Six of the Top 10 ATP Players Eliminated from Roland Garros by the End of Round Two

2026 French Open Tennis Championships

According to Главком: After the second round of the 2026 Roland Garros men's singles draw, only four players ranked inside the ATP top 10 remain in contention. This dramatically improves the odds of a first-time Grand Slam champion emerging, as such a scenario has not occurred at the French Open in 28 years. The survivors still fighting for the title include Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, and Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Jannik Sinner was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to extreme heat and exhaustion. Meanwhile, defending Munich Open champion Ben Shelton also failed to advance, losing to Belgian player Raphael Collignon. The last time so many top favorites were eliminated so early in Paris was in 1998, when the following players were all knocked out within the first two rounds:

• Pete Sampras
• Petr Korda
• Patrick Rafter
• Greg Rusedski
• Yevgeny Kafelnikov
• Jonas Björkman
• Gustavo Kuerten
• Karol Kučera

That year, the title was ultimately won by Carlos Moyá, who defeated Àlex Corretja in the final.

Shifting Competition and New Opportunities

In the top half of the draw, 16 players are vying for a spot in the final, none of whom have ever won a title more prestigious than an ATP 500 event. Among them are Félix Auger-Aliassime, who has reached two Masters 1000 finals, and Frances Tiafoe, who played in the 2024 Cincinnati final. Matteo Berrettini, another competitor in the upper half, appeared in one clay-court Masters 1000 final-in Madrid in 2021-where he lost to Alexander Zverev.

The bottom half of the bracket features seven players who have won ATP 1000 titles, while Novak Djokovic alone boasts 25 major championships and 40 Masters 1000 trophies. The current state of the tournament after the second round creates unique opportunities for emerging players who could potentially become Roland Garros champions.

The stage this tournament has reached signals possible shifts in the tennis landscape, as the absence of top favorites opens pathways for younger and less established competitors. Such situations can motivate a new generation of tennis players, making the prospect of winning a title feel more attainable.

As events unfold at Roland Garros, fans can eagerly anticipate fresh surprises and potential upheavals in the world of tennis.

The unexpected early exits of top players have intensified discussions about the challenges facing the sport, including financial concerns. As the tournament unfolds, some of the leading tennis stars are considering a potential boycott over prize money issues, which could further impact the landscape of major championships like Roland Garros.