Roland Garros 2026 Preview: Schedule, Favorites, and Predictions

The Roland Garros 2026 begins at a time of epoch change: without Carlos Alcaraz, the result of the men's tournament seems almost predetermined, while in the women's draw several players are capable of winning the title. RG-2026 remains the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay. Read more about the upcoming two weeks of the tennis marathon in our preview and match predictions for the French Open.

What you need to know about Roland Garros 2026

Tournament dates

In 2026, the main draw of Roland Garros will take place from May 24 to June 7. The qualifying matches started in the week of May 17. The women's final is scheduled for June 6, and the men's final - for June 7.

Where will Roland Garros 2026 take place

The tournament is held in Paris on the courts of the "Roland Garros" complex in the Porte d'Auteuil area. The main arena remains the Court Philippe Chatrier, where the key matches of the tournament, including the semi-finals and finals, take place. The Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu courts also play a significant role.

Tournament format

Roland Garros 2026 includes several competition categories: singles and doubles tournaments for men and women, mixed doubles, as well as junior and special tournaments. All matches are played on clay, which makes the competition unique among the Grand Slam tournaments.

Men's Singles

The men's draw includes 128 tennis players. Matches are played in a best-of-five sets format, and the finalists must endure two weeks of intense struggle on slow clay. Roland Garros is considered the most physically demanding tournament of the season for ATP players.

Women's Singles

The women's tournament also includes 128 participants. Women's draw matches are played in a best-of-three sets format. The Parisian clay traditionally increases the likelihood of long rallies and unexpected results, so new title contenders regularly emerge at RG.

Doubles Tournaments

The program includes men's and women's doubles events. Doubles matches attract many clay-court specialists and experienced players who successfully use tactical tennis and net play. The final stages of the doubles tournament traditionally take place on the main courts of the complex.

Mixed Doubles

The mixed doubles event combines ATP and WTA players in one team. Mixed doubles is considered one of the most spectacular formats of the tournament due to the high dynamics of the matches and unusual combinations of players.

Juniors

Roland Garros hosts junior tournaments for players under 18. For many young tennis players, Paris becomes their first major international success and an important stage before transitioning to the adult ATP or WTA tour.

Prize fund of Roland Garros 2026

The organizers of RolandGarros 2026 announced a record prize fund in the history of the tournament – it will amount to 61.723 million euros. Compared to the previous season, payouts increased by 9.53%, making the Parisian Grand Slam one of the fastest-growing tournaments in the ATP and WTA calendars. Men and women receive equal prizes in singles.

The winners of the men's and women's tournaments will earn € 2.8 million each, while the finalists will earn € 1.4 million each. The organizers also increased payouts for qualifying players and early rounds of the main draw, which became one of the main features of the prize distribution in 2026.

Payouts by rounds

The following payouts are provided in singles:

• Winner – € 2,800,000
• Finalist – € 1,400,000
• Semifinal – € 750,000
• Quarterfinal – € 470,000
• 1/8 final – € 285,000
• 3rd round – € 187,000
• 2nd round – € 130,000
• 1st round – € 87,000

Qualifying players also received a noticeable increase in prizes:

• Qualifying final – € 48,000
• 2nd round of qualifying – € 33,000
• 1st round of qualifying – € 24,000

The winners of the men's and women's doubles tournaments will earn € 600,000 per pair, and the mixed champions - € 122,000.

Despite the increase in payouts, the topic of prizes remains one of the most discussed in world tennis. On the eve of the tournament, several leading ATP and WTA players publicly stated that the tournament's share of revenue distributed among tennis players still lags behind other Grand Slam tournaments and major sports leagues.

Features of the surface and the influence of clay on the results

Why clay is the most specific surface in tennis

Clay surface is fundamentally different from hard and grass. Clay slows down the ball's speed after the bounce, giving tennis players more time to prepare their shots. This leads to prolonged exchanges and makes matches more tactical. Patience, stability, and the ability to play long rallies from the baseline are important at Roland Garros.

Another feature of clay is the high and awkward bounce of the ball. Players find it harder to finish attacks with quick shots, and the serve loses some of its advantage compared to fast surfaces. Finally, clay matches require maximum endurance. Long rallies, constant movements around the court, and the best-of-five format for men create a serious strain on the body. In the second week, the physical condition of the players often becomes a key factor in the fight for the title.

How the surface affects betting

The clay surface directly affects not only the style of play but also the betting markets. Due to the slow surface and long rallies, clay matches often drag on. Players rarely hold serve easily, and the number of prolonged games and breaks increases. Therefore, bets on the over total are especially popular in Paris matches.

Roland Garros regularly brings unexpectedresults in the early rounds. Clay court specialists often pose problems for more prestigious tennis players who are more comfortable on fast surfaces. That's why at the start of the tournament, value bets on underdogs with strong clay statistics often appear.

Main favorites of Roland Garros 2026

Men's tournament favorites

In the men's draw of the French tournament, everything is relatively simple: there is Jannik Sinner and everyone else. The Italian approaches the tournament as the world's top racket and is demonstrating the best season of his career, having won tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome with a series of 29 consecutive victories. His clay record in 2026 is 17–0. Last season he reached the final of Roland Garros, where he only lost after a five-set thriller with Carlos Alcaraz. Considering his form, opponents' problems, and the absence of his main Spanish competitor, Sinner is the obvious favorite for the trophy.

Among the main contenders besides the incredible Italian are Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud. The Serb with his Grand Slam experience is dangerous in the long run, Zverev is capable of reaching at least the final, as he suffered half of his clay season losses only from Sinner. And overall, the German was eliminated from the last tournaments in Paris only by the top players: in 2024 by Alcaraz in the final, in 2025 - by Djokovic in the quarterfinals. The Norwegian shows a large positive difference between victories and losses on clay. In three of the last four tournaments, Ruud reached at least the semifinals.

Main contenders in the women's draw

In the women's draw, the situation is much less predictable, and five tennis players have a 10% or higher chance of winning the tournament. According to bookmakers,The highest chances belong to Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, who is referred to as the "queen of clay" due to her excellent statistics. Even considering that the Polish tennis player hasn't won any trophies on slow surfaces for a while, Iga is capable of pulling herself together for the Grand Slam matches.

The top five contenders, according to bookmaker odds, also include Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva and Cori Gauff. The Kazakhstani player has a versatile style that allows her to play equally well on clay and hard courts. Elena's adaptation doesn't take much effort. The Russian player has been consistent during the clay court season, which has allowed her to climb in the world rankings. It's hard to consider the American as a young and promising player given her track record, even though she's only 22 according to her passport - Coco is full of energy and capable of demonstrating a high level of play.

Dark horses of the tournament

In the men's draw, ATP experts highlight Arthur Fils, Joao Fonseca, Francisco Cerundolo and Daniil Medvedev as the main underdogs. Fils is approaching the home tournament after a decent start to the clay season with a semi-final in Madrid, the Brazilian started the clay season in early April - on slow surfaces he reached the quarterfinals in Monaco and Munich, the Argentine has already played 11 matches on clay, although the results can't be called successful (6-5). They all are among the top ten contenders to win in Paris, although the odds startfrom 20.00 and above. Those who are not exactly expected to win, but are capable of making some noise, are Tommy Paul, who has only started to develop his clay court game in the last two years, and Alexander Bublik, whose motivation to secure a spot in the top 10 of the world rankings should play into his hands.

Among the women, several tennis players are capable of surprising, but we will pay special attention to Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian has a tenacious defensive style of play, and during the clay court season, she has already won a tournament in Rome and reached the semifinals in Stuttgart. Her chances of winning in Paris are estimated at a modest 4%, but it is definitely not wise to write off Elina. It will be interesting to watch the play of Madison Keys and Anastasia Potapova, who have gained good momentum ahead of RG. The American has reached the semifinals in Charleston and the final in Paris this season, while the Austrian has reached the final in Linz and the semifinals in Madrid.

Who could be the revelation of the tournament

The tournament in Paris could be a turning point in the career of Spaniard Rafael Jodar. The world's No. 29 is already considered one of the seven main contenders for the trophy with a record of 15 wins and three losses in the clay season and a title in Marrakech. In the women's draw, attention will be drawn to Marta Kostyuk and Victoria Mboko. The Ukrainian has already proven that she can consistently beat top-10 players on slow surfaces, having defeated Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Anastasia Potapova in Madrid. The 19-year-old Canadian is progressing rapidly, although this season, after seven titles last year, Mboko has not yet impressed with her results.

Analysis of the draw and key matches of the tournament

The Roland Garros 2026 draw took place on May 21, determining the first-round pairs and potential brackets for the world ranking leaders.

Most anticipated first round matches

In the men's draw, world ranking leader Jannik Sinner will start his journey to another final with a match against Frenchman Clement Tabur (No. 165 in the ATP rankings), and one of the relatively serious opponents in the 1/16 finals could be another Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

Interest will obviously be in the first round matches between Marton Fucsovics and Matteo Berrettini, Alexander Bublik and Jan-Lennard Struff, Riki Hijikata and Tommy Paul, Stan Wawrinka and Arthur Fils. The complete men's tournament draw for Roland Garros 2026 is available in the tournament section.

In the women'sIn the draw, Arina Sabalenka will start the tournament with a match against Spaniard Jessica Maneiro, Iga Swiatek - against Australian Emerson Jones. Already in the third round, Sabalenka could face Daria Kasatkina, Swiatek - against Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina - against Hayley Baptiste.

First-round matches such as Iva Jovic - Alexandra Eala, Laura Siegemund - Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff - Taylor Townsend, Jasmine Paolini - Dayana Yastremska, and Linda Noskova - Maria Sakkari should not be overlooked. The full draw of the women's Roland Garros 2026 tournament is available in the tournament section.

Potential Semi-finals

If the seeded players mentioned above successfully navigate each stage, the men's semi-finals will feature Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime, as well as Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic. In the women's draw, we could see a showdown between Arina Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, as well as Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.

Possible Roland Garros 2026 Final

The most likely final according to bookmakers is Jannik Sinner against Alexander Zverev. The odds for the Italian to win the decisive match are 1.40*, for the German's success - 8.00*.

For the women, a final between Arina Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek looks likely, according to analysts. The odds for the Belarusian's success in Paris are 3.20*, for the Pole's victory - 4.50*.

Best Bets for Roland Garros 2026

Bets on the Tournament Winner

Betting on the winner of Roland Garros 2026 is among the most popular long-term markets for both the ATP and WTA tournaments. When analyzing favorites, it's important to consider not only world rankings but also current player form, clay-court season results, performance statistics in Paris, and physical readiness for long matches.

In the men's draw, favorites traditionally have a higher chance of advancing to the later stages, while the women's tournament often brings unexpected results and sensational breakthroughs. That's why it's particularly worth paying attention to value bets on proficient clay-court players who consistently show strong results on slow surfaces.

Betting on Matches

Before the French Open in Paris, bookmakers offer a wide range of markets for almost every match of the tournament. The most popular bets remain on the winner, handicaps, and totals, as the clay surface often leads to long matches and a large number of breaks. Bettors pay special attention to bets on the score by sets and the duration of matches, especially in the men's draw with a five-set format.

Which Markets Work Best on Clay

On clay tournaments, bets on totals, the number of sets, and long matches are considered particularly effective. The slowThe clay surface increases the number of long rallies and breaks, making it often more difficult for favorites to confidently close matches in the minimum number of sets. Live betting after the first set is also popular, as on clay players often come back into the match even after a poor start. Extra attention should be paid to betting on underdogs with strong statistics on clay courts, as unexpected upsets regularly occur in the early rounds of the tournament in Paris.

Betting Strategies for Roland Garros

For successful betting on Roland Garros, it's important to consider the specifics of the clay surface and the high level of physical strain on the players. Live betting is particularly popular at the tournament, as clay matches often change course, and losing the first set is not always decisive.

Many bettors also find value in betting on underdogs with strong clay court statistics, especially against opponents who perform better on faster surfaces.

Another factor is fatigue after long matches: in the second week of the tournament, physical condition often influences the result as much as the ranking. When analyzing matches, it's important to pay attention to the percentage of points won on the first serve, return effectiveness, and break statistics specifically on clay.

Common Bettor Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes at Roland Garros is overestimating star tennis players without considering their current form and level of play on clay. Many bettors focus solely on a big name or high ranking, although on slow surfaces results often depend on completely different factors.

Ignoring specific clay court statistics is equally risky: the percentage of victories on clay courts, return effectiveness, physical endurance, and experience in long matches in Paris.

Roland Garros Statistics and Trends

Recent Tournament Winners

Among men, after the retirement of Rafael Nadal, who won Roland Garros 14 times, the geographic situation has not changed: in 2024 and 2025, the trophy went to his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, and in 2023, Novak Djokovic won the tournament for the second time in his career.

The women's RG winners have changed slightly more often: over the past ten years, seven different tennis players have won in Paris, although Iga Świątek, who has been the best in the French capital four times (2020, 2022–2024), has not stopped dominating. The current champion is Coco Gauff.

Interesting Facts about Roland Garros

• Among men, Spaniards have won Roland Garros more often than others – 16 times, while among women, Americans completely dominate, with 28 titles to their credit.
• The youngest winner among men is Michael Chang, who won the tournament at 17 years and 3 months in 1989. Among women, Monica Seles became the champion at 16 years and 6 months in 1990.
• Unseeded tennis players have won Roland Garros only twice in the 21st century – Argentine Gaston Gaudio in 2004 andLatvian Elena Ostapenko - in 2017.
• The longest match in the history of Roland Garros lasted a quarter of a day. In 2004, the game between Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement in the first round took 6 hours and 33 minutes.

Recent trends

The main trend of recent seasons is the rapid strengthening of young players. After the end of the era of the "Big Three" dominance, the men's tour gradually moved to a new generation, and the focus was on tennis players aged 20-24. Although without Alcaraz, the men's draw in Paris looks extremely predictable. The influence of young all-round tennis players who feel comfortable on all surfaces, including clay, is also growing.

At the same time, the style of play on clay is changing. Modern matches are faster, and players are increasingly betting on aggressive tennis, powerful serve, and early attacks instead of classic long rallies. Experts also note a gradual reduction in the average duration of matches compared to the previous decade, although Roland Garros remains the most physically demanding Grand Slam tournament.

Roland Garros 2026 Forecast

Who will win the men's tournament

Main prediction - Jannik Sinner's victory with odds of 1.40*. There is no need to explain that the Scores24 editorial team cannot even argue with this bet. Sinner is too good with his 29 consecutive victories. His goal now is not only the trophy, but also Novak Djokovic's record, who won 43 matches in a row in the early 2010s. If successful in Paris (seven wins are needed), the Italian will still need to perform consistently in at least two more tournaments.

Who will win the women's tournament

Main prediction - Coco Gauff will reach the final for 5.50*. You can risk and take her victory for 10.00*, but we rely not only on the current form of athletes, but also on the high level of competition. The American school of tennis traditionally performs well on the clay courts of Paris (three different tennis players in the 21st century have won at RG), and Gauff in Rome has already proved that she can at least not regress under the pressure of defending ranking points despite instability.

Alternative prediction - Elina Svitolina will reach the ⅛ finals for 1.50*. The seventh seed was lucky with the draw, and the bookmakers give a nice coefficient that the Ukrainian will pass Anna Bondar in the first round, in the second - an opponent with a wild card or from qualification, and in the third - Van Xinyu, who has never reached beyond the third round in her entire career, or Tamara Korpatsch - the German's best result in a Grand Slam is the second round. Svitolina is in excellent form and can reach the ⅛ finals without losing a single set.

Roland Garros 2026 is approaching the start as one of the most unpredictable tournaments of the season. In the men's draw, the main attention will be focused on the fight against Jannik Sinner, and in the WTA there will be a high density of favorites and great potential.for sensations. The key factors of the tournament will traditionally remain physical readiness, form during the clay season, and the ability to adapt to the slow surface.

Follow our daily predictions, analytics, and previews of Roland Garros 2026 matches. Throughout the tournament, we will analyze all encounters, track the form of favorites, publish predictions for all matches, and look for the most interesting and underrated options so that you can get not only pleasure from tennis matches but also benefit. Before each game day, you can expect updated odds, a list of tournament trends, and predictions.

*odds are provided for reference, may vary in different bookmaker offices and are current at the time of publication