{"id":659729,"date":"2026-05-23T03:42:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T03:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/659729\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T03:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T03:42:15","slug":"2026-roland-garros-womens-seed-report-aryna-sabalenka-is-the-favorite-in-an-open-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/659729\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Roland Garros Women\u2019s Seed Report: Aryna Sabalenka Is the Favorite in an Open Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the men\u2019s draw<\/a> is vertical\u2014a single force against the field\u2014the women\u2019s draw is horizontal, a wide-open pasture filled with possibility. You could make a credible case for 20 different players to win. You could make a compelling case against any of those 20 as well. The top seed struggled in Madrid and Rome. The second seed has never been to a Roland Garros semifinal.<\/p>\n

The top 161. Aryna Sabalenka<\/p>\n

Sabalenka was a Roland Garros finalist last year, and it says here she redeems her previous hour on Court Philippe-Chatrier and wins in 2026. We could note her defeats in Madrid and Rome, or the fact that she is a clear-cut No. 1, yet has won only one of the past five majors. However, let\u2019s be more charitable: She has become a bankable player at the end of majors, and as long as that\u2019s the case, she gives herself a chance. And as long as that\u2019s the case, she\u2019s our favorite.<\/p>\n

2. Elena Rybakina<\/p>\n

Rybakina is a better clay-court player than one might think, looking at her results and sheer power. (Trivia: Who was the last player to beat Serena Williams at Roland Garros?) She won the previous major, and her results haven\u2019t cooled much. With a Carlos Alcaraz\u2013Jannik Sinner final no longer a possibility this year, maybe Roland Garros serves us a No.1 vs. No. 2, Aussie encore, on the women\u2019s side? Do note Rybakina has never been beyond the quarterfinals at the French Open.<\/p>\n

3. Iga \u015awi\u0105tek<\/p>\n

Her track record in Paris speaks for itself. In fact, it screams. \u015awi\u0105tek has more titles (four) than defeats (three), but it\u2019s been a rough 2026, marked by early losses, a coaching change, admitted erosion of confidence and food poisoning. She reopened the bakery in Rome, but then lost a desultory match to Elina Svitolina. Still, she\u2019s back at the venue where she\u2019s made a Hall-of-Fame-worthy r\u00e9sum\u00e9. And the last time she engendered this much concern (June 2025), she responded by winning Wimbledon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Coco Gauff<\/p>\n

Gauff enters Paris as the defending champion, emphasis on defending. It\u2019s not her power that makes her effective on clay, it\u2019s her court coverage, speed and defense. Her play in Rome\u2014in which she lost a three-set final\u2014is a metaphor for her game overall. She plays herself out of rough patches, tries to corral her serve, persists, and eventually comes close to top form. So long as she remains comfortable winning ugly\u2014and she is\u2014this might be her best surface.<\/p>\n

5. Jessica Pegula<\/p>\n

There is so much to like and admire about Pegula. She\u2019s solid and reliable, but clay has not been kind to her. (She took a bad loss to Marta Kostyuk in Madrid and mustered only three games against \u015awi\u0105tek in Rome.) Pegula lost to Lo\u00efs Boisson at Roland Garros last year. Her professionalism, self-awareness, and rock-solid game are admirable, but if she\u2019s going to win a major, it\u2019s unlikely to come at the French Open.<\/p>\n

6. Amanda Anisimova<\/p>\n

Clay isn\u2019t Anisimova\u2019s best surface, but she reached her first major semifinal in Paris. The dreaded wrist injury kept her out of Madrid and Rome and is a cause for concern. It\u2019s been a disappointing year for the 24-year-old after winning a dozen matches at the last two majors of 2025, but maybe this is where she turns it around. Note, she has a new coach as well.<\/p>\n

7. Elina Svitolina<\/p>\n

The Rome champion has the most momentum coming into Paris. All credit to a mother, a Ukrainian leader and a 31-year-old player still at the peak of her powers. For all her achievements, she\u2019s never been to a major final (but has had four semifinal runs), and the opportunities are dwindling. Coming off a dazzling run in Rome, is this the time and place?<\/p>\n

8. Mirra Andreeva<\/p>\n

The salon has decided that she is a future major winner, but she still has some steps to get there. In keeping with her age, she has a teenager\u2019s disposition. She has a pair of titles (one on clay) and also some baffling defeats. Her final run in Madrid answered questions and provoked others. Her anticipation serves her especially well on clay, but the lack of a kill shot does not.<\/p>\n

9. Victoria Mboko<\/p>\n

She made her major debut at Roland Garros last year, and the world took notice of her game, poise and command of the sport. She returns to the French Open as a top-10 player (and with a new coach, the estimable, well-traveled Wim Fissette). And she\u2019s still a teenager.<\/p>\n

10. Karol\u00edna Muchov\u00e1<\/p>\n

She came within a set of winning the French Open title in 2023. Muchov\u00e1 is such a fine, fun, versatile player, but she can struggle to stay healthy and close out matches.<\/p>\n

11. Belinda Bencic<\/p>\n

She\u2019s a steady, mature, professional player who won\u2019t blast many off the court, but simply knows how to win to a point.<\/p>\n

12. Linda Noskov\u00e1<\/p>\n

She\u2019s one of eight Czechs in the top 50. Noskov\u00e1 may be the best player you\u2019ve never seen? She\u2019s at a career-high ranking, and she\u2019s only 21.<\/p>\n

13. Jasmine Paolini<\/p>\n

Her slump has grown a tail. The former Roland Garros finalist is, sadly, a .500 hitter this year, losing matches as often as she wins. Maybe this is where she turns around her season?<\/p>\n

14. Ekaterina Alexandrova<\/p>\n

In 2025, she achieved a career-high top 10 ranking, and it came in her 30s. Like fellow Russian Karen Khachanov, all she does is win a lot of matches and seldom takes bad losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

15. Marta Kostyuk<\/p>\n

She won two clay titles (Rouen and Madrid) and seems to have reached a new level. Her post-match backflip went viral,<\/a> but it also offered a glimpse into her level of athleticism. Now that her confidence is buoyant, look out.<\/p>\n

16. Naomi Osaka<\/p>\n

Tennis\u2019s great champion has turned into tennis\u2019s great mystery. Osaka is still a formidable player, but the pilot light flickers on and off. Can she still contest for majors, and, if not, how long does she remain in the arena?<\/p>\n

\"Naomi<\/p>\n

Naomi Osaka will face veteran Laura Siegemund in the opening round at Roland Garros. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea\/Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Seeds 17\u20133217. Iva Jovic<\/p>\n

The talented, mature American teen is set to make her Roland Garros debut.<\/p>\n

18. Sorana C\u00eerstea<\/p>\n

The Romanian veteran is proving to be a tough out in her final season, and she beat the world No.1 in Rome. She enters Roland Garros with a career-high ranking.<\/p>\n

19. Madison Keys<\/p>\n

If sufficiently healthy (and if she can convince herself she can play on clay\u2014an annual challenge), she can still outhit anyone.<\/p>\n

26. Hailey Baptiste<\/p>\n

Her run to the top 25 includes a clay takedown of Sabalenka in Madrid.<\/p>\n

28. Anastasia Potapova<\/p>\n

Now playing for Austria, Potapova is coming off a Madrid semifinal run.<\/p>\n

29. Je\u013cena Ostapenko<\/p>\n

She\u2019s doyenne of huffy indignation. All former champions merit mention.<\/p>\n

30. Ann Li<\/p>\n

The American is quietly climbing the ranks.<\/p>\n

Dark horse pasture<\/p>\n

Barbora Krej\u010d\u00edkov\u00e1: All former champions merit mention. Her health has been a challenge, but if she gets rolling, look out.<\/p>\n

Emma Raducanu: Now 23, she remains tennis\u2019s strangest story. She has one title, and it happens to be a major, which has distorted everything. She returns to Roland Garros with coach Andrew Richardson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kate\u0159ina Siniakov\u00e1: She\u2019s always been a sneaky threat who doesn\u2019t shy away from a battle.<\/p>\n

Alexandra Eala: The crowds she draws are perhaps disproportionate to her achievements, but there is still so much to like.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lo\u00efs Boisson: She\u2019s been injured and will be lucky to win a round or two, but the winsome semifinalist from 2025 deserves a shout out.<\/p>\n

Qinwen Zhang: She\u2019s been slowed by injury, but remember the gold medal she won at the 2024 Olympics? That was at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n

Sofia Kenin: The former finalist has lost more than she\u2019s won since, but she\u2019s still a tough out on clay.<\/p>\n

Caty McNally: The Cincinnati native is healthy (and still only 24) and making her move. (And she\u2019s a former Roland Garros girls\u2019 finalist.)<\/p>\n

First round matches to watchDayana Yastremska vs. Paolini Andreeva vs. Fiona Ferro: Take a moment and read Ferro\u2019s story<\/a>, and then root for her in a match she is not likely to win. Peyton Stearns vs. Kenin: An operatic three-set battle waiting to happen. Krejcikova vs. Baptiste: The former champion vs. an ascendant American. Gauff vs. Taylor Townsend: This should be an interesting debut match for the defending champ. Jovic vs. Eala: The two up-and-comers face off. Leylah Fernandez vs. Alycia ParksDoubles WinnerTaylor Townsend and Kate\u0159ina Siniakov\u00e1\u00a0SemifinalsSvitolina d. Rybakina
Sabalenka d. GauffFinalSabalenka d. SvitolinaMore Tennis from Sports Illustrated\"\"Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a>