What to expect from Roland Garros 2026

This year's French Open promises to bring us something fresh and exciting. With Alcaraz out of the tournament due to a right wrist injury, Sinner will feel he is bound for a final spot in the next weeks, and opens up major possibilities for the other new exciting talents coming through. Aryna Sabalenka will also hope to win her first ever Roland Garros title, losing out to Coco Gauff in 3 sets in 2025. And after a blockbuster first day, let’s see what we have in store for the rest of the tournament.

People To Look Out For - Men’s Singles

One of the best players in the last 5 years to have not won a major title, Zverev has been drawn on the opposite side of Sinner, and will be hoping to end his wait for a major title. In his way stands the 24 time Grand Slam Champion - Novak Djokovic, who will also be looking for his record breaking 25th major, and his fourth Roland Garros title. As Sinner is the favourite on his side of the draw, it will be interesting to see the outcome of either Zverev or Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic is no stranger to winning major titles, with him progressing to the final of the Australian Open earlier this year, sadly losing out to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets. Yet with his decades of experience and chance to make it a fifth Roland Garros title, it would be wrong to not mention him amongst any favourites to go through to the final. The Serbian will be confident in the draw he has been given, but it clearly doesn’t come without the challenges of Fonseca, Ruud and Zverev.

Casper Ruud, a two time finalist of the clay major, will be looking to make a run to the final after his performance at the Rome Masters last week. Losing out to none other than Jannik Sinner in Rome, he has the chance to go all the way this year. His potential fourth round opponent - Novak Djokovic - could halt any plans, but do not count the Norwegian out.

Another young favourite on the opposing side of Sinner is Joao Fonseca. The Brazilian wonderkid is a longshot for the title, but will hope to make a strong impression as he continues towards what many believe could be greatness to come. And with an impressive first round win against Luka Pavlovic, can he make the upset happen this year?

Daniil Medvedev has shown promise over his last few tournaments, losing out to Sinner in the semi-final of the Rome Masters, he will have to yet again overcome the Italian woes of his past. Looking back to his best form since his 2021 US Open Triumph, will 2026 see Medvedev lifting this major title for the first time?

Jannik Sinner is without doubt the clear favourite for the French Open title, but it doesn’t come without any pressure. This will be his first shot at becoming the 7th men’s player to claim the 4 Major titles, and with his gut-wretching loss to Alcaraz in 2025, will the Italian be able to hold his nerve? After his win in Rome, becoming the first Italian in 50 years to do so, his confidence at claiming the Grand Slam should carry him to the final. He will be hoping not to see a repeat of last year's final.

People to look out for - Women’s Singles

Aryna Sabalenka will want to wipe away her clay court woes as she seeks for her first major title on this surface. While being a close favourite only behind Iga Swiatek, she will have confidence after making her first ever final of this tournament in 2025, losing to Coco Gauff, also another favourite this year. The world No.1 will be looking to start with a bang in the next coming weeks.

Four time French Open Champion Iga Swiatek will believe she has what it takes to yet again claim the clay court championship. Last winning in 2024, the French Open has become something of a second home to the Polish tennis champion. Swiatek sadly lost out to Svitolina in the semi-finals of Rome, and will want to write those wrongs by proving why she is the one to beat on clay.

Elina Svitolina, to many critics, comes into this tournament said to be in the form of her life, last week claiming the Rome Masters title against Coco Gauff. With her route also being Rybakina and Swiatek, who’s to say that the Ukrainian couldn’t achieve what theoretically would be an upset. Make sure to be looking out for her in the later rounds to make a final appearance.

Australian Open Champion Elena Ryabakina will hope to make it further than the quarter-final of Roland Garros for the first time in her career, and what better time to do so than now. She comes into the tournament with strong form, losing out to Svitolina in Rome last week in the quarter-final, and winning in Stuttgart in April. Yet with clay not being her strong suited surface, it will be interesting to see if she can get past her clay-court troubles.

Last year’s winner Coco Gauff not being scouted as one of the major favourites tells you a lot about the competition on show at this year's French Open. The American made the Rome final last week, and will want to keep that form going into the next few weeks if she is to claim her second major title on this surface. Yet with disappointing outings in all the other majors of the last year, it will be interesting to see how she fairs this year.

Mirra Andreeva has had an impressive run in her last four tournaments in 2026, winning the Linz Open in April and the quarter final against Coco Gauff in Rome last week. With her best finish at the French Open being the semi-final two years ago, it will be interesting to see whether she can keep up her form and make a surprise head to the later stages of this year's tournament.