By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, Could 21, 2026
Photograph credit score: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
Roland Garros’ crimson clay could possibly be scorched earth for contenders.
The 2026 Roland Garros draw was carried out right now in Paris.
It’s the calm earlier than a searing storm: Temperatures are forecast to hit or exceed 90 levels Fahrenheit through the first 4 days of the French Open. Meaning faster circumstances and higher-bouncing balls.
The draw radiates heat welcoming vibes for some contenders and fiery first-round storms for others.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff was on the draw right now and can face a hazardous red-clay route towards a fourth semifinal within the final 5 years—and potential blockbuster semifinal rematch vs. world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
MORE: TNT Roland Garros TV Schedule
Right here’s our Prime 5 Takeaways from the 2026 Roland Garros girls’s draw.
Unruly Street to Rematch
Prime-seeded Aryna Sabalenka and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff are on track for a semifinal showdown.
It will be a rematch of their wild 2025 Roland Garros remaining.
Within the first French Open remaining between the world’s prime two girls in 12 years, No. 2 Coco Gauff was just too powerful for No. 1 Sabalenka at crunch time.
A resilient Coco Gauff combated Aryna Sabalenka’ fierce energy with pure poise pulling off a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 comeback to seize her maiden Roland Garros championship in a thriller.
On that day, Gauff relied on deep need, quick toes and her ability utilizing the whipping wind that gusted to 25 mph as an ally draining 70 unforced errors from the Belarusian.
US Open champion Sabalenka, who opens vs. Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, head the highest quarter of the draw that options seeded threats Iva Jovic, Victoria Mboko and fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula in addition to former Grand Slam champions Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka.
Two-time Rome finalist Gauff faces good buddy Taylor Townsend within the first spherical and will face seeds who’ve crushed her earlier than together with six-seeded Amanda Anisimova, Twelfth-seeded Linda Noskova, who edged Gauff in Madrid, or Twenty eighth-seeded Anastasia Potapova.
Although Gauff faces a difficult draw, contemplate the quick monitor ought to enhance the bounce of her topspin forehand the most important crimson clay stage within the sport provides Gauff loads of room to roam and apply her defensive expertise to suffocate opponents.
“[I am] as prepared as you could be,” Gauff mentioned of her RG title protection. “I felt like I had a superb match in Rome. Much like the preparation I had final 12 months to this 12 months. I really feel prepared, yeah.”
Greatest Draw for Contender: Elena Rybakina
The reigning Australian Open champion and WTA ace chief Elena Rybakina ought to savor sooner courtroom circumstances in week one.
After all, when she’s on Rybakina can bang aces on any floor, however a fast courtroom might assist her play fast factors—if she will stand up to the warmth.
No. 2-seeded Rybakina opens in opposition to Veronic Erjavic and will face an actual problem within the third spherical in opposition to both Twenty sixth-seeded American Hailey Baptiste, who beat No. 1 Sabalenka in Madrid, or 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles champion Barbora Krejcikova, who’s 3-0 lifetime vs. the Kazakh, together with a comeback win within the 2024 Wimbledon semifinals that propelled Krejcikova to the Wimbledon championship.
Now, Rybakina is chasing her maiden Roland Garros title, which might put her midway to the calendar Grand Slam.
Although her greatest leads to Paris are a pair of quarterfinal finishes, Rybakina has scored Roland Garros wins over Serena Williams, Jelena Ostapenko and Linda Noskova. Rybakina has reached semifinals or higher in three of her final 5 tournaments, together with defeating former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova to seize her Thirteenth profession title.
The 2024 French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini, owns a Roland Garros win over Rybakina and will meet her within the fourth spherical however the Thirteenth-seeded Paolini should first face Dayana Yastremska in her opener and probably a red-hot Sorana Cirstea to get to Rybakina.
Worst Draw for Contender: Iga Swiatek
Excellent news: 4-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek believes she’s making strides working with Rafa Nadal’s ex-coach Francisco Roig and confirmed it reaching the Rome semifinals.
Dangerous information: The 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who’s 6-0 lifetime vs. Swiatek, could possibly be awaiting within the the third spherical. Although solely one in all Ostapenkos’s six wins over Swiatek got here on clay, the flamable Latvian shall be dedicated to creating chaos once more ought to she meet Swiatek.
You possibly can argue Coco Gauff has a more durable draw, however Swiatek might confront gamers who’ve had long-term and up to date success in opposition to her.
If seeds maintain true to kind, Swiatek would probably face Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk within the fourth spherical adopted by three-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina within the quarterfinals with the winner probably enjoying No. 2 Rybakina within the semifinals.
Sure, Swiatek swept Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 within the 2025 Roland Garros quarterfinals, nevertheless the Ukrainian has turned the tables with three-set wins in Indian Wells in March and in Rome, en path to the title, final week. I coated Svitolina’s win over Swiatek in Indian Wells and was impressed by her willingness to play all-court tennis at crunch time and the very fact Svitolina was profitable the longer rallies in opposition to the six-time Slam champion within the remaining set.
Darkish Horses to Watch
We’re defining darkish horses as gamers exterior of the Prime 10 seeds.
(15) Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
An acrobatic Kostyuk gained her largest profession title on Madrid’s crimson clay and rejoice with a again flip. Rouen and Madrid champion Kostyuk flies into this French Open on a 10-match clay-court profitable streak.
An all-court participant, Kostyuk can shut at internet and has fortified her forehand, displaying the ability to drive that stroke, as soon as a goal for tougher hitters, down the road.
A hip subject pressured Kostyuk out of Rome the place Ukrainian compatriot Elina Svitolina knocked off Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff to seize her third Rome championship giving war-torn Ukraine back-to-back WTA Masters 1000 championships. Kostyuk, one of many quickest gamers in tennis not named Gauff, just isn’t carrying any taping in apply and appears match.
(18) Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
Seventeen years after Sorana Cirstea lit up Paris with a quarterfinal run, she’s again flashing spectacular leads to her farewell season. The 36-year-old Cirstea has simply gained Roland Garros win in her final three appearances, however arrives in Paris empowered by crimson clay semifinal runs in Rouen and Rome the place she toppled world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
A cussed competitor, Cirstea has been a constant winner this season, posting a 27-8 document, she stays a clear ball striker and resides within the backside quarter of the draw.
(17) Iva Jovic (USA)
Distilling it purely to potential draw, it’s powerful to see Jovic making a deep run given the calls for of her draw. Jovic opens in opposition to gifted lefty Alexandra Eala. If she prevails, she’d face both compatriot Emma Navarro or Janice Tjen adopted by a potential third-rounder in opposition to former No. 1 Naomi Osaka.
Whereas it feels like an enormous over-reach to select the 18-year-old baseliner, contemplate Jovic opened the season with a run to the Australian Open quarrterfinals the place she was schooled by Sabalenka. Jovic held a match level in opposition to reigning Roland Garros champion Gauff in Rome earlier than bowing in three units, she’s extraordinarily fast, well-balance off each wings, has sharpened up her serve and the Jovic two-handed backhand down the road is an actual weapon. Admittedly, this decide could also be based mostly extra on Jovic’s potential quite than her precise path in Paris, but when she will get via spherical one, she will stack collectively wins.
First-Spherical Matches to Watch
(26) Hailey Baptiste (USA) v. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
Head-to-head: Even, 1-1
(17) Iva Jovic (USA) v. Alexandra Eala (PHI)
Head-to-head: First assembly
(4) Coco Gauff (USA) v. Taylor Townsend (USA)
Head-to-head: Townsend leads 1-0
(13) Jasmine Paolini (ITA) v. Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
Head-to-head: Paolini leads 6-1
(22) Anna Kalinskaya v. Lois Boisson (FRA)
Head-to-head: First assembly
(12) Linda Noskova (CZE) v. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Head-to-head: Even, 1-1
Sofia Kenin (USA) v. Peyton Stearns (USA)
Head-to-head: Stearns leads 1-0
