PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 22, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Thursday’s 2026 Roland-Garros men’s and women’s singles draw ceremony at L’Orangerie d’Auteuil, near Court Simonne-Mathieu, included the usual amount of mystery and intrigue that goes with a revealing a 128-player draw for a Grand Slam tournament. Oh, there was arguably some misery, too.
How else do you explain the first-round pairing of 41-year-old Swiss star Stan Wawrinka, who won the 2015 French Open title and announced he would retire from pro tennis at the end of the 2026 season, against 21-year-old French rising star Arthur Fils, who is seeded 17th? No doubt, this one has Court Philippe Chatrier written all over it. Maybe a night session, too?
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Also, there was the first-round pairing in the women’s draw of 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia, who is unseeded this year due to a diminished ranking from injuries that have kept off tour much of the past two years, facing up-and-coming No. 26 seed Hailey Baptiste of the United States. If the draw holds accordingly, a couple of major champions, No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and No. 16 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, who together have won eight Grand Slam crowns, could meet in the fourth round.
By the end of the colorful Tirage Au Sort, which included an on-stage appearance by defending women’s champion Coco Gauff of the United States, there were plenty of delicious storylines to whet everyone’s appetite. No doubt, all of them will be sorted out during the upcoming Parisian fortnight starting on Sunday at the beautiful Stade Roland-Garros grounds, located in the heart of the 16th arrondissement of the City of Lights.
Without Alcaraz, Sinner could earn career Grand Slam
With 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz unable to defend his French Open men’s title due to a wrist injury that sidelined him for the final two ATP Masters 1000 events on clay in Madrid and Rome and will force him to miss Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, last year’s finalist Jannik Sinner, who has strung together 29 straight victories this season – 34 consecutive at 1000-series level – and won six consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles, is this year’s top-seeded player.
It would not be too surprising if at the end of this Parisian fortnight that Sinner is the one lifting the Coupe des Mouquetaires trophy and completing a career Grand Slam by winning Roland-Garros to go along with his two Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Back on the Parisian clay 🧱#RolandGarros @janniksin pic.twitter.com/ShH1oWKxM0
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
Meanwhile, after losing last week’s Rome final to Elina Svitolina, Gauff seems poised and ready to mount a title defense in Paris.
“This was my first time winning a major I was able to drink,” Gauff said, during an interview with draw master of ceremonies Marc Maury Thursday, recalling what it was like winning last year’s Roland-Garros title. It was second Grand Slam first prize following the US Open in 2023.
Then, Gauff was asked if she’s ready for this year’s Roland-Garros. “As ready as I can be,” she replied. “I don’t know. I feel like I had a good tournament in Rome. I feel really ready.”
Defending champion Coco Gauff at today’s draw, with our special guest Tony Estanguet 📸#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hAKV6AJI0v
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
Sinner opens against French wild card
The 24-year-old Italian, a four-time major champion, opens against 26-year-old French wild card Clement Tabur, then could meet Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round through the semifinals include: No. 30 seed Corentin Moutet of France, No. 14 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, No. 5 seed Ben Shelton of the United States and No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
While Shelton and Auger-Aliassime lie in waiting as potential players who could upset Sinner, the reality is that the South Tyrolean’s biggest opponent may be himself – both mentally and physically.
Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany opens with Benjamin Bonzi of France and could meet Zizou Bergs of Belgium in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round through the semifinals include: No. 32 seed Ugo Humbert of France , No. 13 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia, No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States and No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
First entrance on Philippe-Chatrier and a check for the admin 🔥#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/2Dz73xtLfJ
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
Speaking of Djokovic, he’s seeded third and will open against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard as he begins pursuit of a fourth French Open title and an elusive 25th major overall. He could meet Valentin Royer of France in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round through the semifinals include: No. 28 seed Joao Fonseca of Brazil, No. 15 seed Casper Ruud of Norway, No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia and No. 2 seed Zverev.
The No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada will begin his quest for a first major against Daniel Altmaier of Germany and could meet Sebastian Baez of Argentina in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round to the semifinals include: No. 31 seed Brandon Nakashima of the United States, No. 16 seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, No. 6 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia and No. 1 seed Sinner.
Celebrating past and present tournament winners 🎾
Thank you to Coco and Nole for signing our new Wall of Champions.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Q28QLCSZx3— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 20, 2026
Among some of the intriguing first-round matches among unseeded players are: Marton Fucsovics of Hungary vs. Matteo Berrettini of Italy; Jaume Munar of Spain vs. Hubert Hurkacz of Poland; Alexandre Muller of France vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece; Marin Cilic of Croatia vs. wild card Moise Kouame of France; Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia vs. Yannick Hanfmann of Germany; and Tomas Machac of Czechia vs. Zizou Bergs of Belgium.
Also No. 27 seed Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old teenage sensation from Spain, who this spring became Marrakech champion, Barcelona semifinalist, Madrid quarterfinalist and Rome quarterfinalist, opens against American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round. Then, he could play seventh seed Taylor Fritz in the third round and is in the same quarter as second seed Alexander Zverev.
Defending champion Gauff in Sabalenka’s half of draw
Last year’s French Open champion Coco Gauff is seeded fourth in this year’s Roland-Garros draw. The two-time Grand Slam champion could face World No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is going after her first Roland-Garros title, in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, two-time major champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan is seeded second and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek is seeded third, and could meet in the other semifinals if the seeds hold true to form throughout the clay-court major.
Sabalenka will open against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain and could meet Elsa Jacquemont of France in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round to the semifinals include: No. 31 seed Cristina Bucsa of Spain, No. 16 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula of the United States and Gauff.
Eyeing a first Roland-Garros title 🐯#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/8rou4TOYS7
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
The second-seeded Rybakina opens against Veronika Erjavec of Slovenia and could face Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round to the semifinals include: No. 26 seed Hailey Baptiste of the United States, No. 13 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia and Swiatek.
Speaking of Swiatek, she begins her quest to win a fifth Roland-Garros title against wild card Emerson Jones of Australia and could face Sara Bejlek of Czechia in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round to the semifinals include: No. 29 seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, No. 15 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Rybakina.
Defending champion Gauff will open defense of her title against fellow American Taylor Townsend and could get Dalma Galfi of Hungary in the second round. From there, potential opponents from the third round to the semifinals include: No. 28 Anastasia Potapova of Austria, No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States and Sabalenka.
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Among some of the interesting first-round matches among unseeded players are: Daria Kasatkina of Australia vs. Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey; Emma Navarro of the United States vs. Janice Tjen of Indonesia; wild card Akasha Urhobo of the United States vs. Katie Boulter of Great Britain; Sofia Kenin of the United States vs. Peyton Stearns of the United States; Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia vs. Caty McNally of the United States; Magdalena Frech of Poland vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain vs. Solana Sierra of Argentina; and Petra Marcinko of Croatia vs. Eva Lys of Germany.
Meanwhile, from doubles partners to the first round of Roland-Garros, No. 17 seed Iva Jovic of the United States will open against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.
News & noteworthy
• American Sebastian Korda has withdrawn, meaning there will be 17 spots for qualifiers and lucky losers this year in the men’s 128-player draw.
• The final eight men’s and women’s qualifiers will be decided Friday during the last day of qualifying.
By the numbers
At age 39, wild card Gaël Monfils of France, who announced he would retire at the end of this season, will open his final Roland-Garros campaign against another French wild card, Hugo Gaston.
The 222nd-ranked Monfils, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in 2016, enters his 19th and final Roland-Garros with a 40-17 lifetime win-loss record. His best finish was reaching the semifinals in 2008. He also was a quarterfinalist three times, in 2009,2011 and 2014.
On Thursday evening, Monfils was feted at a celebration on Court Philippe Chatrier that included his wife, Elina Svitolina, and many of his tennis friends.
The man, the myth, the legend, Gael Monfils 🧡#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jHwOT17u0q
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
“Quotable …”
“It feels amazing, it’s a dream come true. Every young kid playing tennis wants to play this tournament.
“It’s a new feeling, it doesn’t feel real. I’m so happy to be in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time. I’ll play best of five (sets) for the first time, I’ve never played that in my life.
“It’s all a new, great experience and I’m very excited.”
– No. 126 Andrea Pellegrino of Italy, as quoted by the Roland-Garros website, after qualifying for the main draw of the French Open for the first time in his 17th attempt.
