The Roland-Garros 2026 draw ceremony takes place tomorrow, Thursday May 21 at 2 p.m. CEST, inside Court Philippe-Chatrier. Before the balls determine the fate of 128 men and women, here are five questions shaping the conversation in Paris.
What path awaits Jannik Sinner? The world No. 1 arrives in Paris riding a 29-match winning streak and holding five Masters 1000 titles in 2026 (Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome). The Italian, who has never won Roland-Garros, is the overwhelming favourite to complete his Career Grand Slam. His placement in the draw will be closely watched: which half will he land in, and who might he face in the quarterfinals?
Can Novak Djokovic chase a 25th Grand Slam title? The Serb, a three-time champion in Paris (2016, 2021, 2023), is seeded third. At 39, Djokovic continues to defy the passage of time. The key question is whether the draw keeps him apart from Sinner until the final, or forces a semi-final collision.
Who benefits from Alcaraz's absence? The two-time defending champion, sidelined with a right wrist injury since the Barcelona tournament in April, will not be in Paris. His withdrawal opens a significant gap in the draw. Alexander Zverev, seeded second, becomes the chief beneficiary in the opposite half to Sinner.
Sabalenka vs Swiatek vs Gauff: who gets the kindest draw? On the women's side, the battle promises to be fierce. Sabalenka, the top seed, is still chasing her first Roland-Garros title. Swiatek, a four-time champion, remains the undisputed queen of Parisian clay. Gauff, the defending champion after her 2025 triumph, will look to back it up. The draw will determine whether these three favourites end up in the same half.
What opponents for the departing legends? Gaël Monfils and Stan Wawrinka, both awarded wild cards for their final Roland-Garros, hope for a kind draw that would allow them to savour at least a round or two before the Parisian crowd. The luck of the draw will decide whether their farewells are brief or memorable.
The draw ceremony will be broadcast live on the Roland-Garros YouTube channel tomorrow at 2 p.m. CEST. Main-draw action begins on Sunday May 24.
