The 2026 French Open is retaining the use of human line judges, unlike the other Grand Slam tournaments which have shifted to electronic line calling.
The clay has been baking under 30°C-plus temperatures in Paris, and the first week of Roland Garros 2026 has absolutely “turned the crazy dial up.” As we hit the middle Sunday, some massive favorites have fallen, marathon records have broken, and the draws are wide open.
The French Open announced a total prize fund of €61.723 million for the 2026 edition, representing an increase of 9.53% compared to the previous year!
Tournament organizers confirmed the continuation of financial support for the qualifying competition, aimed at assisting players in covering seasonal expenses and maintaining their professional structures. The total prize money allocated to the qualifying rounds increased by 12.9%.
The Defending Champion Falls: In the biggest shock of the women’s draw, Anastasia Potapova (No. 28 seed) pulled off a massive upset on Court Philippe-Chatrier, defeating the 2025 defending champion Coco Gauff 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4. Gauff’s exit completely blows open the bottom half of the women’s draw.
Sinner’s Streak Snapped: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner entered Paris on a monstrous 29-match winning streak, aiming to complete a career Grand Slam. Instead, he was stunned in the second round by Argentina’s clay-court specialist Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The Injury Absences: Reigning men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz didn’t even make it to the starting line, forced to withdraw before the tournament due to a right wrist injury.
We have officially witnessed the longest match in recent Roland Garros history. After Matteo Berrettini won an emotional 5-hour, 13-minute thriller against Francisco Comesana earlier in the day, his record was shattered just hours later. Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Spain’s Martin Landaluce battled on Court 7 for an eye-watering 5 hours and 58 minutes, with Cerundolo finally taking it 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6[10-8].
No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is living on the edge but survival is the name of the game. He came back from a 4-1 deficit in the 5th set in round one, and just replicated that grit by defeating Brandon Nakashima 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-6(1) after being down a break in both the 3rd and 4th sets. As the highest seed left in the top half of his section, he faces unseeded Alejandro Tabilo next.
The women’s doubles defending champions pair, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, did not defend their title together, as Paolini decided to only play at the singles draw of this edition due to a foot injury, leaving Errani to play alongside Lilli Tagger. Errani and Tagger stopped at the 2nd round, being defeated by Demi Schuurs and Ellen Perez.
With Alcaraz out, Sinner gone, and Gauff eliminated, the path to the Coupe des Mousquetaires and Coupe Suzanne Lenglen has altered dramatically.
Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Dark Horse. He has historically struggled in the second week of Paris against Nadal and Alcaraz. With those roadblocks gone, if his body holds up after the marathon early rounds, this is his best shot at a maiden Slam final.
The top half is setting up an absolute blockbuster. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (who just dismissed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5) is on a direct collision course with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who survived an incredibly tight three-set match against 18-year-old American prodigy Iva Jovic.
Meanwhile, four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek is looming large. After a slow start to her 2026 clay campaign, she found her vintage “Queen of Clay” form in Rome and looks lethal moving into the second week.