French Open 2026: Alcaraz Withdrawal Reshapes Roland-Garros Draw as Sinner and Djokovic Headline Men’s Side
With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are positioned for a potential early-June final, while Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff lead the women’s bracket at Paris’s Roland-Garros.
The 2026 French Open has commenced in Paris with the official draw released, marking the second grand slam of the tennis season. The tournament’s primary narrative has shifted following the withdrawal of defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has pulled out due to injury. This development leaves Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the leading contenders on the men’s side, with the two positioned on opposite halves of the draw and a potential final meeting scheduled for June 6.
In the women’s singles, world number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Coco Gauff headline the tournament. Unlike the men’s bracket, Sabalenka and Gauff have been drawn into the same half of the women’s draw. Gauff, who recently lost in the final of the Italian Open, opens her campaign against fellow American Taylor Townsend. Other notable competitors in the women’s field include Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula.
Broadcast arrangements for the event have been confirmed across multiple platforms. Matches are televised on TNT, TruTV, and the Tennis Channel. For viewers seeking streaming alternatives, Max offers comprehensive coverage with every match of the tournament available to stream. The Tennis Channel will also broadcast the first match of the day, alongside doubles, juniors, and TC Live programming during the first week of action.
Streaming services are providing access points for audiences without traditional cable subscriptions. DIRECTV and fubo are both offering free trials to new customers, allowing viewers to watch the tournament live. These digital options complement the traditional television broadcasts, ensuring broad accessibility for fans following the grand slam from Roland-Garros.
Play is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time, which corresponds to 5 a.m. ET or 2 a.m. PT. While most courts follow this schedule, Court Philippe Chatrier, the showpiece venue, typically starts an hour later on most days. The tournament’s conclusion is set for early June, with the women’s singles final taking place on June 6 and the men’s singles final staged 24 hours later on June 7.
