The clay awakens

The red dust of Roland Garros rises again today, carrying a familiar intrigue.

The 2026 French Open begins with the men’s and women’s world No.1s carrying the weight of expectation, a defending champion seeking confirmation of her claycourt supremacy, a veteran champion refusing to fade quietly, and growing unrest between players and organisers simmering in the background.

For Jannik Sinner, this may be the clearest path yet towards a career Grand Slam, having already clinched the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by a wrist injury. A year after losing the final to Alcaraz, the Italian arrives in Paris in dominant form after titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, following earlier triumphs at Indian Wells and Miami, turning what was once considered his least natural surface into a stage of growing authority.

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, enters undercooked by his own standards. His only claycourt appearance this season ended in defeat in Rome, while fitness concerns continue to shadow the record 24-time Grand Slam champion. Yet his five-set demolition of Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals showed the Serb still possesses the game and mentality to trouble the world No.1 on the biggest stages.

Djokovic’s route to fourth French Open title appears unforgiving, though. The 39-year-old begins against the explosive Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard tonight and could later encounter teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, two-time finalist Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev before even contemplating another final, where Sinner would likely await.

If the men’s draw revolves around one overwhelming favourite, the women’s field appears far more open despite the presence of world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka insists she is “100 percent” fit after hip and lower-back issues disrupted her claycourt preparations. Her power remains formidable, though the slower conditions of Roland Garros can blunt the impact of her aggressive style. Last year’s final defeat to Coco Gauff still lingers, even if the Belarusian believes improved emotional control has made her a more complete player.

Defending champion Gauff arrives with renewed momentum after a strong run in Rome, while four-time winner Iga Swiatek remains a threat despite an inconsistent clay swing.

Beyond the tennis, the tournament opens beneath mounting tension between players and the Grand Slams over revenue sharing, scheduling and player representation. Sabalenka framed the dispute as a fight for lower-ranked players, while Djokovic warned that growing fragmentation risks damaging the sport’s future.

As Sinner chases history, Gauff defends her crown, Sabalenka searches for redemption and Djokovic attempts once more to defy time, the clay court remains the sport’s great examiner, demanding patience and rewarding those capable of enduring its slow-burning chaos.

HOT STREAK AND STAKE

Sinner enters the tournament with a 29-match win streak.

Djokovic has ​spent the last two years trying to capture a 25th major crown that would move him past Margaret Court to take ​sole possession of the all-time record.

TRIVIA

The “clay” courts are not true clay, but a mix of limestone, coal residue and gravel topped with crushed red brick dust, which gives them their distinctive red colour. It is the only Grand Slam played on this surface, with around 44,000kg of brick dust used each year.