2026 French Open Preview

The stars of the tennis world ascend onto the City of Love and the famed red clay courts of Roland Garros for the calendar’s second major. Closing the curtain on the clay court swing on the tour, the French Open always delivers some of the most unique and memorable moments of the year.

In 2025, that was certainly the case. Both singles finals produced epic matches. American Coco Gauff came back from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 and win her second career major title in France. Afterwards, Sabalenka faced criticism for her downplaying of Gauff’s win citing how poorly she herself played and the difficult conditions, but later apologized with the two sharing a reconciliation moment prior to Wimbledon the next month.

“It was not a day for great tennis, honestly,” Gauff said. “I don’t know too many people that couple play great tennis today, but you know, it’s part of the sport and part of playing outside. You just don’t know what to expect, especially in Paris.”

The Men’s Singles final was a battle between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and was the best showdown between the two of them in their rivalry up to this point. The top two players in the world battled for five hours and 29 minutes, the longest French Open final of all-time, and the second longest major final in the sport’s history.

Alcaraz came back from two-sets-to-love down, and both players had opportunities to serve for the championship, with Alcaraz prevailing 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

“This one was the most exciting match that I’ve played so far, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “Today, I think the match had everything. Really good moments, really bad moments. [I’m] just really, really happy. I’m proud about how I dealt with everything today. [It’s] the first match that I came back from two sets to love down. I think it was the [best] occasion to do it in the final of a Grand Slam.”

As we look towards the 2026 edition of the French Open, New York Tennis Magazine breaks down some of the major storylines and plot points to look for.

Sinner Looks To Continue Dominant Spring

Despite the difficult loss a year ago, Jannik Sinner has responded strongly in the early stages of 2026. After failing to make the Australian Open final, Sinner turned up the heat, completing the Sunshine Double with wins in Indian Wells and Miami, and then a title in Monte Carlo. That triumph on clay in Monte Carlo will go a long way to instilling his confidence on clay as he looks to complete the career Grand Slam, and win the first French Open of his career. He has reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings, and will be looking to avenge that devastating French Open final defeat a year ago.

Alcaraz, Two-Time Defending Champion, To Miss Tournament

There will be a new men’s singles French Open champion as two-time defending winner Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from this year’s event as he nurses a wrist injury. Alcaraz, a seven-time major champion, said:

“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in…Roland Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court. It’s a complicated moment for me, but I’m sure we’ll come out stronger from here.”

Will Sabalenka Reach ANOTHER Final?

It seems every time there is a major women’s tournament played, Aryna Sabalenka is in the finals. In 2025, she reached all four major finals, only winning the U.S Open trophy, and she began this season with a run to the finals at the Australian Open, which she also lost. Dating back to the 2024 U.S. Open, Sabalenka has reached the last six major finals on the women’s side. This spring, she reached the finals and won both Indian Wells and Miami.

Sabalenka is well-established as the best player in the world, and while she has fell in three of the last four major finals, she is poised to make it back to the French Open final in May and have a chance to win her fifth career major.

Can Swiatek Reclaim Clay Court Dominance?

There was a point where it seemed as if Iga Swiatek could not be beaten on clay. Swiatek, who looked up to Rafael Nadal growing up, was beginning to put up a similar dominant run on the red clay at Roland Garros, winning four titles in five years between 2020 and 2024. But last season, she had her 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros snapped by Sabalenka in the semifinals, and her 2026 season thus far has been up-and-down.

She split with longtime coach Wim Fissette back in March, and after consulting with Nadal, hired his former coach Francisco Roig. With that connection, Swiatek could be due to regain her form overall, and reclaim her dominance in Paris.

The Incessant Question: Will An American Man Snap The Streak?

It’s the question that will continue to be asked until it is no longer applicable. As we know, an American man has not won a major since 2003, and only one American has even reached a major final during that drought (Taylor Fritz, 2024 U.S. Open). The state of American men’s tennis has not been in this good of a place in a long time, however, with four ranked inside the top 20. Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe have all been deep into majors and have the capability to win one. Although clay may be the least favorable surface for them, this year’s French Open presents another opportunity for the 23 year drought to be ended.

Coco Gauff Looks To Defend Title

Coco Gauff won her first title in France a year ago, showing the type of fight that has become synonymous with her by coming back from a set down to win the trophy. It was redemption for her defeat to Swiatek in the 2022 final, and she was able to demonstrate the maturity and composure that she has developed in the time since.

“I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago,” said Gauff. “I’m just happy to be here, a lot of dark thoughts. Just the fact that I stayed at it just means a lot.”

Gauff enters this year’s tournament as the defending champion, and if she is able to repeat as champion, it will be the third major title of her young career.

Monfils, Wawrinka Sendoffs

There is perhaps no better entertainer in the history of tennis than France’s Gael Monfils, and he is saying goodbye to the sport at the end of this season. He made his debut at the French Open back in 2005, and 2026 will be the final one for him on his home soil. Roland Garros will look to send him off right with a tribute and ceremony ahead of his last appearance.

“Roland-Garros… my last Roland-Garros. It’s strange to write, but it’s the reality. And rather than let it pass in silence, I wanted to mark the occasion in a way that truly feels like me. I called some friends. Real ones. Players I admire and with whom I’ve shared locker rooms, courts, and fits of laughter,” Monfils wrote on X. “And then some artists I deeply love, Matt Pokora, Martin Solveig, Franglish, because for me, tennis and music have always been intertwined. It’s my life, it’s my DNA. We’ll all meet up on Thursday, May 21, on the main court at Roland-Garros for an evening we’ve simply called: Gaël & Friends. Some tennis, some music, some surprises… and above all, love. Because that’s what I’ve always received from you, and that’s what I want to give back to you that night. I want us to experience something together. Something we won’t forget. See you Thursday, May 21.”

Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champion and 2017 runner-up, is also retiring at the end of the season, and is set to receive a Wild Card into this year’s main draw so he can grace the red clay one final time. Wawrinka defeated his compatriot Roger Federer in straight sets to win the 2015 title.