Two days before the first ball is struck at Porte d'Auteuil, the Roland Garros 2026 landscape is defined by fire and fractures.
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Red hot
Jannik Sinner arrives as the man to beat. The world No. 1 won Rome days ago, completing the Golden Masters: holding all nine Masters 1000 titles across his career. At 24, he is the youngest to achieve the feat. His 29-match winning record at Roland Garros makes him the clear favorite.
Elina Svitolina made a statement by defeating Coco Gauff in the Rome final, her biggest title since returning from maternity leave. The Ukrainian beat three top-4 players in the final three rounds. At 31, she remains a genuine threat on clay.
Emma Navarro, crowned champion at Strasbourg this Saturday, is trending up at the right moment. Mariano Navone, who upset Casper Ruud in the Geneva semifinal, confirms that Argentina's young guns are rising fast.
Broken bodies
Arthur Fils is out, betrayed by his hip. Carlos Alcaraz is absent until the end of summer, his wrist still fragile. Lorenzo Musetti has also withdrawn. Aryna Sabalenka, the women's world No. 1, is nursing a sore knee but will compete. Her fitness level remains the biggest question mark in the women's draw.
Dark horses
Learner Tien, 20 years old and freshly installed in the Top 20 after his Rome run, could spring a surprise. On the WTA side, Victoria Mboko lost the Strasbourg final but her clay confidence remains intact after a stellar week.
Novak Djokovic, who turned 39 this week, hired Viktor Troicki as coach and insists he still believes in the title. History gives him every reason to try. His body will have the final say.
Roland Garros 2026 begins Sunday. Rarely has a draw featured such a gap between the certainty of Sinner as favorite and the question marks surrounding everyone else.
