Mackenzie McDonald: The Underdog Whose Stunning Upset Is Lighting Up the Tennis World

American hopeful Mackenzie McDonald steps onto Court Philippe Chatrier today aiming to spring the French Open’s first major upset when he meets world-No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the opening round of Roland-Garros 2025. The 29-year-old Californian has never advanced past the second round in Paris, but his recent clay-court form and fearless baseline game give U.S. fans reason to believe he can trouble the Serbian superstar. Background and ranking McDonald reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 37 last season, fueled by quarter-final runs in Delray Beach, Eastbourne and Shanghai. Although he is still searching for his maiden tour-level singles trophy, the UCLA graduate owns one doubles title and has become a fixture inside the top 50 thanks to quick footwork, compact ground strokes and a relentless return game. Road to Paris After beginning 2025 with a fourth-round showing at the Australian Open, McDonald logged back-to-back clay wins over top-30 opponents in Barcelona and Madrid. His most impressive performance came two weeks ago in Rome, where he erased a set deficit to oust 2022 French Open semifinalist Marin Cilic before narrowly falling to Casper Ruud in three tight sets. That surge of confidence has McDonald believing he can handle Djokovic’s heavy topspin and trademark depth. Head-to-head history Today’s showdown marks the pair’s third ATP meeting. Djokovic claimed their first clash in straight sets at Australian Open 2023, but McDonald pushed the 24-time major champion to a deciding tiebreak in Dubai earlier this year, flashing the kind of inside-out forehand winners he will need to replicate on Parisian terre battue. Tactical keys • Early strike tennis: McDonald thrives on taking the ball on the rise. If he can step inside the baseline and rob Djokovic of time, the American can shorten rallies and dictate with his forehand. • Second-serve returns: No player broke serve more frequently than McDonald during last month’s clay-swing qualifiers. Converting those looks against Djokovic’s second delivery will be critical to avoid momentum-draining five-minute service holds. • Managing crowd energy: Afternoon sessions on Chatrier often tilt in favor of underdogs. McDonald’s upbeat on-court demeanor could harness Parisian support and add scoreboard pressure on the top seed. Match details: time and viewing options The encounter is slated as the third match of the day on Chatrier, with first ball estimated at 2:20 p.m. local time (8:20 a.m. ET). U.S. viewers can catch live coverage on Tennis Channel and stream through the network’s digital platforms; NBC’s Peacock service will offer a free trial window for the opening round. Who is Mackenzie McDonald? Born in Piedmont, California, McDonald is of Scottish and Chinese-American heritage, a multicultural background he credits for his disciplined work ethic and on-court creativity. He captured the NCAA singles and doubles crowns for UCLA in 2016, then cracked the ATP top 100 within two seasons despite season-ending hamstring surgery in 2019. His rise has been fueled largely by self-belief and a willingness to train overseas on red clay to close the surface-experience gap traditionally faced by American players. Potential milestone A victory today would hand McDonald his first career win over a reigning No. 1 and mark the earliest exit for Djokovic at Roland-Garros since 2017. It would also position him as only the fourth American man in the past decade to defeat Djokovic at a Grand Slam, following Sam Querrey (Wimbledon 2016), Denis Kudla (Australian Open 2024) and Taylor Fritz (US Open 2024). What comes next Should McDonald topple Djokovic, he would face the winner of the all-French duel between Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche in round two. Both players are ranked outside the top 35, opening a genuine path for the American to reach the second week in Paris for the first time. Even in defeat, a strong performance could pay dividends when ATP rankings update on Monday: McDonald is defending only 45 points from last year’s first-round exit, meaning an upset today would likely push him back toward his career-best mark. Bottom line Djokovic remains the overwhelming favorite on clay, but McDonald’s fearless approach, recent form and knack for disrupting rhythm make this first-round tilt one of the most intriguing storylines of Day 3 at Roland-Garros 2025. Keep an eye on the American’s return numbers in the opening set—if he converts early break chances, Paris might witness the tournament’s first shock result before the week is out.