Coco Gauff is targeting the third Grand Slam title of her career at the 2026 French Open.
Seeded fourth to defend her title, the 22-year-old American is the defending champion, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 in the final at Court Philippe-Chatrier last year.
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In doing so, she won her second major, and first since her initial win at the US Open in 2023.
But she does not enter the tournament as the favourite, with four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina all ranked ahead of Gauff.
Coco Gauff at the 2026 French Open
Gauff knows what her path to regaining glory and world number one will be. 4 began her title defense with a 6–4, 6–0 win over fellow American Taylor Townsend on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Next up is Egypt’s Mayer Sherif, who proved too strong for Hungary’s Dalma Galfi in the first round – losing 7-5, 6-4 in just under two hours.
The world number 129 struggled in qualifying, having to go through three rounds before her date with Gulfi.
Gauff and Sheriff had met only once before, at the 2023 Cincinnati Open where Gauff won 6–2, 6–2 on her way to the title – her first at the 1000 level.
The pair will meet in the third match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Thursday.
Her predicted third-round opponents are in-form Anastasia Potapova, fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open, or England’s Katie Boulter.
If Gauff advances to the quarter-final stage, she could still come up against Amanda Anisimova, who has missed the entire clay-court season due to injury, while a rematch against Sabalenka could only take place at the semi-final stage.
How is Coco Gauff playing?
It has been a case of near misses so far this season for Gauff, who has yet to win her first title of the year.
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After losing to Sabalenka in the Miami Open final in March, she reached the Italian Open final, losing to Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 4–6, 7–6 (7–3), 2–6.
While the narrative will feature Gauff entering this year’s French Open with the goal of defending her title, the American star has a completely different approach, and is looking to take the pressure off her shoulders.
“I realize that ‘defense’ doesn’t make any sense in a way,” Gough said. “I don’t really see it as a defense anymore.”
This came after she crashed out in the fourth round of the 2024 US Open after suffering 19 double faults in her first attempt to ‘save’ a Grand Slam.
“At the US Open, I was like, ‘I have to defend, I have to defend.’ What’s it called when you’re playing a tournament that you don’t win?” Gauff said recently in Rome.
“That’s why I say now that it’s just another tournament: ‘I won it last year. I’ll try to do it again this year.’ I won’t be able to hedge every year. “I’m not Rafa.”
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Of course, she is referring to the great Rafael Nadal, whose 14 French Open titles during his career earned him the nickname ‘King of Clay’.
top ten women’s seeds
- Arina Sabalenka
- elena rybakina
- inga swiatek
- coco goff
- jessica pegula
- amanda anisimova
- elina svitolina
- mira andreeva
- Victoria Mboko
- Karolina Muchova
“I can take a lot of positive things and learn a lot from this tournament.” Gauff said after her final loss to Svitolina in Rome on May 16.
“This week I experienced all the ups and downs of the tournament… I fell behind, took the lead, lost the lead, I reached the final, went down by match point.
“I feel like I’ve experienced every scenario that can prepare me for Roland Garros. Hopefully I can really learn from each scenario and get better.”
Where to watch the 2026 French Open
The 2026 French Open will be available to watch on TNT Sports in North America and the United Kingdom, with the network entering its second year of covering the tournament.
This means tennis fans can watch the tournament on multiple channels and digital platforms, including TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights.
TNT’s broadcast booth will feature a number of tennis greats, including John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams, who will also compete in the doubles event with Hailey Baptiste.
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Additionally, Caroline Wozniacki, Patrick McEnroe, Chris Eubanks, Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe, Sam Querrey and Mary Jo Fernandez will be included.
Former world No. 5 and Wimbledon finalist Jeanie Bouchard will also join the network’s coverage as an on-site contributor, while John Isner will be part of both studio and match coverage.
“This talented lineup for Roland Garros will deliver an energetic blend of authenticity, credibility and personality in every moment of this prestigious major,” said Craig Barry, executive vice president and chief content officer of TNT Sports.
“In our second year, we will continue to elevate coverage by delivering a presentation that is as dynamic and distinctive as the event itself.”
Full schedule of 2026 French Open
- Sunday, May 24 to Tuesday, May 26 – Men’s and Women’s Singles First Round
- Wednesday, May 27 to Thursday, May 28 – Men’s and Women’s Singles Second Round
- Friday, May 29 to Saturday, May 30 – Men’s and Women’s Singles Third Round
- Sunday, May 31 to Monday, June 1 – Men’s and Women’s Singles Fourth Round
- Tuesday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 3 – Men’s and Women’s Singles Quarterfinals
- Thursday, June 4 – Women’s Singles Semifinals
- Friday, June 5 – Men’s Singles Semifinals
- Saturday, June 6 – Women’s Singles Final
- Sunday, June 7 – Men’s Singles Final
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