The run up to the French Open in 2026 is an absolutely fascinating one as there really is no clear favourite. One the women’s side at least – which as far as this blog is concerned, is the only one that matters! While Aryna Sabalenka is still the world number 1, she had a pretty poor clay court run in by her standards, losing in the quarterfinals in Madrid and the third round in Rome. World number 2 Elena Rybakina did win in Stuttgart – and has the Porsche to prove it! – but didn’t go that deep in Madrid or Rome. Iga Swiatek has the best record by far at the French Open, with FOUR trophies in the last few years, but while she looked more like her old self in Rome, she still lost in the semifinals with a few of the wild hitting losses that have been all too frequent. As with last year, world number 4 Coco Gauff arrives in Paris after losing in the Rome final. It worked out pretty well for her in 2025, but while her amazing fighting skills remain a standout, there are still questions over her forehand and Coco herself looks a little out of sorts.
We then have some new contenders, and two Ukrainians top that list! Elina Svitolina was the Rome champion – her third title there and the first in 8 years, back before she took a pregnancy break. Now 31 years old, I don’t think it is controversial to say, Svitolina is playing the best tennis of her career. This run in Rome was the most impressive since Barbora Krejcikova won Dubai in 2023 beating the World numbers 1,2 and 3 (and Petra Kvitova to boot!) Svitolina beat Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in long three set battles all over the course of four days! There was so much to admire about this title run for Svitolina, but most of all, her attacking tennis. I will be honest, she was on my list of slightly annoying pushers in the past. She had outlasted my beloved Petra several times, at least, when Petra could not hit her off the court. Svitolina was super fit and super consistent.
Many tennis fans have started calling her Svitolina 2.0 as she returned from having a baby with husband Gael Monfils with a far more aggressive mindset. She hits harder, moves into the court, has stopped wearing a visor! One of the most remarkable stats was that Svitolina saved 58 of the 71 break points she saved in this run. Almost the definition of clutch! To beat in-form world number 2 Rybakina, and world number 3 Swiatek on back-to-back nights was amazing, but to outlast and out fight the ultimate WTA competitor Coco Gauff – and for the third time this season – was the cherry on top. Ask 2018 me if I would be cheering for Elina Svitolina and I would have laughed, but her grit and tenacity are admirable. If victory does belong to the most tenacious, could this be Svitolina’s chance to finally get a grand slam title? It would probably be the ultimate fairy tale, with her being high on the list of ‘best player never to have won a slam’ and also, 2026 being her husband Gael Monfils’ final Roland Garros appearance.
Or maybe it will be another Ukrainian?
Marta Kostyuk was almost as brilliant in her run to the Madrid title, and indeed is unbeaten on clay in 2026 as she had won the smaller 250 in Rouen in the lead in. Her list of victims doesn’t quite match Svitolina, but she beat Jess Pegula quite comprehensively for the second time this season. Her victory in the final over Mirra Andreeva was also quite emphatic – indeed she honestly won this title without a massive challenge. Yes, she zoned out in the second set of the semifinal over Potopova, but then romped through the third set 6-1.
What was notable about her form in this tournament was the quality of her return game and her incredible athleticism – see the above back hand spring! Kostyuk got herself into some hot water earlier this year when she made comments about players like Sabalenka and Swiatek being so much bigger and stronger than her. However, I am pretty sure not many of the top 10 could do that move!
So you have to add Svitolina and Kostyuk to the mix of contenders for the Roland Garros title.
Mirra Andreeva might not have won the Madrid final, but she got there at least! Just turned 19, Mirra is already pretty experienced, but this year has sometimes been tough viewing. She often gets emotional, sometimes cries on court, can get extremely irate and spray balls and racquets all over the court. However, she has also established herself in the top 10. For me, I think the memories of last year’s Roland Garros loss to Lois Boisson and the way the crowd gave her such a hard time might have left some scars for this year.
I cannot possibly go a whole blog entry without mentioning the return of Barbora Krejcikova!
Us Babs fans finally saw her on court again in Madrid where she got a win over Elsa Jacquemot before a decent showing in a loss to Aryna Sabalenka. Krejcikova then headed for the 125 in Parma where she made the final! After three long three-set match wins over Friedsam, Golubic and Osorio, a weary looking Krejcikova unfortunately lost in straight sets to Dayana Yastremska (another Ukrainian!) in the final. However great to see Barbora back – and as a former champion at Roland Garros. She has a tough draw as she will play Hailey Baptiste, who came to life in Madrid, beating world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Still, we live in hope!
Also not to be forgotten: Vicky Mboko had not looked that convincing in Madrid and Rome but is still going in the Strasbourg 500. If she finds her feet on clay, she could be a danger. World number 5 Jess Pegula – another of the ‘best player never to have won a slam’ group has not traditionally done that well in Paris but never count her out. Back in to the top 10 is Karolina Muchova. A former finalist here. Could she make a run? Amanda Anisimova is a top 8 seed but has two grand slam final points to defend coming up and a lacklustre 2026 season so far with potential wrist injury woes. Could she throw all of that off here? She made the semifinal as a 17-year-old so will have good memories.
Which is all to say, it is hard to predict who is taking this. For me, its hard to pick between the top 4 seeds, and I would put Svitolina just behind them. I think she will see this as her big chance and with her French husband, she will almost certainly be a big crowd favourite. My head says Swiatek. My heart says Sabalenka or Svitolina. Which probably means Rybakina or Gauff wins!
Best of all, I’m going on the first Thursday so will be wearing my RG cap and bringing home one of those overpriced but nice quality towels! Woo hoo!
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