2026 Roland Garros Women’s Draw: Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff projected for semifinal clash

The 2026 Roland Garros women’s draw has been revealed and in addition to the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, the No. 1 ranking is on the line for the players in Paris.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka arrived to the City of Lights last week to begin her campaign for a first major away from hard courts, and while the two-time Australian and US Open champion can’t face rival Elena Rybakina before the final, she nonetheless faces a tough draw on the terre battue. Opening against tricky Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Sabalenka could face one of American Iva Jovic or former No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Osaka pushed Sabalenka to three sets on clay earlier this month at the Mutua Madrid Open, while Jovic will open against Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala.

Projected to face No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka could see a 2025 Roland Garros final rematch against defending champion Coco Gauff in the semis. Last year’s final famously ended in controversy when Sabalenka was initially reluctant to praise Gauff for her three-set victory in the final, but the two later reconciled after the top seed issued public and private apologies.

Gauff is seeded third and will kick off her title defense against fellow American Taylor Townsend the first round. Her projected third-round opponent is an on-fire Anastasia Potapova, who reached the Mutua Madrid Open semifinals as a lucky loser and the fourth round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia as a qualifier.

She could face another American in the quarterfinals as her projected opponent is No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova, but the 2019 semifinalist has been off the court for the entire clay-court season due to injury, playing her last match at the Miami Open in March.

In the bottom half of the draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek may have to score a first-ever victory over 2017 winner Jelena Ostapenko in order to reach the second week. Ostapenko owns a perfect 6-0 record against the former world No. 1, and could face Swiatek as early as the third round.

Swiatek’s projected quarterfinal is against Rome champion Elina Svitolina. Svitolina is on a win streak of her own against Swiatek, having beaten the Pole in their last three encounters—including last week at the Foro Italico.

The bottom courter rounds out with No. 2 seed Rybakina, who could claim the No. 1 ranking from Sabalenka depending on how the results in Paris shake out. The reigning Australian Open champion could have a tough third round of her own against American Hailey Baptiste, while projected fourth round opponent is 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini.

Click here to check out the full women’s draw.