The 2026 French Open begins in a little over seven weeks’ time. Between now and then, there are a lot of clay events to take place, which will tell us a lot more about how both the men’s and women’s fields are shaping up heading into the year’s second Grand Slam.
However, some of the best value comes from grabbing onto early outright betting odds at bookmakers. That’s why I’m having a first crack at some early 2026 French Open predictions. That’s right, it’s been the better part of 10 months since we’ve seen many of these players on clay, yet I’m tipping who’s going to win the biggest clay event of the season.
Men’s 2026 French Open predictions
I’ve got five predictions for the men’s French Open in 2026. Some of them are pretty straightforward, others are a little out of left field – read them for yourself and judge.
- Sincaraz final rematch
This could well be the safest of all the predictions I make this year. Still, we haven’t seen a Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz clash across the first three months of the year, but I’m confident we’ll get a rematch of that 2025 epic this time.
The lack of pace in the surface and best-of-five format means it’s harder for others in the field to upset one of Sinner or Alcaraz. Big servers or red-liners like Jakub Mensik (beat Sinner in Doha) or Sebastian Korda (beat Alcaraz in Miami) won’t have the same edge, while Novak Djokovic’s age shows through the most on clay.
There’s really only Alexander Zverev who can trouble either of Sinner and Alcaraz, and I just don’t see him doing so at the slam level with his mental weakness.
- Fils comes of age
One player that I see truly establishing himself this Roland-Garros is Arthur Fils. The Frenchman is clearly talented – anyone that’s seen him hit a ball will attest to that – but he’s yet to have a deep run at a slam or knock out a really big name.
I’m picking he’ll do one of the two in Paris: either make the semis, or beat someone like Djokovic in an earlier round. Either way, I don’t think we’ll leave this year’s French Open looking at Fils the same. Much the same as Jack Draper did last year when he beat Alcaraz and won Indian Wells, I expect Fils will shift from up-and-comer to genuine contender.
- Ruud goes deep
I believe Casper Ruud is being slept on heading into this clay swing. The Norwegian has had some pretty flat form – both this year, and in the 2025 clay swing. However, before that, he’d made two finals and a semi-final at Roland-Garros across 2022-2024. That ability doesn’t go away.
Last year he had some injury niggles, and so far this year, he’s been distracted with the arrival of his first child. That’ll all be cleared up heading into the French Open, and we should once again see the best version of Ruud, who is a top five player on clay. More on Ruud’s racquet.
- Djokovic flops
Whether it’s at the hands of Fils or someone else, I’m tipping this will be the Grand Slam where Djokovic’s impressive semi-final run comes to an end. The Serbian has made five straight dating back to the 2024 US Open, but honestly, it’s got to end at some stage.
I see clay as being his worst surface as he ages, given how tough it is to get into shape for it and how much it mutes his weapons on the serve and forehand. If he doesn’t arrive in Paris in pristine condition, there’s every chance that he falls to a journeyman in one of the early rounds – Damir Dzumhur, anyone? – or at least one of the tier two/three guys a few matches in.
- Rune makes the second week
This one’s a real shot in the dark, but I reckon there’s a chance we see Holger Rune back in time for the French Open. The Dane has said he’s targeting the end of the clay season or start of grass. Should he make it in time for Roland-Garros, there will be absolutely zero expectation on him.
Of course it’s hard to know, but it seems as though his preparation has been going really well. We’ve seen the likes of Draper and Fils return from big injury layoffs and hit the ground running – it’s almost as though the time away from the game is good for players mentally. I’m not tipping Rune to challenge for the title here, but I do think there’s a good chance he strings together a few matches and makes the fourth round or better.
Women’s 2026 French Open predictions
You’ve seen my ATP predictions heading into Roland-Garros, now it’s time for my take on the women’s event in Paris. Here’s how I see the WTA French Open unfolding in 2026:
- Swiatek gets No 5
It pained me to put Iga Swiatek as low down as No 3 on my women’s clay power rankings earlier this week, and that’s because the Pole has spent the past six years posting Rafael Nadal-esque numbers at Roland-Garros.
The last 18 months have been tricky for her, no doubt. Swiatek has gone from being miles ahead of the WTA Tour to now being part of the chasing pack. Her confidence and identity on the court aren’t what they used to be, and she’s making uncharacteristic errors at an alarming rate.
But she’s also young. At just 24 years old, I’m confident she can make the tweaks necessary to get her best game back. Expectation is off her now, but she’s still 26-1 at the French Open over the last four years.
- Gauff flops
One player that does have expectation on her is Coco Gauff. The American comes to Paris as the defending champion, and I don’t see her having a successful title defence.
Last time Gauff attempted to defend a major title, she crashed out in the fourth round of the US Open. This year, there are just so many routes to her exiting the tournament. The WTA Tour is incredibly deep at the moment, and Gauff is far from invincible. There’s every chance she gets tangled in a tough match midway through the tournament and fails to make the final weekend.
- Sabalenka loses first week
Speaking of players who lose early, I’m controversially tipping Aryna Sabalenka to take her first early loss at a Grand Slam in years.
There’s nothing that indicates this will happen on paper – the Belarusian is world No 1, is 23-1 for the year with the Sunshine Double just added to her trophy cabinet, and has made the quarter-finals or better in her last 12 majors.
I just feel it’s time. Her invincibility can’t last forever, and the longer she spends at the top, the more other players study her game and target her as a big scalp. Clay is her worst surface I’d argue, and off the back of a brilliant start to the year, this is the spot I can see her slipping up finally.
- Svitolina has career-best run
One player that I think will continue their slam consistency is Elena Svitolina. The Ukrainian has actually never made it beyond the quarters at the French Open, despite reaching that stage on five occasions, including last year.
Now, I think she’s poised to take things one step further and make the semis. She’s 20-5 on the year so far, with wins over Gauff, Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva. Last year she excelled on clay going deep across all the big events for a 16-3 record.
With Gauff and Sabalenka falling early, expect Svitolina to step into the gap and make it to the final four in Paris for the first time.
- Andreeva makes maiden Grand Slam final
The reason I’m not tipping Svitolina to go even further and make the 2026 French Open final is because I predict it’ll be Andreeva who contests the championship match against Swiatek.
The teen is down at No 9 in my clay power rankings heading into this swing, but has a lot going for her. She’s only played two full seasons on European clay, and already she’s made the Roland-Garros semis and quarters. Overall she’s got a 75% win rate on the surface, which clearly suits her heavy topspin and attritional gamestyle.
Things haven’t been so flash for Mirra in recent months with a few composure issues on court and some rough losses. But again, I’m not worried: she’s still a teenager, and these kinds of blips in form can be turned around at the drop of a hat.
