023, Draper will be seeking a first French Open victory this year, but his success this season bodes well for a far more positive showing.

The 23-year-old is now up to a career high ranking of world number five, having won his maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells with victory over Holger Rune in March.

Draper showed that he can play on clay with his runner-up effort against Casper Ruud in Madrid recently and his semi-final run at last season’s US Open suggests a Grand Slam title could soon be within reach.

The Londoners possesses serious power and is devastating on serve, so he may have title prospects at 16/1.

Cameron Norrie

As had been the case in recent seasons, Norrie looked like the UK's best hope of success at the French Open last year, although it didn't turn out to be a successful tournament for the then-British number one.

The 28-year-old suffered a shock first-round exit to world number 56 Pavel Kotov, losing in five sets against a man who had only previously won one match at a Grand Slam.

The French Open remains Norrie's weakest Grand Slam, with his best performances being third round appearances in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and he now looks like a declining force.

Having once been the world number eight following his semi-final run at Wimbledon in 2022, Norrie is now the world number 74 and he has failed to go past the fourth round in his last nine Grand Slam appearances.

Katie Boulter

Katie Boulter is the highest ranked British woman at world number 40 but last season was her first appearance in the main draw of the French Open and she fell at the first hurdle to Spanish star Paula Badosa, losing in three sets after taking the opener.

The 28-year-old remains at her best under quicker conditions and she may need more experience on the slower surface before making an impact, which is why she is available at 200/1.

Boulter was beaten in the second round in Madrid by Jasmine Paolini, being readily brushed aside 6-1 6-2, while one of her final clay-court preparations in Rome ended in round one as she was outclassed 6-3 6-3 by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

This, therefore, looks a tall order for her and a recent dip in form means she won’t be seeded unlike last year in Paris.

Emma Raducanu

At 66/1, Raducanu looks to be Britain’s best hope of claiming the women’s French Open crown and it wouldn’t be the first time she caused a shock having won the US Open on just her second Grand Slam appearance in 2021.

Although the current world number 49, Raducanu was a quarter-finalist in a big event in Miami in March and she did win three matches in her recent clay-court event in Rome.

Raducanu has struggled with injuries in recent times, which is why she has missed the last two French Open’s, but she is capable of going on a deep run if getting some luck with the draw and finding her confidence.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.