Gauff Begins Roland-Garros Title Defense With Strong Start

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 26, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

With nine players from the United States currently in the WTA Top 50, America’s best women have been a model of consistency throughout the Open Era. 

According to Tennis Channel, there has been only one year during the Open Era (since 1968) – 2006 – that the American women didn’t reach at least one final of a Grand Slam. With a trio of Top-10 contenders in this year’s draw, including defending champion Coco Gauff, chances are pretty good for at least one American having a deep run on la terre battue.

As Day 3 of this year’s French Open got began under sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures at Roland-Garros Tuesday, six American women currently ranked in the WTA Top 50 – No. 4 Gauff, No. 5 Jessica Pegula, No. 17 Iva Jovic, No. 19 Madison Keys, No. 25 Emma Navarro and No. 29 Ann Li – were all in action.

Within a matter of minutes, the first two Americans on court had won. Jovic defeated Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, 6-4, 6-2, and Navarro eased past Janice Tjen of Indonesia, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the second round. Soon, Li would join the others in the second round after beating Zhang Shuai of China, 6-4, 6-2. Each of the trio of Americans played solidly and with confidence, too.

 

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By the middle of the afternoon, as the temperature soared to 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), Gauff walked out on Court Philippe-Chatrier to take on fellow American and 75th-ranked Taylor Townsend, who is currently part of the World No. 1 doubles team with Katerina Siniakova of Czechia. She would win in straight sets. Meanwhile, Keys and Pegula would play consecutively on Court Simonne Mathieu later in the day – and by dinner time, Keys came on strong with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Hanna Vandewinkel of Belgium, after winning the final seven games of the match. 

On Monday, World No. 6 Amanda Anisimova, a Roland-Garros semifinalist as a 17-year-old teenager in 2019, got off to a strong start with a straight-set victory over French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, and No. 48 McCartney Kessler pulled out a three-set thriller over qualifier Hanyu Guo of China. On Sunday, No. 26 Hailey Baptiste garnered out a three-set win over 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia. 

With just Pegula’s match remaining, the American women in the Top 50 were undefeated in the first round. However, by the end of Tuesday evening, the unbeaten streak had ended with Pegula’s 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to No. 83 Kimberly Birrell of  Australia. It was the American No. 2’s first first-round loss at Roland-Garros since 2020.

 

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Gauff trades nerves for calm, defeats Townsend

After a topsy-turvy opening set against Townsend, defending champion and this year’s No. 4 seed Gauff began her title defense with a 6-4, 6-0 victory in one hour and 21 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. After trailing 3-1 in the opening sest, Gauff went to work and dropped just one more game the rest of the match.

Although there were five breaks of serve between the two competitors in the first set, Gauff steadied the course as she raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set after consolidating her second break of the set with a 188 km/h ace out wide – her first of the match. Then, she closed out the victory with her sixth break of Townsend on the afternoon. 

While Townsend hit 16 winners in the opening set, she also committed 22 unforced errors as she had trouble controlling her accuracy.

By the end of the match, Gauff had compiled 15 winners to 15 unforced errors, converted six of 12 break points and outpointed Townsend 66-45. Townsend struck 22 winners, but also made 31 unforced errors. 

During her on-court interview, Gauff paid homage to Althea Gibson, the first Black woman to win a major title, at Roland-Garros 70 years ago.

“I think Taylor and I playing on Philippe Chatrier is a direct product of Althea Gibson,” Gauff said. “It’s an honor to be able to play today. Round of applause for her. But yeah, it just shows the importance of breaking barriers in all aspects of the world, but especially in sport. I’m very grateful for people like her and Serena and Venus … Zina Garrison … even more for paving the way for us to be out here today.”

Next, Gauff, who last year became the first U.S. woman to win Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015, will face Mayar Sherif of Egypt. The 129th-ranked Sherif advanced over Dalma Galfi of Hungary, 7-5, 6-4, in one hour and 50 minutes on Court 5.

Sinner’s winning streak reaches 30 

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner began his quest to become the seventh man in Open Era (since 1968) to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and to extend his remarkable winning streak. The 24-year-old top seed from Italy began Tuesday’s featured night match on Court Philippe-Chatrier with 29 consecutive wins as he took on 171st-ranked French wild card Clement Tabur, who sought the first Grand Slam win of his career.

It was Sinner’s first match at Roland-Garros since he held three championship points in last year’s final against Carlos Alcaraz – and lost. However, from first ball to last ball, Sinner was in control of the match – despite needing five match points to put away the victory.

By the end of the two-hour, eight-minute first-round tussle, Sinner remained perfect in Roland-Garros first-round matches at 7-0 – and unbeaten on clay this season at 18-0 – with his 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Sinner won 80 percent (40 of 50) of his first-serve points, controlled both short and medium rallies – winning 56 of 74 points that were 1-4 shots – and faced no break points. He hit 40 winners to 21 unforced errors, converted five of 13 break points and outpointed Tabur 100-65.

“I’m very happy to be back here,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. “It’s a very special place and I have great memories overall. First-round matches are never easy, but it’s even more special to start the tournament during a night session, so thank you all for staying out.”

Next, Sinner, who has won 61 of 64 sets during his 30-match winning streak, will face No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, who defeated No. 125 Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain, 6-2, 7-6 (0), 7-6 (7), in two hours and 54 minutes on Court 8.

Another Roland-Garros crash and burn loss for Medvedev

For the seventh time, former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev has made a first-round exit at the French Open. The latest happened occurrence happened Tuesday afternoon on Court Suzanne-Lenglen as the No. 6 seed from Russia was upset by Australian wild card Adam Walton, ranked 97th, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4, in three hours and 22 minutes. 

It was the third meeting between Medvedev, 30, and the 27-year-old Walton, a former University of Tennessee player, which the Aussie now leads the head-to-head 2-1. It was Walton’s first Top-10 win of his career and his second win at Roland-Garros following a first-round win last year against Maximilian Marterer of Germany.

By the conclusion, despite being outpointed 143-140, Walton had hit 34 winners to overcome 46 unforced errors and converted six of 15 break points. Medvedev struck 53 winners but also committed 59 unforced errors. He broke Walton’s serve five times in 21 attempts.

“I’m pretty tired right now,” Walton said during his on-court interview. “It was such an up-and-down match. I got off to a hot start, and I felt like the ebbs and flows of the match were quite large today. I’m just really proud of my efforts in the fifth set, to come from a break down to get the win.

“I felt he was playing pretty well,” Walton added, asked about his mindset in the final set after being broken to trail 1-2. “He was making a lot of first serves and he was liking my ball. I knew I just had to hang tough. I thought the game at 1-3, I faced some break points there and if I go down 1-4 with a double break, it’s going to be pretty tough from there. So, getting that hold and keeping the score close, I knew if I just kept fighting maybe I would get a chance. I’m glad I did.” 

 

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The World No. 8 Medvedev, who fell to 24-9 this season, finished the class season 5-4, which included a first-round loss at Monte-Carlo by a double-bagel 6-0, 6-0 score against Matteo Berrettini of Italy.

“Not an easy match,” Medvedev said during his post-match news conference. “I didn’t play my best tennis. He played good [in] some moments, some moments not that good, and I managed to take the match when he didn’t play that well. That’s it. I didn’t manage to raise my level enough to win the whole match, and that’s why I lost.”

Next, Walton will face No. 85 Zachary Svajda of the United States, who eliminated No. 61 Alexei Popyrin of Australia, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5, in two hours and 54 minutes on Court 13.

Just 17, Frenchman Kouame wins Grand Slam debut

Make no mistake, France’s Moise Kouame, born and raised in the French capital city, is a rising star. On Tuesday afternoon, he won his major debut by defeating former World No. 3 and 2022 Roland-Garros semifinalist Marin Cilic of Croatia, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1, on Court Simonne-Mathieu in two hours and 38 minutes. 

A day after French fans bid adieu to 39-year-old Gael Monfils, the 17-year-old wild card Kouame, ranked No. 318, gave reason for everyone to think that he could be a new star in the making for French men’s tennis. 

Kouame became the first man born in 2008 or later to contest a main-draw Grand Slam match and showed he was able to handle the pressure of moment as well as the soaring Paris heat.

By winning, Kouame became the youngest man to win a main-draw match at Roland-Garros since Dinu Pescariu in 1991 as well as the youngest at any major since then-16-year-old Bernard Tomic at the 2009 Australian Open. His PIF ATP Live Ranking rose to No. 247, up 71 spots, after Tuesday’s triumph.

Against the 46th-ranked Cilic, Kouame won 71 percent (44 of 62) of his first-serve points, hit 28 winners to 34 unforced errors, converted four of seven break points and outpointed Cilic 112-81.

“I felt rather good,” Kouame said during his post-match news conference. “I felt well prepared. I was ready. We worked a lot on the tactics, on how to approach the match with my team. Yesterday I also practiced a lot on these courts, and last year I also practiced and played here. So, I knew a bit about the atmosphere and the crowd that was present today.”

Next, Kouame will face 71st-ranked Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay, who advanced by retirement over No. 20 seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, leading 7-6 (7), 2-0, after one hour and 18 minutes on Court 13. Norrie came into the match dealing with a rib injury as well as breathing issues.

Around the French Open

Men:

• Geneva titlist Learner Tien of the United States, seeded 18th, won his opener after taking a couple of bagel sets off No. 114 Cristian Garin of Chile, 6-0, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2, in one hour and 51 minutes on Court 6. Tien fired 12 aces and hit 39 winners overall. He outpointed Garin 97-56. Next, Tien will play 151st-ranked Argentine qualifier Facundo Diaz Acosta, who defeated 224th-ranked Zhang Zhizhen of China, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, in one hour and 42 minutes on Court 4.

• No. 79 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece advanced by retirement over No. 127 Alexandre Muller of France, ahead 6-2, 3-0, after 50 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Greek No. 1, appearing in his 10th-straight Roland-Garros main draw, improved to 28-9 and is 9-1 in first-round matches.

• Next Gen ATP rising star Martin Landaluce of Spain, ranked 69th, went five sets plus four hours and 30 minutes to defeat 176th-ranked qualifier Juan Carlos Prada Angelo of Bolivia, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4, on Court 9 in the longest match of the day. Landaluce hit 54 winners and outpointed his opponent 170-156.

• Other seeds advancing: No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who rallied from two-sets-to-one down to pull out a five-set, 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-7) victory over No. 57 Daniel Altmaier of Germany in four hours and 16 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Also, No. 14 Luciano Darderi of Italy, who beat No. 112 Sebastian Ofner of Austria, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-3, in two hours and 19 minutes on Court 7, and No. 16 Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who defeated 378th-ranked French qualifier Thomas Faurel, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), in two hours and 48 minutes on Court 14.

 

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• Among the upsets: No. 9 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan lost to 80th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5, in three hours and 10 minutes on Court 14. Struff fought off 25 aces from Bublik and outpointed him 153-143, which included 58 winners.

Also, No. 29 seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands fell to No. 104 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in four hours and one minute on Court 7, in back of 61 winners. Arnaldi saved all five break points he faced and outpointed Griekspoor 160-139. Finally, No. 30 seed Corentin Moutet of France fell in five sets and four hours and 20 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu to No. 66 Vit Kopriva of Croatia, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

 

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• In doubles, defending Roland-Garros champions and this year’s No. 1 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Spain advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 58-minute first-round victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary and Marcos Giron of the United States.

• Alexander Blockx of Belgium has withdrawn from Roland-Garros after suffering a sprained ankle suffered Tuesday in practice. The 37th-ranked Blockx was scheduled to play No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in the second round. Instead, de Minaur will receive a walk-over into the third round.

 

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Women:

• World No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus needed just 75 minutes to advance to the second round after defeating No. 50 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain, 6-4, 6-2. 

Sabalenka outpointed Bouzas Maneiro 62-50 by dominating short rallies of 1-4 shots. She finished with 29 winners to 25 unforced errors and converted six of nine break points.

Next, Sabalenka will face No. 67 Elsa Jacquemot of France, who defeated 149th-ranked Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova, 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 52 minutes on Court 7.

• No. 16 seed Naomi Osaka made another fashion statement as she walked out on Court Suzanne-Lenglen for her first-round match against No. 47 Laura Siegemund of Germany. Honoring French culture and couture, the World No. 16 Osaka walked out on court wearing a full-length theatrical outfit, described by one critic as “an embellished black sleeveless bodice and a long, structured pleated skirt worn over a glittering gold sequined playing dress.”

 

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Oh, Osaka also played pretty solid tennis, too, winning 6-3, 7-6 (3), in one hour and 55 minutes to advance to the second round. She won 75 percent (30 of 40) of her first-serve points, hit 27 winners, took advantage of 28 unforced errors by Siegemund and outpointed her 82-68.

Afterward, during her post-match news conference, Osaka spoke about her latest fashion splash. “Sometimes people say athletes are in show business or entertainers or whatever,” she said. “I feel like, for me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like an entertainer.”

• Other seeds advancing: No. 9 seed Victoria Mboko of Canada, defeated No. 69 Nikola Bartunkova of Czechia, 6-1, 6-2, in 69 minutes on Court 14. Also, No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, who eliminated No. 43 Lois Boisson of France, 6-2, 6-2, in one hour and 19 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Boisson, returning after a long injury layoff, made headlines in her Roland-Garros debut last year by reaching the semifinals. This year, she’s out in the first round.

• Among the upsets: No. 12 Linda Noskova of Czechia lost to No. 49 Maria Sakkari of Greece, 7-5, 7-6 (3), in one hour and 53 minutes on Court 6.

Tuesday’s Roland-Garros results

Wednesday’s Roland-Garros order of play

 

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By the numbers

Wild card Adam Walton of Australia became the fourth Australian man to earn a Top 10 win at Roland-Garros since 2000, after Mark Philippoussis in 2000, Wayne Arthurs in 2001 and Alex de Minaur in 2024.

“Quotable …”

“I want to play Grand Slams. I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland-Garros as well. I can. It’s just tougher for me and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.

“Maybe I should consider playing a tournament before, which I usually don’t do before Grand Slams, but when it doesn’t work, why not? That’s the only thing I will consider next year.”

– World No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, during his post-match news conference after losing in the first round of Roland-Garros for the seventh time in 10 appearances.

 

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