Steve Johnson names Roland Garros favourite between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

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With the clay-court season now in full swing, some of the top players on the WTA Tour are starting to focus on Roland Garros.

Gauff is aiming to defend her title this year after beating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final.

This time around, Sabalenka is looking to capture her fifth major title and her first at Roland Garros.

In addition to Gauff and Swiatek, Elena Rybakina has also emerged as a strong contender following her impressive run in Stuttgart, where she picked up another title.

Sabalenka tipped as the Roland Garros favourite, says Steve Johnson

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John Isner, the former Miami Open winner, opened up the Nothing Major discussion by saying he doesn’t see Coco Gauff as the favourite.

“I don’t think you can say Coco,” said Isner. “I know she is the defending champion.”

Johnson agreed with Isner, putting forward Sabalenka as his choice over Rybakina.

“Sabalenka is the favourite,” Johnson said. “She has made the finals of every Slam. She is number one.”

“But [Rybakina] is great on any surface. Her serve is phenomenal; she can hit through anyone.”

“If there is a slow day at the French, which can be really slow, that is not going to help her. But if it’s a hot day, it plays faster than some hard courts. It is tough to move. So it depends on the weather.

Dinara Safina claimed the first-ever WTA title at the Madrid Open in 2009

Dinara Safina, a former world number one, became the first WTA champion at the Madrid Open back in 2009.

Safina was the top seed that year and began her run by beating future two-time Grand Slam winner Na Li.