The women's draw at Roland-Garros 2026 shapes up as one of the most open in recent memory. Qualifying begins tomorrow, with the main draw starting May 25, and the contenders paint a thrilling picture.
Elina Svitolina arrives in Paris in outstanding form. The Ukrainian strung together three wins over top-4 players in four days in Rome, beating Iga Swiatek in the semi-final and Coco Gauff in the final to claim her 20th WTA title, a record for a Ukrainian player. At 31, the mother of one boasts a 28-7 record in 2026, including 7-3 against top-10 opponents.
Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1 seed, remains the bookmakers' favourite despite withdrawing from Rome with a hip issue. The two-time Grand Slam champion dominated the hard-court season but must still prove her clay-court consistency this year.
Gauff, the defending champion, is brimming with confidence despite her Rome defeat. Her post-final words ("I went through every possible scenario") suggest a player who feels ready for the Parisian challenge. Her ball-striking remains formidable; only aggression in key moments needs improvement.
Swiatek, a three-time Roland-Garros champion (2022, 2023, 2025), was stopped by Svitolina in the Rome semi-finals. The Pole nevertheless remains the most decorated player on this surface among the contenders and can never be written off in Paris.
The notable absence is Marketa Vondrousova, the 2019 finalist, provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after three missed tests. The draw loses a clay-court specialist but gains clarity.
Among the dark horses, eyes turn to Madison Keys, an Australian Open semi-finalist, and Clara Tauson, rising fast at 23. The women's draw promises drama from the very first rounds.
