Qualifying kicks off on Monday in Paris. Here are five women to follow from this year's draw
On Monday a star-studded women’s qualifying tournament will commence around the grounds, with two former Grand Slam champions and a recent World No.1 joining the mix. Throw in a pair of former Roland-Garros semifinalists – Martina Trevisan and Tamara Zidansek – as well as a blossoming cadre of rising young talents and the intrigue expands.
Here are five names from this year’s women’s singles qualifying draw to keep an eye on.
The former world No. 1 didn’t play a tour-level match between the 2024 US Open and the 2026 Australian Open due to a left ankle surgery and resulting infection that delayed her comeback, but the 34-year-old Czech has rediscovered form in 2026, winning nine of 12 matches on the red clay over the last two months.
The 2017 Roland-Garros semifinalist, who reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in over two years at Madrid earlier this month, will face Korea’s Ku Yeonwoo in her first match.
Former world No.4 and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will look to get her Grand Slam season on track this week in Paris, opening her week against France’s Daphnee Mpetshi Perricard.
The 25-year-old Canadian, who lost in the second round of qualifying last year, has steadily climbed the rankings in 2026. Andreescu won a professional title in Bradenton, Florida in January, then reached a 125K final in Austin, Texas in March.
A former runner-up who boasts a 35-13 career main draw record on the Parisian clay, American Sloane Stephens lays claim to one of the most impressive clay court CVs of any women on tour, let alone in the qualifying draw.
Known for her fleet feet and rock-solid backhand, the former world No.3 was a set from the title eight years ago in Paris.
Stephens, who fell to Simona Halep in that thrilling 2018 final, has reached the second week in Paris a whopping nine times. After missing several months due to a right foot stress fracture in 2025, 33-year-old Stephens is on the rise again. She has climbed from outside the top 1000 to No.362 in 2026.
The former US Open champion will face fellow American Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round.
Former junior No.1 Alina Korneeva is known to many for defeating top 10 talent Mirra Andreeva in the 2023 Australian Open girls' singles final. Months later she claimed the girls’ title on the Parisian clay, becoming the first player to win junior singles titles at the opening two Grand Slam events of the year since Magdalena Maleeva in 1990.
Eighteen-year-old Korneeva has hinted at turning a corner by winning at the professional level in 2026. She has claimed victory in 21 of her 29 matches across all levels, and will face Japan’s Nao Hibino in her opening match.
A 2021 semifinalist who reached a peak ranking of No. 22, Tamara Zidansek won eight of ten matches on the Parisian clay in 2021 and 2022. Wins have been more difficult to come by since.
Zidansek has played the qualifying draw in each of the last four years, making the main draw in 2023 and 2024, but falling short in 2025.
This year the world No.133, seeded No.22 in the draw, faces Georgia’s Ekaterine Gorgodze in the first round.
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
