The paths to glory have been plotted for world’s finest WTA stars at Roland-Garros 2026.
The picturesque surroundings of l’Orangerie, located in the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil, provided the setting for the Roland-Garros 2026 singles draws on Thursday.
We take a look at some of the key headlines as 128 women have their eye on the prize of the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.
A compelling RG 2025 women’s final was claimed by Coco Gauff against world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. There can be no repeat this year because these Grand Slam contenders have both been placed into the top half of the draw.
➡️ Roland-Garros 2026 women's singles draw
Top seed Sabalenka opens her campaign for a first Roland-Garros title with a favourable 2-0 record across the net from Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
The No.1 seed could subsequently face a particularly tricky fourth round clash against four-time major winner Naomi Osaka or soaring teenage sensation Iva Jovic.
Scanning down the roster and No.5 seed Jessica Pegula or Canada’s top-10 sensation Victoria Mboko are possible quarterfinal clashes for Sabalenka.
In order for the 28-year-old to gain revenge over Gauff in the final four, the reigning champion must overcome an all-American blockbuster opening round. Gauff against Taylor Townsend will be an enticing clash.
Should Gauff prevail, the No.4 seed is set to meet in-form Anastasia Potapova or Ekaterina Alexandrova before the quarterfinals stage. Top talents such as compatriot Amanda Anisimova and No.12 seed Linda Noskova represent formidable last-eight challenges too.
There are plenty of names in the top half of the draw capable of tearing up the seedings and conjuring a deep run - keep an eye out for Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and silver medallist Donna Vekic.
Four-time Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek and No.2 seed Elena Rybakina headline the bottom half of the women’s draw.
Former junior world No.1 Emerson Jones will be able to swing freely in her first-round encounter with No.3 seed Swiatek.
Well before any semifinal against Rybakina, Swiatek appears to have a turbulent path in store. Roland-Garros 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko owns a dominant 6-0 head-to-head over the Pole to take into a potential last-32 encounter.
Recent Madrid WTA 1000 champion Marta Kostyuk could await in the fourth round, before a potential rematch of the recent Rome WTA 1000 semifinal where Elina Svitolina dispatched Swiatek 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in an absorbing showdown.
It is shaping up to be a star-laden trip for Swiatek.
Although it feels as if there is no overwhelming favourite in the women's draw at Roland-Garros this year, Australian Open champion Rybakina has the power to blaze into contention once again.
Even so, the fourth quarter of the draw is brimming with Grand Slam quality.
Roland-Garros 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova, RG 2023 finalist Karolina Muchova and RG 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini are all within close proximity of Rybakina ahead of a possible quarterfinal with No.8 seed Mirra Andreeva.
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
