Five unseeded players have drawn attention ahead of the French Open at Roland Garros. Each enters the tournament with recent strong performances on clay and personal milestones at stake.
Gael Monfils received a wildcard for what could be his final season. The Frenchman reached the semifinals in Paris in 2008 and hopes home support can spark another deep run this year.
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Following the star-studded entry list announced last month, the 2026 BNP Paribas Open draw has been released, highlighting a possible semifinal between top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Defending men's champion Jack Draper faces a tough path including a projected fourth-rounder against Djokovic, while Russian players like Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev contend with travel disruptions from Dubai. Women's top seed Iga Swiatek eyes a third title against a deep field with Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
The French Open has announced its 2026 wildcard entries, handing main-draw spots to veterans Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils. Venus Williams was not selected for the singles draw but may appear in a commentary role. Several other players received updates on their preparations ahead of qualifying, which begins May 18.
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The Roland Garros entry list, published on April 15, excluded several notable players including Stan Wawrinka, Paula Badosa, and Grigor Dimitrov from automatic main draw access. These athletes now depend on wildcards for the French Open. Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, sits four ranking spots short at No. 107.
Sloane Stephens advanced to the third round of French Open qualifying with straight-set wins over Carol Lee and Lisa Pigato. Meanwhile, David Goffin, Bianca Andreescu and Karolina Pliskova all exited the qualifiers on May 20.
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Eighteen-year-old American Darwin Blanch has been handed a major opportunity at Roland Garros. He steps into the qualifying draw after Danish player Elmer Moller withdrew with an abdominal injury. The call-up comes as qualifying rounds got underway on May 18.
Sloane Stephens defeated fellow American Carol Young Suh Lee 6-3, 6-2 on Monday in the first round of French Open qualifying at Roland Garros. The 33-year-old, ranked No. 362, is competing under a protected ranking after recovering from a right-foot stress fracture.
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Frances Tiafoe has become the latest player to withdraw from the Madrid Open, joining a growing list that includes Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. Emma Raducanu also pulled out due to a viral illness, delaying her clay-court return. The tournament begins on April 22 amid significant absences.