French Open 2026: Schedule, Prize Money, Seeds, How to Watch, and Key Storylines

Opening week features qualifying matches and practice sessions before the main tournament begins. The event then runs for two weeks, culminating with the men’s singles final on June 7.

Prize money: a record purse

The 2026 French Open offers a total prize fund of about €61.7 million, representing roughly a 9.5% increase compared with 2025.

Despite the increase, the payout structure has sparked criticism from leading players. Several top stars—including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka—have expressed dissatisfaction with the share of tournament revenue distributed to competitors.

Players argue that their percentage of revenues at Grand Slam events is lower than at many ATP and WTA tournaments, raising broader issues around representation, health support, and pensions.

Top seeds and favorites

Heading into the tournament, the top seeds reflect the current ATP and WTA rankings.

• Men’s No. 1 seed: Jannik Sinner
• Women’s No. 1 seed: Aryna Sabalenka

Both players lead their respective draws as strong title contenders. On the women’s side, defending champion Coco Gauff and former Roland‑Garros champion Iga Świątek are also among the leading threats.

Alcaraz withdraws

One of the biggest changes to the men’s draw came when two‑time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to a wrist injury, leaving the field more open at the top.

Player form: Sinner and Svitolina

Jannik Sinner

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner arrives in Paris as one of the tournament’s central figures. The Italian star is pursuing the only Grand Slam title missing from his résumé, which would complete a career Grand Slam.

His strong clay‑court results earlier in the season—including deep runs at major clay events—have reinforced his status as a favorite heading into Roland‑Garros.

Elina Svitolina

Few players enter with more momentum than Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian won the Italian Open in Rome, defeating top players including Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff during the run.

That victory marked her third career Rome title and one of the biggest achievements of her comeback period since returning to the tour as a mother.

Her season record has been strong as well, with 29 wins and 7 losses in 2026, including an 8–2 record on clay entering Roland‑Garros.

How to watch the 2026 French Open

Roland‑Garros is broadcast globally across more than 170 channels and digital platforms in over 220 territories.

Key viewing options include:

• United States: TNT Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery platforms
• Europe (most territories): Eurosport and TNT Sports, with streaming via Discovery+ and related services

In France, coverage is shared between France Télévisions and Prime Video, which split daytime and night‑session matches.

Major storylines shaping the tournament

Sinner’s pursuit of a first French Open

The biggest competitive storyline is whether Jannik Sinner can finally win Roland‑Garros, the only Grand Slam title he has yet to capture.

Svitolina’s clay‑court resurgence

Svitolina’s Rome title has reshaped expectations in the women’s draw, positioning her as a dangerous contender capable of upsetting top seeds.

Prize‑money tensions

The tournament is also unfolding amid a growing dispute between players and Grand Slam organizers over revenue sharing and player representation.

Some players have even raised the possibility of coordinated action across major tournaments if the issue is not addressed.

The big picture

With a record prize pool, a reshaped men’s field after Alcaraz’s withdrawal, and several players arriving in strong clay‑court form, the 2026 French Open promises one of the most unpredictable Roland‑Garros editions in recent years. Whether Sinner can complete his Grand Slam collection—or whether a new champion emerges—will define the two‑week battle on Paris’s iconic clay courts.