Expert picks: Who will win the 2023 French Open titles?

Chris Evert: I pick Swiatek to win because she's still the more experienced and consistent player on the women's side on clay. I think she has paced herself well and will be fresh and ready to go. She moves better than most of her opponents and is hungry. She wants more majors on her résumé and this surface is maybe her best chance with the growing power in the game.

Cliff Drysdale: Swiatek to win. But she needs for Sabalenka to not be at her best. Sabalenka has overwhelming power, but she is not as mentally strong and could struggle to make the final stages. Swiatek has all-time groundstrokes but not a blockbuster serve, so a power player always has a shot

Simon Cambers: Swiatek. I know she's got a problem with Rybakina, and she has panicked a couple of times against the bigger hitters when things don't go her way lately, but she's a class act and the best player in the world, even more so on clay. You don't win the title in Paris twice (in the past three years) without being able to cope with all kinds of challenges, and I expect her to make it three.

Bill Connelly: Swiatek is the favorite for all the obvious reasons -- she's won 18 of her past 19 matches at Roland Garros (dropping only three sets in the process) and 40 of her past 44 on clay. But Sabalenka and Rybakina have played at elite levels of late, too, and former contender Barbora Krejcikova (the 2021 champ) has had some awfully strong moments of late. Swiatek's the top name, but if you ask me to take Swiatek or the field, I'm taking the field.

Tom Hamilton: I'm going for Rybakina. The reigning Wimbledon champion is becoming a superb all-court force, and after winning Indian Wells back in March, she has since backed it up on clay with a triumph at the Italian Open -- though this was in part helped by three walkovers en route to the title. There'll be others like Swiatek and Sabalenka who will push her close, but Rybakina can secure her second Slam in Paris.

D'Arcy Maine: Rybakina. While Swiatek has been the most dominant on the surface over the past few seasons, she hasn't had her best stretch on clay this season and had to retire during her quarterfinal match against Rybakina in Rome with a thigh injury. Rybakina -- who went on to win the title at the Italian Open -- has been playing with something to prove this year. She would likely face Swiatek in the semis, and then potentially Sabalenka in the final (in what would be a rematch of the Australian Open final), but major title No. 2 seems well within reach.

Alyssa Roenigk: Swiatek. She won't have an easy path through Sabalenka, though. She lost to the Belarusian in Madrid in May, and if Swiatek bows out before the semis, Sabalenka overtakes her as the world No. 1.

Evert: My men's choice is more difficult. Alcaraz or Djokovic ... I am picking Alcaraz because of his sterling record this year. Djokovic has had injuries and is not in peak form coming into the French. Alcaraz, at times, has looked spectacular and unbeatable. He has no weakness, a beautiful drop shot, power, and he can sprint around the court like nobody's business!

Drysdale: Alcaraz, of course. The only question is how many of the three majors left will he win! He has no weakness, and boasts an array of offensive weapons.

Cambers: Everyone says it's more open than ever before, and that's probably true. But that doesn't mean a big name won't win. Alcaraz is the one, for me. The Spaniard has not peaked in the clay-court season but still won two titles. Losing early in Rome will have given him time to rest and prepare well, and he's got everything needed to win. Of course Djokovic is the biggest threat, and the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune will go well, but if Alcaraz is in top form, he's the man.

Connelly: "I always like my chances in Grand Slams against anybody on any surface, best-of-five. Let's see how it goes." That's what Djokovic said in a recent news conference. For as shaky as he has looked of late -- he comes to Paris having won just five of his past nine matches -- best-of-five really is a different animal, and he has won 45 of his past 47 best-of-five matches. Alcaraz is the betting favorite, and I know why, but it's so hard to bet against Djokovic in these tournaments.

Hamilton: It feels like this will be one of the most open men's singles draws in recent memory due to the absence of Nadal, but there's a clear favorite: Alcaraz. Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will push him close, but Alcaraz can win his second Slam with a triumph at Paris. The US Open champion is in wonderful form on clay -- recent shock defeat to Fabian Marozsan notwithstanding -- having taken the Barcelona Open and then the Madrid Open. He is in formidable form and is perfectly poised to continue the Spanish domination started by Nadal.

Maine: Alcaraz and Djokovic are the favorites for a reason, and their potential semifinal clash could be epic, but I'm picking Rune to win his first major. On the other side of the draw from those two, and playing some exceptional tennis on clay right now with a title in Munich and final appearances in Monte Carlo and Rome, the 20-year-old is absolutely brimming with confidence and momentum. Seemingly never scared of the stage nor opponent -- he has beaten Djokovic twice since November -- Rune could easily take the next step in his rapidly ascending career in Paris.

Roenigk: Alcaraz has fast become the favorite on any surface, and certainly on clay. The world No. 1 has won four of seven tournaments this season, including two Masters 1000s on clay. Yeah, yeah, there's that shock loss to Marozsan, but that could have as much to do with why Alcaraz will win his second Slam as his relentless counterattack and masterful drop shots. The guy has a short-term memory for bad play and will be keen to put that loss in the rearview.