Coco Gauff returns; Djokovic seeks 25th

Coco Gauff returns to Roland-Garros this week as the defending women’s champion, and Novak Djokovic arrives in Paris with a chance to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Main-draw play at the 2026 French Open begins Sunday, May 24, at Stade Roland-Garros, according to the tournament schedule and CBS Sports. (cbssports.com) Jannik Sinner enters the men’s event as the top seed, while Gauff is back in the women’s field after last year’s title run. Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is again in the draw as he tries to add to the 24 majors that already share the men’s record. ### Why is Gauff’s return a central part of the women’s draw? Coco Gauff is listed by CBS Sports as the defending champion in the 2026 field, making her one of the focal points of the women’s tournament from the opening weekend. (rolandgarros.com) The American is also among the leading contenders identified in pre-tournament coverage alongside Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Taylor Townsend is Gauff’s first-round opponent, according to draw coverage published after Thursday’s main-draw ceremony. That opener gives the women’s bracket an all-American matchup immediately, with Gauff starting her title defense against a player she knows well. (cbssports.com) ### What exactly is Djokovic chasing in Paris? Novak Djokovic is pursuing a 25th Grand Slam singles title, a number CBS Sports and other pre-tournament coverage identified as the major historical marker hanging over his run in Paris. Djokovic already owns 24 major singles titles, and another would move him past that mark on his own. (cbssports.com) Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is Djokovic’s first-round opponent at Roland-Garros, according to the official tournament match page. The Washington Post also reported Sunday that Djokovic was set to face Perricard in the night session as the event opened in Paris. ### How does the rest of the tournament frame their chances? (sports.yahoo.com) Jannik Sinner enters Roland-Garros as the top seed and a leading men’s storyline, with ATP Tour coverage saying he is one title away from completing the career Grand Slam. Carlos Alcaraz is out of the tournament, a change that has reshaped the men’s field before the first week began. Aryna Sabalenka and Gauff are projected by Tennis.com to be on a possible semifinal collision course in the women’s draw. (cbssports.com) That means Gauff’s path as defending champion could again run through the top of the women’s field if seeds hold through the first week. (rolandgarros.com) ### When does Roland-Garros run, and what are the next dates? Roland-Garros runs from May 24 through June 7, according to the official tournament schedule and ATP Tour event page. The schedule lists women’s and men’s singles first-round matches on May 24, May 25 and May 26, before second-round play begins on May 27. (atptour.com) June 6 is the date of the women’s singles final and June 7 is the date of the men’s singles final, according to the official Roland-Garros calendar. Those are the dates Gauff would need to reach to defend her title and Djokovic would need to reach to play for No. 25. (rolandgarros.com) (tennis.com)