French Open 2026: A First Week Full of Shocks, Upsets and a Changing of the Guard

 

The opening week of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros has produced one of the most unpredictable Grand Slam tournaments in recent memory. Before the tournament began, most attention centered on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, veteran legend Novak Djokovic, and the leading contenders in a highly competitive women's field. Just seven days into the event, however, the tournament landscape has been completely transformed by a series of stunning upsets on both sides of the draw.

Men's Draw Turned Upside Down

The biggest story of the first week has undoubtedly been the shocking exits of the tournament's biggest stars.

World No. 1 Sinner appeared to be cruising into the third round when he established a commanding two-set lead against Argentine clay-court specialist Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. The Italian was even just one game away from victory before an astonishing collapse under the intense Paris heat. Cerúndolo mounted a remarkable comeback, while Sinner struggled physically and mentally, eventually surrendering one of the most unexpected defeats of the season. The defeat ended his impressive winning streak and immediately blew open the men's draw.

If Sinner's loss shocked the tennis world, the elimination of Djokovic sent it into complete disbelief.

The 39-year-old Serbian legend arrived in Paris chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title. After navigating the early rounds, Djokovic faced 19-year-old Brazilian sensation João Fonseca in a blockbuster third-round encounter. Djokovic led by two sets and appeared in total control, but Fonseca produced fearless attacking tennis to stage a sensational comeback and win in five sets after nearly five hours of battle. The victory instantly became the biggest win of the young Brazilian's career and one of the defining moments of the tournament's opening week.

The chaos did not stop there. Several other seeded players also departed earlier than expected. Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev suffered an early exit, while American contenders Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton were also eliminated. Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas and Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur joined the growing casualty list, leaving the men's draw remarkably open heading into the second week.

Young Stars Seize Their Opportunity

With many established stars gone, a new generation has grabbed the spotlight.

Fonseca has emerged as the face of the tournament's youth movement. The Brazilian teenager has displayed maturity far beyond his years, combining powerful baseline hitting with impressive composure in crucial moments. His victory over Djokovic has transformed him from a promising prospect into a genuine contender.

Czech youngster Jakub Menšík has also impressed, while French teenager Moïse Kouamé has thrilled home supporters with his breakthrough performances. The first week has felt like a symbolic changing of the guard in men's tennis.

Women's Draw Also Hit by Major Upsets

While the men's draw experienced headline-grabbing shocks, the women's tournament has been equally unpredictable.

The most stunning women's result came when second seed and reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was knocked out by Ukrainian world No. 55 Yuliia Starodubtseva. After winning the opening set, Rybakina lost control of the match and eventually fell in a deciding super tiebreak. The defeat removed one of the tournament favourites and significantly altered the balance of the women's draw.

Another major surprise came with the early exit of Italian star Jasmine Paolini. Having established herself as one of the tour's most consistent performers over the past two seasons, Paolini was expected to make a deep run in Paris. Instead, she became another high-profile casualty during a week dominated by unpredictable results.

The defending champion Coco Gauff also saw her campaign end earlier than many expected, further increasing the uncertainty surrounding the women's title race.

Perhaps the most dramatic result on the women's side arrived when Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk defeated four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Świątek. Swiatek's dominance on Paris clay has defined recent editions of the tournament, making her defeat one of the biggest stories of the opening week. Kostyuk's aggressive shot-making and fearless approach ended another championship challenge and reinforced the unpredictable nature of the 2026 tournament.

The Favourites Still Standing

Amid the chaos, a few leading contenders have quietly advanced.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has navigated the difficult conditions effectively and remains one of the strongest candidates for the title. Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has also produced some of her best clay-court tennis in years, while several lower-seeded players have taken advantage of the unexpected openings in the draw.

On the men's side, with Sinner eliminated and pre-tournament favourite Carlos Alcaraz absent through injury, the race for the Coupe des Mousquetaires has become one of the most open in recent Grand Slam history.

A Wide-Open Second Week Awaits

The first week of the 2026 French Open has delivered everything tennis fans could have hoped for—dramatic comebacks, emotional breakthroughs and a succession of giant-killing performances. The exits of Sinner, Djokovic, Rybakina, Paolini, Gauff and Świątek have shattered all pre-tournament predictions and created an atmosphere of opportunity across both draws.

As the tournament enters its decisive second week, new contenders have emerged, established stars have fallen and the battle for the titles appears more unpredictable than ever. Paris has witnessed chaos, excitement and the arrival of a new generation, setting the stage for a memorable conclusion to Roland Garros 2026.