Sebastian Korda faces a challenging opener at the French Open 2025 as he squares off against Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the first round on May 26, at the iconic Stade Roland Garros in Paris. Seeded 23rd, Korda enters the clay-court Grand Slam event aiming to improve his recent inconsistent performances on this slow surface, while Darderi arrives with growing confidence after impressive clay-court successes earlier this season. This matchup promises an intense battle that could shape the trajectory of both players in the tournament.
Korda’s 2025 campaign began positively, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Adelaide International, where he narrowly lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, ultimately falling in a competitive match against Novak Djokovic. Despite these early signs, Korda has struggled on clay this season, failing to win multiple matches in any clay-court event. After a first-round exit in Monte Carlo against Jiri Lehecka and a second-round loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Barcelona, Korda also bowed out in the third rounds at both Madrid and Rome, succumbing to top clay specialists like Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar. This streak leaves questions about his form on the surface as the French Open begins.
In contrast, Luciano Darderi’s season has gained significant momentum on clay, despite a slow start. Before the Miami Open, he had not won more than a single match at tournaments throughout the year. However, his results improved on clay courts, reaching the final of a Challenger event in Naples, narrowly losing a tight three-setter to Vit Kopriva. Darderi’s breakthrough came with his first ATP title this season at the Grand Prix Hassan 2 in Marrakech, where he outplayed Tallon Griekspoor in two tiebreak sets. He also demonstrated solid form by reaching quarterfinals in Munich and Hamburg, pushing past some top competitors before falling to Ben Shelton and Andrey Rublev respectively.
This French Open match will mark the first ATP-level meeting between Korda and Darderi, creating uncertainty and excitement for both players. Korda holds the advantage in career titles, having won his maiden clay-court trophy at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open, yet the majority of his other seven career finals occurred on hard courts. Meanwhile, Darderi’s two career ATP titles—Marrakech this year and last year’s Córdoba Open—both came on clay, suggesting a stronger affinity with the surface in recent times.
Experts point to Darderi’s upward trajectory on clay as a significant factor in this contest, despite Korda’s higher seeding and ranking. Bookmakers currently favor the Italian, reflecting his recent form and momentum on the red dirt. As a result, many predict a hard-fought victory for Darderi, possibly extending to four sets.
The outcome of this opener is crucial, as a win could propel either player into deeper rounds, offering valuable ranking points and confidence boost on one of tennis’s grandest stages. For Korda, overcoming challenges on clay could signal a turning point in his season, while for Darderi, a breakthrough win against a seeded opponent could establish him as a notable contender on his favored surface. Tennis fans around the world will be watching closely to see who prevails in this exciting clash at Roland Garros.
