Alexander Zverev celebrates with the Coup de Mousquetaire after winning the 2026 French Open men's singles final. Mohammed Badra/EPA
The 2026 French Open
JUNE 23, 2026
The 2026 French Open has been one of the most unpredictable tournaments in tennis history. With the top seeds in both the men's and women’s draw eliminated early, and all former grand slam champions exiting in the later rounds, the French Open was truly anyone’s game. Many fan favorites, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Arthur Fils, and Amanda Anisimova were unable to participate in the tournament due to injuries.
Perhaps the biggest upset in the tournament was Jannik Sinner’s second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. As the top seed and the overwhelming favorite to win, many anticipated an easy win for Sinner against Cerúndolo, who is currently ranked No. 45 in the world. Although Sinner was up 2 sets and was one game away from closing the third, Sinner’s physical condition seemingly gave away, allowing Cerúndolo to subsequently win18 points in a row, and eventually close out the match. Alexander Zverev, the second seed, used Jannik’s elimination as an opportunity to win his first Grand Slam at 29 years old.
The women’s side was equally surprising. The top 5 seeds were eliminated before the semi-finals, opening up the draw for many prospective grand slam winners. This allowed for Polish qualifier, Maja Chwalinska, to claw her way to the finals, despite being ranked No. 114 in the world. Although Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva ultimately closed out the match, Chwalinska’s story is still an inspiration for players of all levels.
