Novak Djokovic's tough path, Iga Swiatek's nightmare opponent, Jannik Sinner's route to glory - French Open draw analysis
Updated 21/05/2026 at 23:59 GMT+1
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The men's and women's singles draws for the 2026 French Open have been made - but who were the winners and losers?
Watch: Heartwarming moment Andreescu comforts distraught Mpetshi-Perricard after French Open exit
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Men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will start against France's Clement Tabur, while Novak Djokovic is on the other side of the draw against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Djokovic could face rising star Joao Fonseca in the third round and two-time runner-up Casper Ruud in the last 16.
Coco Gauff starts her title defence against fellow American Taylor Townsend and could meet women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, which would be a rematch of last year’s final.
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Who has the toughest looking draw? And who looks well set for a deep run?
We dive into the draw and look at the takeaways before the French Open starts on Sunday, May 24, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Can anyone stop Sinner?
Jannik Sinner was the man to beat in Paris before the draw and he remains it after the draw.
He comes into the Grand Slam on a 29-match winning streak and, with Carlos Alcaraz out because of a wrist injury, is the dominant player on the ATP Tour.
Is there any stopping Sinner in his quest for a first French Open title?
| Projected men's quarter-finals |
| Sinner (1) v Shelton (5) |
| Auger-Aliassime (4) v Medvedev (8) |
| Djokovic (3) v De Minaur (6) |
| Zverev (2) v Fritz (7) |
There do not look to be too many banana skins in the first week and a potential quarter-final against Ben Shelton does not appear too daunting given the American's dip in form lately.
Given his impressive form, it would be a huge surprise if Sinner did not make the final, where second seed Alexander Zverev or third seed Novak Djokovic could await.
Tough tests for Djokovic
With just one clay match to his name this season, it’s hard to place Novak Djokovic in the list of French Open contenders.
There are questions over his health following a shoulder injury and also whether he can still hold up to the demands of a two-week Grand Slam. He turns 39 two days before the tournament begins.
The draw doesn’t seem to have done him any favours. Djokovic faces Mpetshi Perricard first up and then could get Fonseca in round three followed by Ruud in the last 16.
Ruud could be a tricky opponent given he has twice been runner-up in Paris and recently made the final in Madrid.
Then there is potentially Zverev in the semis for Djokovic before likely having to overcome Sinner in the final.
Wawrinka and Monfils get standout ties
The two blockbuster ties of the men’s first round both involved players who will be competing at the French Open for the final time.
Former champion Stan Wawrinka, 41, takes on home favourite Arthur Fils in a match that is sure to deliver entertainment.
Gael Monfils, who, like Wawrinka, will also retire at the end of the season, takes on fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston.
Will Sabalenka power into final again?
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is bidding to win the French Open for the first time after just falling short in last year’s final against Coco Gauff.
She doesn’t come into the Grand Slam in the best form, having suffered surprise losses in Madrid and Rome, and raising concern over a back injury.
| Projected women's quarter-finals |
| Sabalenka (1) v Pegula (5) |
| Gauff (4) v Anisimova (6) |
| Svitolina (7) v Swiatek (3) |
| Andreeva (8) v Rybakina (2) |
She looks to have a favourable first week but then could face some tough tests.
Naomi Osaka may await in the last 16 with Jessica Pegula among her potential quarter-final opponents.
If Sabalenka is to return to the final she may have to get past Gauff in the semis, while Iga Swiatek could then await in the showpiece.
Swiatek gets unwanted opponent
If there is one opponent Iga Swiatek was probably hoping to avoid in the French Open draw, it was Jelena Ostapenko.
But the four-time champion is scheduled to face Ostapenko in the third round.
With her powerful hitting and attacking approach, Ostapenko has been a nightmare opponent for Swiatek, winning all six of their previous meetings.
If Swiatek, now with Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig, does get past Ostapenko, it doesn’t get much easier.
In-form Ukrainian duo Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina could await in the fourth round and quarter-final, respectively.
Kostyuk and Svitolina won the two WTA 1000 clay events in Madrid and Rome, respectively.
Raducanu could meet Paolini
There were encouraging signs for Emma Raducanu at the start of February when she made the Transylvania Open final, her first final since winning the US Open in 2021.
But she has won just one match since and missed over two months due to a post-viral illness.
She has rehired coach Andrew Richardson, who was with her during her Grand Slam triumph, and has a potentially testing draw in Paris.
She faces world No. 64 Solana Sierra in her opener and could then meet 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the second round.
Doubles partners Jovic and Eala face off
Two rising stars on the WTA Tour, Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic, will meet in the first round.
Eala, 20, is looking to build on her breakout 2025 season, while Jovic’s rise from outside the top 140 this time last year to No. 16 has been helped by one of the greats of the game: Djokovic, who has been giving her advice along the way.
Eala and Jovic have teamed up twice this season in doubles, reaching the semis in Auckland and last 32 at Indian Wells. This will be the first time they have faced each other in singles.
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