Roland-Garros draw made May 21 in Paris

Roland-Garros held its 2026 singles draw in Paris on Thursday, placing Novak Djokovic in the opposite half from men’s top seed Jannik Sinner and giving Emma Raducanu a first-round meeting with Solana Sierra. The French Open’s official site said the draw ceremony began at 2 p.m. local time at l’Orangerie in the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil. The brackets set the field for the second Grand Slam of the season, with main-draw singles play scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 24. Coco Gauff, the defending women’s champion, remains in the field, and the WTA said the tournament includes four previous Roland-Garros women’s champions and 10 total Grand Slam champions. ### Why was Djokovic’s placement the first men’s-draw talking point? Novak Djokovic avoided Jannik Sinner’s half, which means the 24-time Grand Slam champion cannot meet the world No. 1 before the final. Roland-Garros’ men’s draw preview framed Sinner as the central figure in the field and listed projected quarterfinals based on seeding, with Sinner in the top half. (rolandgarros.com) Jannik Sinner arrived in Paris on a 29-match winning streak, according to Roland-Garros, and the tournament preview said he is chasing a first French Open title and the career Grand Slam. John McEnroe, speaking on a TNT conference call cited by Roland-Garros, said: “To me, ultimately, it’s Sinner against the field, and I’d take Sinner right now.” (rolandgarros.com) ### What did the women’s draw produce at the top? Coco Gauff was drawn into the same half as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, eliminating the possibility of a repeat of last year’s women’s final. Roland-Garros said Gauff won the 2025 title against Sabalenka and opens her defense against fellow American Taylor Townsend. (rolandgarros.com) Aryna Sabalenka opens against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while Roland-Garros said possible quarterfinal opponents in her section include Jessica Pegula and Victoria Mboko. The WTA’s tournament guide said Gauff is one of four former Roland-Garros women’s champions in the field, alongside Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko. (rolandgarros.com) ### Where did Raducanu land? Emma Raducanu drew Solana Sierra in the first round, according to the official Roland-Garros match listing. The tournament page identifies the match as a women’s singles first-round contest and lists it as upcoming. Solana Sierra arrives with a clay-court profile that makes the opener notable, and outside reports on the draw described the matchup as a difficult one for Raducanu. (rolandgarros.com) The official draw pages confirm the pairing, even though Roland-Garros did not provide a separate preview focused on Raducanu’s section. ### How deep is the women’s field this year? (rolandgarros.com) The WTA said the 2026 French Open women’s event includes four previous winners of the major and 10 total Grand Slam champions. That count underscores the depth of the field beyond the top seeds and defending champion. Iga Swiatek leads the third quarter of the women’s draw and opens against Emerson Jones, while Elena Rybakina leads the fourth quarter. (rolandgarros.com) The WTA said Rybakina’s section also includes Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Karolina Muchova and 2021 champion Krejcikova. ### What happens next in Paris? (wtatennis.com) Roland-Garros said Opening Week continues through Saturday, May 23, before main-draw singles begin on Sunday, May 24, at Porte d’Auteuil. The official schedule lists first-round singles matches from May 24-26, quarterfinals on June 2-3, semifinals on June 4, and the women’s singles final on Saturday, June 6. (rolandgarros.com) (wtatennis.com)