French Open begins, Sinner heavy favorite

Roland Garros opened on Sunday, May 24, with first-round singles matches beginning in Paris as the 2026 French Open started on schedule. The official tournament calendar lists Sunday and Monday as opening days for men’s and women’s first-round play, with the event running through June 7. Jannik Sinner arrived as the central men’s storyline before the first balls were struck. CBS Sports said Sunday that the world No. 1 was a “prohibitive favorite” to win his first French Open title and complete the career Grand Slam, while Olympics.com said Carlos Alcaraz would miss the tournament with injury, ending any chance of a third straight Paris title for the Spaniard. (rolandgarros.com) ### Why is Sinner the man everyone is chasing? CBS Sports put the number on it Sunday: Sinner was listed at -310 to win the men’s title, with Alexander Zverev next at +1200. The same preview said Sinner was 36-2 this season, had won five straight titles and was carrying a 29-match winning streak into Paris. CBS Sports also said Alcaraz’s absence removed the “largest obstacle” to Sinner lifting the trophy. (cbssports.com) BBC Sport, in a pre-tournament preview cited in the source briefing, also framed the men’s draw around whether anyone could stop Sinner after Alcaraz withdrew. ### What changed in the men’s draw before play began? Carlos Alcaraz withdrew last month because of a wrist injury, Roland Garros said, taking the two-time defending champion out of the field before the draw got underway. (cbssports.com) The tournament’s official site said Alcaraz would miss the Paris event for the first time since 2021. ATP materials published for the tournament said Alcaraz was one of seven men to withdraw before the main draw, alongside Lorenzo Musetti, Jack Draper and Arthur Fils. A Roland Garros entry-list update dated May 23 showed the field had been revised ahead of opening day. ### What was actually on court Sunday? The official order of play for May 24 showed first-round matches across the main courts, including Alexander Zverev against Benjamin Bonzi on Court Philippe-Chatrier and Novak Djokovic against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the night session. (rolandgarros.com) The same schedule listed Karen Khachanov, Taylor Fritz, Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca among the men set to play Sunday. (atptour.com) The official schedule said first-round singles play would continue through Tuesday, May 26, before second-round matches begin on May 27. Olympics.com listed the singles finals for June 6 on the women’s side and June 7 on the men’s side. ### Who else is part of the opening-week picture? (rolandgarros.com) Coco Gauff entered Paris as the defending women’s champion, according to Olympics.com and CBS Sports. The women’s draw, unlike the men’s, was described by CBS as more open, with several contenders in the mix. Novak Djokovic also brought a milestone into the tournament. (rolandgarros.com) ATP tournament notes said the 39-year-old would set the men’s record for most Grand Slam main-draw appearances when he played his first-round match in Paris, his 82nd at a major. ### What comes next in Paris? Monday, May 25, is the second full day of first-round singles at Roland Garros, according to the tournament schedule. (olympics.com) The clay-court major then moves into second-round play on May 27, with the men’s semifinals set for June 5 and the men’s final scheduled for Sunday, June 7, on Court Philippe-Chatrier. (rolandgarros.com) (atptour.com)