live blog
The most important matches, the latest results, fresh match reports and all the news about the French Open every day in our live blog.
3:28 p.m
Shooting star Jodar with a gala start in Paris
Rafael Jodar – Aleksandar Kovacevic 6:1, 6:0, 6:4
It’s not big news that games in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament can sometimes be one-sided. Here a top 10 player, there a qualifier, three sets, little playing time, handshake, thank you, end. As I said: not uncommon. The fact that such a scenario took place on Court 12 of the facility on Monday is definitely worth reporting. Starring: Spain’s shooting star Rafael Jodar. The 19-year-old is ranked 27th on the seeding list and is, without question, on his way to the top. On Monday he underlined this emphatically.
Especially in sets one and two, he did whatever he wanted with his opponent Aleksandar Kovacevic. It was 6:1 and 6:0 after less than an hour. The American Kovacevic had just reached the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Hamburg. You notice, the world number 67. can play tennis. But Jodar didn’t care at all, he only loosened the reins a little in the third set, and the result remained as one-sided as the game: 6:1, 6:0 and 6:4.
3:23 p.m
Lys in a good mood wins First round match
Eva Lys – Petra Marcinko 6:3, 6:0
How focused and well prepared Eva Lys went into her first round match at the French Open on Monday was also shown by the fact that she was able to reverse one of her very, very few wrong decisions after just ten minutes. The Hamburg native had somewhat underestimated the midday heat in Paris, so the 24-year-old was handed two more sweatbands from the box, which she quickly put on. But Lys didn’t make many other mistakes.
The Hamburger, who has had a mixed season so far, showed a highly concentrated, almost flawless performance. Her opponent, Petra Marcinko, had just won the WTA tournament in Rabat a few days ago and is ahead of Lys in the world rankings. The first set was still relatively even, but the Hamburger was already more alert and, above all, more active on the crucial points.
With strong baseline strokes she won the first set 6:3 and became even stronger in the second round. Marcinko suddenly had nothing to report, Lys was playing high-class tennis. The reward: a 6-0 in set two and a place in the second round. There she meets Sorana Cirstea.
3:23 p.m
First lesson out: Maria can only keep up with one sentence
Tatjana Maria – Elise Mertens 5:7, 0:6
For Tatjana Maria, the French Open is unfortunately over after the first round this year. The now 38-year-old made it really difficult for Elise Mertens, seeded number 23 in Paris, especially in the first set. Maria fought the Belgian with all she had, using her dreaded slice on the forehand and backhand, but still lost the first round 5:7.
Unfortunately there was nothing left for Maria to achieve in the second set. After just 20 minutes the round was over and the first round exit was sealed. For Maria, the doubles competition continues in Paris.
Germany’s Tatjana Maria in action
1:22 p.m
Swiatek goes one round with power tennis
Iga Swiatek – Emerson Jones 6:1, 6:2
The only thing that could stop Iga Swiatek on Whit Monday, in her opening match at the French Open, was a middle finger. But don’t worry, no one was abusive on the Court Philippe Chatrier, the largest court in the complex, no, no. It was Swiatek’s own middle finger. It hurt the Pole and had to be intensively taped between sets one and two, making it perhaps the Pole’s only obstacle.
Because the rest was impressive power tennis from the defending champion. Emerson Jones, Swiatek’s just 17-year-old opponent, had little to counter the game of the 24-year-old, who was number three this year. Swiatek had his foot on the accelerator right from the start and, apart from a tiny phase of weakness in the second set, consistently played offensive attack tennis. The talented Australian Jones showed off her skills in some moments, but it wasn’t enough for more. The consequence: The first set was over after just 28 minutes and after exactly an hour it was already 6:1 and 6:2 for Swiatek.
8:00 a.m
The second day is coming up
Let’s continue – and how! Today three German players are taking part in the tournament and things could probably get a little louder during the night session. That and more in our daily preview.
May 24, 2026 • 11:42 p.m
Djokovic wins and dances in the record match
Novak Djokovic – Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5:7, 7:5, 6:1, 6:4
First the work, then the dance: The “Joker” has mastered his opening hurdle in his record appearance (82nd participation in a Grand Slam) after initial problems – and that two days after his 39th birthday! “The body feels pretty good at the moment, but I still have to get the game under control”said Djokovic after the game.
The favorite initially had a hard time against the strong-serving Mpetshi Perricard, who repeatedly put Djokovic under pressure with his power forehand. It wasn’t until the end of the second round that Djokovic took complete control of the match. By the way, the last time that Djokovic lost a first-round match at a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open in 2006. That is also a record.
May 17, 2026 • 8:48 p.m
Early end for Hanfmann
Yannick Hanfmann – Hamad Medjedovic 3:6, 4:6, 7:6 (7:1), 4:6
Early exit for Yannick Hanfmann: The German number two had to admit defeat to the Serbian Hamad Medjedovic in Paris on Sunday. The 34-year-old found it difficult from the start against his competitor, who was twelve years his junior.
May 24, 2026 • 7:36 p.m
Korpatsch fights his way into round two
Tamara Korpatsch – Sara Sorribes Tormo 6:4, 6:2
The best stories often arise on the first days in Paris away from the big squares. Like Tamara Korpatsch’s. The Hamburg native, who turned 31 a few days ago, is in the second round of the French Open for only the second time in her career. Korpatsch defeated the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo in two sets on court number eight with 6:4 and 6:2.
In temperatures over 30 degrees, both players gave each other nothing, used the “moon ball” principle every now and then in particularly competitive rallies and had a real clay court fight. Korpatsch was the more active player, especially at the end of the first set, and also took risks more often in the decisive points in the second round. This was rewarded with a place in the second round.
May 24, 2026 • 7:25 p.m
Former winner Krejcikova already out after marathon match
Barbora Krejcikova – Hailey Baptiste 7:6, 6:7, 2:6
In 2021 she was able to lift the trophy on the sand of Paris, in 2026 it will be over after round one: Former French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova said goodbye again on the first day of the tournament. And that after a real marathon match against the American Hailey Baptiste. After almost three hours, the Czech score was: 7:6, 6:7 and 2:6.
Sets one and two in particular were extremely competitive and exciting. Krejcikova won the first tie-break 9:7, Baptiste won the second with a strong nerve 8:6. Only in the third round did it become clear and the American was finally able to celebrate.
May 24, 2026 • 4:28 p.m
Zverev with convincing French Open start
Alexander Zverev – Benjamin Bonzi 6:3, 6:4, 6:2
This is how you can start the French Open: Alexander Zverev made a convincing first appearance in Paris on Whit Sunday. The number two seed from Hamburg won his first round match against Benjamin Bonzi in three sets with 6:3, 6:4 and 6:2 in the midday heat on the opening day of the Grand Slam tournament and is now in the second round.
There was hardly ever too much tension in the game. The French helped their compatriot Bonzi as best they could, but the differences in play were too clear. Only in the second round, when Zverev received a quick re-break after a break, did things get briefly interesting. The Hamburg player showed his mental strength there too, got another break straight away and secured the set. At the beginning of the third set at the latest, when Zverev quickly took a 4-0 lead, the fair was over.
The Hamburger, who was able to save some energy in the two-hour game, now faces the Czech Tomas Machac in the second round. It is likely to be a more complicated game, Machac also won his first round game on Sunday in three sets. But if Zverev maintains his current form, it could be a successful tournament for him. “Bonzi is a great player, but I know that I will face even better opponents as the tournament progresses. It is sometimes better to start slower in order to be able to improve as the tournament progresses,” explained the Hamburger after the victory.
