ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
What a day for French fans at Roland-Garros 2026 with three men qualifying for the singles main draw on a scorching Friday in Paris.
The experienced Pierre-Hugues Herbert earned a spot alongside countrymen Kyrian Jacquet and Luka Pavlovic.
Herbert headlines a trio of home heroics
The Frenchman has qualified for his 10th singles main draw campaign
Family affair
Herbert overcame a spirited Leandro Riedi 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 in front of a jubilant crowd, before hugging his Swiss opponent at the net and then sprinting to lift his son out of the stands for another hug.
“It’s amazing to be able to do this after just turning 35," he said. "It’s extra special for French players to play qualifying matches like that on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. It was an incredible atmosphere and I’m so happy to bring them the ‘W’.
“I also had a moment with my son at the end," he added. "He’s five and half and I think he will remember this. It’s so important for me to be able to share this win with my wife, my son, I’m so proud.”
It felt particularly difficult for Herbert to take on Riedi, someone he even coached for a brief stint.
“When I badly injured my knee in 2020, I needed almost a year to come back and we shared a coach," revealed Herbert, who takes on world No.69 Lorenzo Sonego in the first round. "He’s the only player I travelled with when I was injured, I did a week at a tournament for him.
“We’ve shared a great relationship over the years, he has a great heart, so that’s why we shared a moment together at the end of the match. He’s been through a lot with injuries and I know what that feels like.”
Coaching, however, is not a topic for now; the former singles world No.36 is fully-focused on his RG 2026 campaign.
“Roland-Garros is what made me want to be a professional tennis player," he said. "I’ve always wanted to experience what I did today, winning in front of that kind of full crowd,” said Herbert, a doubles champion in Paris in 2018 and 2021.
“They push you to your dreams, it’s these emotions that keep me going. What I just lived is reward for all the tough moments, injuries, going back to train. When you’re 35 you truly know what this means. It’s very special.”
Jacquet returned to the main draw for the second successive year with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Great Britain’s Felix Gill. Meanwhile, fellow Frenchman Pavlovic secured a Grand Slam main draw debut by defeating Darwin Blanch. Pavlovic’s reward is a clash with world No.30 Joao Fonseca.
Elsewhere, No.3 seed Emilio Nava commanded proceedings over Pedro Martinez, while Spanish youngster Pablo Llamas Ruiz motored into the main draw 6-3, 6-1 against Vilius Gaubas.
Austria’s Jurij Rodionov edged past Borna Gojo to advance to a match-up with world No.24 Arthur Rinderknech, and No.21 seed Hugo Dellien came through qualifying with a three-set win against Roberto Carballes Baena.
No.30 seed Roman Safiullin was pushed to the limit in a three-hour tussle with Tom Gentzsch, booking his spot in the main draw spot, where he will have to nullify the threat of 2022-23 finalist Casper Ruud.