Watch Roland Garros: Round 1 — Day 1 Coverage Free.

What's at Stake

The 2026 edition of Roland Garros begins at the historic Stade Roland Garros, marking the start of a grueling two-week quest for the Musketeers' Cup and the Suzanne Lenglen Cup. As the premier event of the clay-court season, Day 1 sets the tone for the tournament, where top seeds aim to avoid early upsets while specialists look to capitalize on the demanding red dirt conditions.

Form Guide

Heading into Paris, the lead-up tournaments in Madrid and Rome have showcased a highly competitive field with no single dominant force on the surface. Several top-ranked players have traded titles over the spring swing, suggesting that physical endurance and tactical adaptability will be the deciding factors during the opening rounds on Philippe-Chatrier.

Key Players to Watch

• Carlos Alcaraz — The Spaniard remains the benchmark for modern clay-court tennis with his combination of drop shots and baseline power.
• Iga Świątek — As a perennial favorite in Paris, her sliding defense and heavy topspin make her the player to beat in the women's draw.
• Jannik Sinner — Having evolved his game to suit slower surfaces, the Italian enters the tournament looking to solidify his status as a multi-surface threat.

Prediction

Expect the established favorites to navigate the opening day with relatively comfortable straight-sets victories as they adjust to the court speed. While a few lower-seeded players may push matches into deciding sets, the top four seeds scheduled for Day 1 are likely to advance based on their superior clay-court pedigree.