Roland-Garros opens May 24

Roland-Garros opens on Sunday, May 24, with men’s and women’s first-round main-draw matches beginning at the French Open in Paris, according to the tournament’s official site. Opening day includes 40 first-round matches across 10 courts, with play starting at 11 a.m. local time on most courts and at noon on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The early framing around the men’s draw has centered on Jannik Sinner. Yahoo Sports, in a Friday preview of 12 names to watch, said it would “of course, start with Sinner” and called the world No. 1 the “obvious, overwhelming favorite” entering the event. Prize money is also a prominent part of the tournament backdrop. (rolandgarros.com) CBS Sports reported that the 2026 French Open will distribute just over $71.5 million across the event, with the men’s and women’s singles champions each set to earn $2.9 million. ### When does the main draw actually start? Sunday, May 24, is the first day of main-draw singles play at Roland-Garros, the official tournament site said. (sports.yahoo.com) The site’s opening-week guide says men’s and women’s first-round action begins that day, after qualifying and pre-tournament activities earlier in the week. The full tournament schedule published by Roland-Garros runs through Sunday, June 7. (cbssports.com) The official site lists daily play across singles, doubles and wheelchair events over the three-week tournament window. ### Why is Sinner the name attached to the men’s draw? Yahoo Sports put Sinner at the top of its men’s preview published Friday, saying he “clearly leads the field” and building its tournament watchlist around him. (rolandgarros.com) A separate Yahoo analysis said Sinner arrived in Paris as a bigger betting favorite than Rafael Nadal had been in any of his 14 title runs, though that comparison was Yahoo’s characterization. (rolandgarros.com) Recent form is part of that setup. Yahoo’s coverage noted Sinner had won the Italian Open and brought a 29-match streak into the French Open draw. ### What do the money numbers look like? CBS Sports said the total purse for Roland-Garros 2026 is a little more than $71.5 million. The report said that figure is up by nearly $7.5 million from the previous year. (sports.yahoo.com) The same CBS report said the singles champions will each receive $2.9 million. That puts the winner’s check in line with the top-end payouts that have become standard at Grand Slam events, according to the outlet’s tournament breakdown. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Which match is headlining opening day? Novak Djokovic is scheduled for the Day 1 night session on Sunday, the official Roland-Garros order-of-play announcement said. (cbssports.com) The three-time champion will face Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at 8:15 p.m. local time on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Friday media coverage from the tournament site showed Djokovic discussing his condition after what it called an injury-plagued 2026. “Thankfully, the response of the body and the preparation has been positive in the last 10 days,” Djokovic said in comments published by Roland-Garros. (cbssports.com) ### What should readers watch next? Sunday’s order of play is already posted on the official Roland-Garros site, with Djokovic, Belinda Bencic and other opening-day players listed by court and start time. (rolandgarros.com) The tournament’s official schedule shows main-draw play continuing daily in Paris through June 7, when the event is due to conclude. (rolandgarros.com)