The red clay of Paris has a way of separating the pretenders from the genuine contenders, and with Roland Garros now just weeks away, the tennis world is already debating who will be lifting the trophies when it’s all over.
The 2026 French Open runs from 18 May to 7 June at Stade Roland Garros. The storylines heading into this year’s tournament are as compelling as any in recent memory, and here is a look at the players with the strongest claims to the title.
Carlos Alcaraz – The Defending Champion
The Spaniard arrives in Paris as the clear man to beat. A quick glance at the NetBet tennis odds confirms he is the heavy favourite, and you can’t really fault that assessment.
Alcaraz is chasing a hat-trick after taking the title in 2024 and 2025. Last year’s brutal clash with Jannik Sinner turned into the longest final in Roland Garros history, clocking in at five hours and 29 minutes. Alcaraz saved three championship points before eventually prevailing. He carries a 28-4 record into this year’s edition, and clay remains arguably his most complete surface. At 22, the prospect of a hat-trick of French Open titles is very much on the table.
Jannik Sinner – Unfinished Business
Few players will arrive at Roland Garros with more motivation than the world number two. The French Open is the only major Sinner hasn’t won, and having pushed Alcaraz to the absolute limit in last year’s final while holding championship points of his own, the Italian will feel the title is there for the taking.
Three of the previous four major finals have featured Sinner and Alcaraz, and another meeting in Paris feels like the most likely outcome based on current form.
Alexander Zverev – The Nearly Man
The German has reached multiple French Open semi-finals and finals without yet claiming the title, but at 28, with a powerful baseline game and improved consistency, he remains a genuine threat on clay. Zverev has the game for the surface.
The question, as ever, is whether he can hold it together across a fortnight when the pressure is at its highest.
Iga Swiatek – Reclaiming Her Throne
On the women’s side, the conversation begins and ends with Swiatek, at least historically. The Polish player has won four of the previous five French Open titles and carries a remarkable 37-3 career record at Roland Garros.
The last 18 months have been more difficult, and she has gone from being miles clear of the field to being part of the chasing pack, but the clay in Paris has a way of bringing the best out of her. At just 24, a fifth title remains very much within reach.
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff – The Challengers
The reigning champion Coco Gauff cannot be overlooked. The American claimed her first French Open title in 2025, defeating Sabalenka in the final, and at 22, her powerful groundstrokes and exceptional court coverage make her well-suited to the clay.
Sabalenka arrives as the world number one and will be hungry to go one better after last year’s final defeat.
Dark Horses Worth Watching
Beyond the frontrunners, Mirra Andreeva is a name generating significant interest. The teenager has already made the Roland Garros semi-finals and quarters in her first two full clay seasons, with an overall 75% win rate on the surface that reflects how well her heavy topspin game suits the conditions.
On the men’s side, Casper Ruud has made two finals and a semi-final at Roland Garros across 2022 to 2024 and may be underestimated after a quieter spell, while French hope Arthur Fils is widely tipped to make a significant leap on home soil this year.
With the draw approaching and the clay season building nicely, Roland Garros 2026 looks set to deliver another memorable fortnight of tennis.
