Expert picks - Who will win the 2023 French Open titles? - ESPN

Without King of Clay Rafael Nadal playing, can Novak Djokovic win — and set the men's record for most Grand Slams? Or will the victor be heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz?

Iga Swiatek has won two out of the past three French Open titles, but will Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina get the better of the world No. 1? And can Coco Gauff back up her magical run to the final from last year, or take the doubles title with Jessica Pegula?

Our experts attempt to answer these questions and make their predictions as the French Open starts on Sunday.

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