Na Roland-Garros 2026 don set, and di draw wey dem do on Thursday show say French hope Arthur Fils go face veteran Swiss star Stan Wawrinka, wey be 41 years old, for im first round match. Di tournament, wey go start on May 24 to June 7, get plenty drama even before e begin.
According to di draw wey Tony Estanguet do, Jannik Sinner go start im campaign against French player Clément Tabur, wey dey rank 165th. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, wey dey number three for world, go meet Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, di big-serving Lyon boy wey dey 80th.
But wetin dey overshadow di main draw na di protest from top players about money. Dem don plan to limit dia media time to 15 minutes on Friday, during di media day, to show say dem no happy with how di Grand Slam tournaments dey share revenue. Dem dey demand say dem must get 22% of Roland-Garros income, instead of di current 15% wey dem dey get.
Di tournament organisers don set prize money for this year at around 62 million euros, wey be record, and e increase by more than 5 million euros from last year. But Amélie Mauresmo, di tournament director, say dem no go change di prize money for 2026 edition. She go meet with player representatives on Friday, plus other officials from French Tennis Federation.
With Carlos Alcaraz missing because of injury, Jannik Sinner be di top favorite to win di 2.8 million euros wey dey for di winner. Di Italian player just win im sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title for Rome. E fit face American Ben Shelton for quarterfinal.
Arthur Fils, wey don play well since e come back from back injury for February, land for di other half of di draw, where Alexander Zverev dey. Zverev go play Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi for first round. Amélie Mauresmo talk say Fils and Wawrinka be two important personalities for di tournament: Stan with im history, and Arthur wey represent di present and future of French tennis. E say na two generations wey go face each other.
For another generational clash, French 17-year-old Moïse Kouame, wey dey rank 316th, go face experienced Croatian Marin Cilic, wey be 37 years old and win US Open for 2014. Cilic also reach semifinal for Paris for 2022. For wetin fit be im last match for Roland-Garros, French showman Gaël Monfils, wey be 39 years old and dey rank 221st, go play against im countryman Hugo Gaston, wey dey 120th. Dem never face each other for circuit before.
All eyes go be on Loïs Boisson for first round. She be surprise semifinalist for 2025 when she dey rank 361st. Di Dijon girl, wey now dey 50th, just come back for April after seven months out because of injury. She go face Russian Anna Kalinskaya, wey dey 22nd. Alizé Cornet, captain of French BJK Cup team, say Boisson no get easy first round, but her opponent na hard court player, while Boisson na clay court specialist. E say if she pass first round, second round fit get her going again.
Aryna Sabalenka, wey dey look for im first title for Paris clay, go start against Spanish player Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, wey dey 51st. Reigning champion American Coco Gauff, wey dey 4th, go face her countrywoman Taylor Townsend, wey dey 72nd.
For doubles, di French Tennis Federation don give wild cards to French pairs. Fabrice Martin go play im last Roland-Garros with Adrian Mannarino. Hugo Gaston go partner Titouan Droguet, and Moïse Kouame go play with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
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