The 2026 French Open is underway with the glaring omission of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. The two-time winner pulled out of the Grand Slam after injuring his wrist in April at the Barcelona Open. He also skipped the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

As Alcaraz navigates his recovery, he is reconnecting with life away from tennis. The Spaniard opened up about his hiatus during his recent appearance at the Princess of Girona Foundation’s awards ceremony.

Carlos Alcaraz Believes ‘Something Special’ Awaits After His Injury Break

Alcaraz has entered the second month of his injury layoff, having not competed since he was forced to cut short his Barcelona run in mid-April. Amid his absence, the Spaniard attended the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid to collect his Sportsman of the Year trophy, wearing an arm brace. According to reports, he suffered an inflammation of the tendon sheath but avoided a tear, which would have been a more serious injury.

Alcaraz’s absence at the French Open has left a noticeable void, especially after his historic final against Jannik Sinner in 2025. The 23-year-old himself admitted to feeling left out but shared a positive approach regardless.

“I’m watching the results from home, watching my rivals compete, the tournaments I wish I could be playing in but can’t. But everything happens for a reason,” he said at the Princess of Girona Foundation’s awards ceremony.

“I believe it’s fate and that life has something special for me when I return, something beautiful,” he added.

Carlos Alcaraz has a newfound respect for his loved ones, who have been by his side through good and bad. “Now I realize that what really matters is my family, who have always been there to support me.”

“They never forced me to play tennis but always gave me the choice, and that helped me continue to enjoy it and never feel stressed. They’re the reason I’m the person I’m today,” he added.

MORE: ‘I Tore the Same Thing Twice’ – Rafael Nadal Confirms Carlos Alcaraz Conversation After the Latter’s Wrist Injury

After abruptly halting his clay season, Alcaraz has also decided to skip the grass swing, announcing withdrawals from the Queen’s Club Championships, where he is the reigning champion, and the Wimbledon Championships, where he was the finalist.

The Spaniard is expected to stage his comeback during the North American hardcourt swing, but he has yet to announce a date of return.

Despite being fierce competitors on the WTA Tour, rising stars Eva Lys, Alexandra Eala, Iva Jovic, and Zeynep Sönmez have forged a close personal friendship off the court. After putting their bond on display during preparations for the French Open, Lys opened up about the importance of their friendship.

Eva Lys Explains Why Her Friendship with Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic is ‘Important’

One day before the main draw action got underway at the French Open, Lys, Jovic, and Sönmez crashed Eala’s practice session with a cake to celebrate her 21st birthday. The trio then roused the fans in the stands to sing “Happy Birthday,” making the day even more memorable for the Filipina. Later that day, the celebrations continued in Paris as the group stepped out in stylish outfits.

Lys has since secured a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win over Petra Marčinko in her opening match at Roland Garros. Speaking to the Tennis Channel after her victory, the German opened up about Eala’s birthday celebrations and made it clear that their close bond is completely authentic.

“We actually did. I think that’s definitely not just for social media. We actually had a great a great time and we also are almost in contact every day sending each other memes, just laughing about everything that’s happening on tour,” Lys said.

MORE: Alexandra Eala Receives Birthday Love in Paris With Iva Jovic, Eva Lys’ Special Gesture

The German expressed pride that she, Jovic, Eala, and Sönmez are shattering the stereotype that rivals cannot also be friends, thanks to their “refreshing” dynamic.

“And I feel like it’s very very refreshing not only for us but for everyone else. I know there’s like a big topic around the whole friendships are not possible. And listen, there are so many people that maybe cannot do it and they don’t, which is also great. I feel like everyone should do whatever they feel good with,” she added.

Lys also stressed that their off-court camaraderie has no bearing on the competitiveness of their matches. She added that if exchanging tactics gives her friends an edge against her, then it is her responsibility to elevate her game.

“And if they’re like, hey, if I’m getting too close to someone and I play with them, I’m not going to play my best, then don’t do it. But I feel like for us, it’s not a secret that we’re competitors. It’s not a secret that whenever I go out and play Alex or Iva or Zeynep, I want to win. They want to win,” she said. “And I don’t know if something private I shared on a dinner is making them play better against me, well then I got to step up my game, you know.”

The 24-year-old further highlighted the uplifting impact of such friendships, saying, “I feel like it’s important especially for women to empower each like each other and just having so much amazing support from so many strong women around me and the other way around is the greatest thing ever. I mean, it’s making the sport more fun.”

MORE: ‘Got Rejected’: Iva Jovic Opens Up About Victoria Mboko Friendship After French Open Snub

In an intriguing twist, Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic will have to put their close friendship aside as they are set to lock horns in the first round of the French Open. Meanwhile, Eva Lys will face a tough test against No. 18 seed Sorana Cîrstea in the second round.

While Zeynep Sönmez has crashed out of the singles event with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Daria Kasatkina in her opening match, she will still be in action in the women’s doubles event alongside partner Tatjana Maria.

Marta Kostyuk arrived at the 2026 French Open playing some of the best tennis of her life. The 23-year-old Ukrainian just won her biggest title at the Madrid Open, beating Mirra Andreeva, and looked ready for a deep run in Paris. But just hours before her first match, tennis took a backseat to a life-or-death crisis involving her family in Ukraine. She spoke about it in her presser, and former world No. 1 Chris Evert offered her support.

Marta Kostyuk’s Horrifying Ukraine Confession Earns Chris Evert’s Praise

At 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, just hours before she was scheduled to play, Kostyuk received a chilling photograph on her phone. The image showed a burning high-rise building that a missile had struck. The building was just 100 meters from her parents’ home, where her mother, sister, and an elderly relative were inside.

Despite the shock and fear, Kostyuk had to step onto Court Simonne-Mathieu for her first-round match against her Russian-born Spanish opponent, Oksana Selekhmeteva, which she won 6-2, 6-3 in just 78 minutes.

Kostyuk’s willingness to play despite such distress and still win on a Grand Slam stage caught the attention of the 18-time major champion Chris Evert. “She is unbelievably strong,” Evert wrote on X, reposting Kostyuk’s press conference clip. “Not many could play a match after hearing that…”

“I’m incredibly proud of myself today. I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career. This morning, 100 meters from my parent’s house, the missile destroyed the building. It was a very difficult morning,” Kostyuk shared in her on-court interview.

In the post-match press conference, where she held up the terrifying photo for reporters to see, Kostyuk shared the psychological toll of those hours:

“I have this pic of my parent’s house and everything around it… this is what I received at 8am. I had to deal with it, go out and play. I felt sick just from a thought that if it was 100m closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.”

Following the victory, Kostyuk still adhered to her strict protocol that has defined the sport’s underlying political tension for over two years: not shaking her opponent’s hand. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Ukrainian players have firmly refused to participate in the traditional post-match handshake with Russian and Belarusian athletes.

SEE ALSO:‘If You Don’t Say Sorry’ – Lorenzo Sonego’s Opponent Rages at Chair Umpire in Tense French Open Scenes

As she advances through the Roland Garros draw, Kostyuk will face American Katie Volynets in the second round on Wednesday.

Emma Raducanu’s return to the tour after a two-month hiatus due to a post-viral illness has not gone to plan. After an opening-round exit in Strasbourg, the Brit arrived at the French Open hoping to rediscover her form, but she suffered a crushing loss in the first round. Following her exit, Raducanu grew emotional as she reflected on her performance and persistent health struggles.

Emma Raducanu Opens Up About Mental Resilience After French Open Exit

Raducanu endured a nightmare start to her first-round clash against Solana Sierra, failing to put up a challenge as the Argentine stormed to a 6-0 first set. Although the Brit displayed some fight after trailing 1-4 in the second set and rallied to force a tiebreak, Sierra ultimately secured a 6-0, 7-6(4) victory and ousted the 23-year-old from the clay-court Major.

During her post-match press conference, Raducanu said she was disappointed with the result, despite finding some encouragement in her second-set comeback.

“It was difficult. I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet. So, it’s hard to speak about the match right now. But I have to at least take, the fact that from a set and 4-1 down, I came back and made it competitive in the second set. I’m pretty disappointed. Obviously wanted to do better, but I guess that’s the light I can take from today,” Raducanu said.

When asked about being bageled in the first set, the Brit struggled to explain her performance, while acknowledging the difficulties she faced throughout the match.

“I can’t really explain it right now. I really haven’t processed it fully. I think it was really difficult. I went on the court,” she told reporters. “I felt like the conditions were extremely lively and and I felt like I wasn’t able to trust my shots in that and didn’t feel like I had control over the ball. It was just a really difficult setup for me to step into. I have not had many matches, a bit light on confidence coming into the tournament.”

MORE: ‘I Was Being Pulled Left, Right’: Emma Raducanu Spells Out Her Coaching Disasters After Andrew Richardson Rehiring

The 23-year-old also grew teary-eyed when discussing the mental resilience required to cope with her recurring health and fitness setbacks, saying, “Yeah, it’s very difficult. I think you need a lot of resilience. I think I’m trying my best each day and I think that’s all I can ask of myself.”

Despite battling a lingering cough that was exacerbated by competing on clay, Raducanu shared a reassuring update on her health after the exit.

“I’ve just been struggling a bit with a cough for the last few weeks, but otherwise my symptoms have been pretty good. I’ve been left with a lingering cough. The clay irritates it a little bit. Overall health-wise, I feel good, just a lingering cough,” she said.

MORE: ‘Why Wouldn’t I Want To Talk?’: Elena Rybakina, Emma Raducanu Make Feelings Clear on Media ‘Boycott’ in Paris

Emma Raducanu has disclosed that she will now turn her attention to the upcoming grass swing, which she will begin at the Queen’s Club Championships. The WTA 500 event in London gets underway on June 8 and features a star-studded field headlined by Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, and Victoria Mboko.

As the 2026 French Open has just started amid a contentious player-led media boycott over prize money, Novak Djokovic has a nuanced perspective on the whole dispute. Before he begins his campaign for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title this Sunday against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the Serb clarified that he is not involved in the current protest. However, he used the spotlight to clarify why he is not participating and to warn about the impacts of the lack of unity.

Novak Djokovic Warns Tennis Players’ Protests Could Lead to A Future Like Golf

The locker rooms at Roland Garros are buzzing this week with a strategic media strike. Rather than a total boycott, players are taking a “work-to-rule” approach, limiting pre-tournament press conferences to exactly 15 minutes and bypassing extra interviews with broadcasters.

This 15-minute limit is symbolic. It represents roughly 15% of the French Open’s total tournament revenue allocated to player prize money. While organizers boosted the 2026 prize pot by 9.5% to €61.7 million (around $71.62 million), the tournament’s overall revenue jumped 14% to €395 million last year, but the players’ share was still 14.3%. In response, a unified front of players is demanding that Grand Slams allocate 22% of their total revenues to the prize pool by 2030 to match ATP and WTA 1000 events, alongside increased contributions to pension, healthcare, and maternity funds.

The movement has seen participation and vocal support from the sport’s biggest names.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, both the current world No. 1s, are sticking to the 15-minute directive. Sabalenka noted that “15 minutes is better than zero,” while Sinner called out a lack of “respect” from organizers.

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, the last two French Open champions, and many more, including Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev, are with the protest.

Given his history of vocal advocacy for player rights, many assumed Djokovic was helping orchestrate the boycott. However, when asked directly if he was participating, the 24-time Grand Slam champion set the record straight.

“I haven’t been part of that process,” Djokovic said in the latest presser. “I haven’t been part of the process of the conversation, the planning, or the decision-making, so I can’t comment on that, to be honest.”

He’s not in the protest. Still, Djokovic’s priority remains exactly what it has been for years: ensuring the financial survival of players ranked 50-200, who often struggle with travel and coaching expenses.

“The players on both the men’s and women’s sides that are lower ranked are often forgotten about,” he noted. “We tend to forget how small the number of people who actually make a living from this sport is. I will never stop mentioning that or talking about that because it is the most important field of the tennis professional circuit.”

Djokovic also expressed deep concern over dividing the sport’s stakeholders. The 2026 French Open already has the growing rift between athletes, Grand Slams, and governing bodies. He pointed to golf, referencing the bitter, multi-year divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

MORE: ‘Why Wouldn’t I Want To Talk?’ – Elena Rybakina, Emma Raducanu Make Feelings Clear on Media ‘Boycott’ in Paris

“It’s already complex enough as a sport, how the structure is set and how we are regulated, so further fragmentation is really hurting me personally,” he admitted. “Let’s also learn from golf… Let’s try to be a bit more united and have a unifying voice in finding a better structure and a better future for our sport.”

He hopes that the authorities and players come to a middle ground as soon as possible. Djokovic will now turn his attention back to the court, headlining Sunday night on Court Philippe-Chatrier at 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. ET).

Jessica Pegula has brushed aside suggestions that four-time champion Iga Świątek has lost her aura at the French Open, despite the Pole’s recent struggle with form. The American explained why Świątek still remains a major threat on clay, while also breaking down why her success has waned, drawing a comparison to Jannik Sinner’s dominance.

What Jessica Pegula Said About Iga Świątek’s ‘Aura’ at the French Open

Last year, Świątek arrived at the clay-court Major on the hunt for her fourth consecutive French Open title. Although she failed to win any of her warm-up events on clay, her remarkable track record at Roland Garros still made her a major contender for the title. However, the Pole suffered a loss to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

With Świątek enduring an underwhelming 2026 season and still searching for her first clay title of the year, Pegula was asked about whether the 24-year-old’s “aura” has faded during her pre-tournament press conference. The world No. 5 was quick to dismiss that notion, emphasizing that the Pole’s status as a Grand Slam champion across all three surfaces speaks for itself.

“I think those few years with Iga on clay was definitely tough because she was the best clay court player that we had and she was so dominant on it. I don’t know if she’s lost any aura. She is still an amazing multiple grand slam champion, has won on all surfaces and everything. That’s always gonna be there,” Pegula said.

Pegula emphasized that whenever a player reaches the level of dominance Świątek did, the rest of the field inevitably works to decode their game. She compared the six-time Grand Slam champion’s situation to Jannik Sinner’s current dominance on the ATP Tour.

MORE: ‘He Didn’t Look Great’ — ‘Wild’ Jannik Sinner Prompts Reactions From Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys

“I think when you play a lot, people are training to figure you out and figure how to beat you. I think when you are that good and that much higher, like what is happening with Jannik, is that all these girls started looking at how to beat her,” she added.

The American further said that, despite Świątek no longer appearing untouchable, no player would want to face the four-time champion at the French Open.

“I think the depth got a bit better as well and maybe she just wasn’t as confident a few times here and there, in a few matches and that can always sway. But I mean she’s so young and I think there’s always going to be ebbs and flows in a career. She’s already been a great champion. At the same time, she’s not as dominant as those years but I don’t know if you’d really want to play her here as well, knowing her experience here,” she said.

MORE:Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek: Who Has the Tougher French Open Draw?

Jessica Pegula will then be pleased to find herself in the opposite half of the French Open draw from Iga Świątek, as it ensures they can only meet in the final. The American will kick off her campaign against Kimberly Birrell, while Świątek takes on Emerson Jones in the first round.