Here we are. It's 2021 and Rafael Nadal is still the favorite to win the French Open. He is the defending French Open champion and won the French Open title convincingly last year. Nadal had a decent clay court season by his standards leading up to this year's French Open, winning the Barcelona title first and then Rome just a week before the start of the French Open. At this point he looks ready to shine at this year's French Open.
Novak Djokovic didn't get the results he would have liked on clay this year having had a couple tough losses in Monte Carlo and Belgrade but got to the finals in Rome and will be a strong contender for this year's French Open title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas had a good clay court season this year. He won the Monte Carlo title and lost to Nadal in the finals at Barcelona in a nail-biter. He'll be a threat at this year's French Open and looks ready to make a deep run in it.
Alexander Zverev got his first win on clay against Nadal at the Mutua Madrid Open and went on to win the title so he'll be feeling good about his chances at this year's French Open.
Dominic Thiem played only a couple clay court tournaments this year and seems to be missing that extra edge but if he has it all figured out by the time the French Open starts he'll be a tough player to beat at the 2021 French Open.
On another note, the one top ranked player who we feel has the worst chance to do well at the French Open is Daniil Medvedev who is ranked number 2 in the world. He didn't do well in this year's clay court season and needs to figure out his affinity for clay.