Di 2026 French Open don kick off with big drama as top seeds Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka cruise into second round, but Daniil Medvedev and Jessica Pegula suffer shock early exit.
Sinner, di Italian world number one, bin defeat French wildcard Clement Tabur 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Dis win extend im winning streak to 30 matches. After defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdraw due to injury, Sinner become di biggest title favorite. “I’m very happy to be back here,” Sinner talk for im 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.”
But for di men’s side, sixth seed Medvedev suffer one of di biggest shocks so far. Di Russian lose to Australian wildcard Adam Walton for a chaotic five-set battle: 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. Medvedev talk for im post-match press conference: “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 [than the other majors] and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.” He add: “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.”
French wildcard Moise Kouame set di home crowd on fire by beating former US Open champion Marin Cilic 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1. Kouame become di youngest male player to win a main-draw match at Roland-Garros since 1991, and di youngest man to win any Grand Slam match since 2009. “I felt rather good,” Kouame yarn. “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.”
China’s Zhang Zhizhen fall 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to Argentine qualifier Facundo Diaz Acosta, wey secure im first Roland-Garros main-draw win.
For di women’s side, world number one Sabalenka defeat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2. Defending champion Coco Gauff open her title defense with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend. “I’d say that the first matches are always the trickiest ones,” Sabalenka tok. “Because you’re trying to see where you’re at and trying to get used to conditions and fight the nerves and everything. I’d say that for me always not easy, the first rounds. And then, as more I play, as further I get in the tournament, as more comfortable I get, my level becomes better.”
Former world number one Naomi Osaka also advance, overcoming Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (3) and continuing her return to top-level form on clay.
But fifth seed Pegula lose in three sets to Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. Di defeat mark Pegula’s first opening-round loss at Roland-Garros in six years. French hope Lois Boisson exit after a loss to Anna Kalinskaya, while several oda French women also fall early, leaving only Elsa Jacquemot and Diane Parry for di second round. China’s veteran Zhang Shuai bin beat 6-4, 6-2 by American Ann Li, marking her fourth consecutive first-round loss for Grand Slam main-draw singles since last year’s Wimbledon.
