Welcome to Roland-Garros 2026! It’s Day 1 of the singles main draw and the grounds are already filling up. It’s going to be another warm one. Play starts at 11am on all courts except Philippe-Chatrier, which gets underway at 12pm. The first matches include men’s No.13 seed Karen Khachanov, who faces French wildcard Arthur Gea on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, while over on the picturesque Court Simonne-Mathieu, women’s No.15 seed Marta Kostyuk takes on Spain’s Oksana Selekhmeteva. And tonight under the lights, 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic headlines this year's first night session on Chatrier in what is certain to be a lively atmosphere as he faces France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. We’ll keep you updated on all the action throughout the day.
In the meantime, let's take a closer look at some of the key players and matches that will shape the tournament.
The Heat is On
The scorching heat in Paris today will make for fast, lively conditions on court. Players are battling 33c temperatures, and if the weather apps are to be believed, it'll reach 34c on Monday. There's a bit of wind out there as well, so anyone on one of the less sheltered smaller courts will have to watch the ball closely and keep those feet moving. Challenging conditions indeed.
A Star is Born
Belinda Bencic is the first winner on Court Philippe-Chatrier this year as the 11th seed sweeps past Austrian qualifier Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-3 in exactly 90 minutes. The Swiss star joins 27th seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova and China's Wang Xinyu in the second round - they both bagged victories in the last hour. In the men's draw, Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic is the latest player into the second round after a straight sets win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan 7-6(0), 6-3, 6-4. He's quickly joined by 13th seed Karen Khachanov who was too strong for Frenchman Arthur Gea 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-0 over on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
A Five-Set Thriller
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina knows his way around a five-setter and he's come through another one out in the Court 14 cauldron, this time against Damir Dzumhur 6-7(3), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. The Spanish 21st seed has a tough second round date with Thiago Tirante from Argentina who'll be regularly smacking serves in the mid-140mph territory when they square off.
A Culinary Delight
Roland-Garros is pulling out all the culinary stops this year. A brand-new area called the Jardin des Chefs has been set up in the gardens just a stone's throw from Court Simonne-Mathieu. From 24 May to 5 June, some of France's greatest chefs and pastry-chefs, including several Michelin-star holders, will present their signature dishes, as well as exclusive recipes. Every day from 11:30am to 3:30pm, two chefs will prepare two dishes each, while a third will make a dessert. In the evening, from 6pm to 10pm, the Jardin des Chefs will transform into a bodega-style restaurant, serving sharing platters created by the renowned chef Yves Camdeborde.
A Star-Studded Guest List
A-list actor Russell Crowe is a guest of Roland-Garros today, enjoying the gladiatorial battles on Chatrier. Fun fact: RC loves his sport and is a fellow Leeds United fan. Good luck to the boys away at West Ham this afternoon.
A Day to Remember
Yesterday, Roland-Garros hosted its annual charity fundraiser, Yannick Noah Day, with fans treated to a day full of fun activities, entertainment, player interactions, and much, much more. It was a day to remember, and a testament to the tournament's commitment to giving back.
The American Challenge
Two of the 37 Americans in the singles draw (the most at Roland-Garros since 1995) are Sloane Stephens and Michael Zheng, who both came through qualifying last week. Stephens meets Sara Bejlek later today on Court 6, while Zheng comes up against Croatia's Dino Prizmic over on Court 9.
Looking Ahead
With 40 matches scheduled today, it's hard to know where to start. Alix Ramsay has pulled out a few of the highlights, including the match of the day session featuring Baptiste Krejcikova. And with so many players in action, it's a reminder of the diverse talent on display at Roland-Garros 2026.
In conclusion, as the tournament unfolds, we'll be keeping a close eye on the players and matches that will shape the tournament. From the scorching heat to the culinary delights, and from the star-studded guest list to the American challenge, Roland-Garros 2026 promises to be an unforgettable event.
