Djokovic v Royer LIVE: French Open latest scores and updates
- Novak Djokovic survives mini French Open scare to reach 21st consecutive third round
- Djokovic to play Joao Fonseca in third-round blockbuster after teenager survives five-setter
- Second seed Elena Rybakina crashes out in biggest upset of French Open
- Iga Swiatek marches on in Paris, but nemesis Jelena Ostapenko goes out
- Britain's Fran Jones knocked out as fightback against Marie Bouzkova falls short
Moise Kouame, 17, makes French Open history with victory over grand slam champion
03:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Moise Kouame became the youngest man to win a match at Roland Garros since 1991 as the teenage wildcard defeated former US Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets on his first appearance at a grand slam tournament.
On Thursday, the 17-year-old Frenchman will take to Court Suzanne-Lenglen to take on Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in the second round, following the early retirement of 20th seed Cameron Norrie.
Moise Kouame, 17, makes French Open history with victory over grand slam champion
British men out of French Open before second round as Cameron Norrie retires and Jacob Fearnley exits
02:11 , Jamie Braidwood
British No 1 Cameron Norrie retired from the French Open while trailing Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and struggling with a pre-tournament rib injury.
Jacob Fearnley was then beaten in straight sets by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, meaning none of the male Brits have progressed further than the first round.
British men out of French Open at first round as Norrie retires and Fearnley exits
Alexander Blockx left furious at French Open after freak injury forces withdrawal
01:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx voiced his frustration at the French Open shortly after being forced to withdraw from the tournament having suffered a sprained ankle during a practice session.
Blockx, the in-form world no 37 who achieved a career-best run to the Madrid Open semi-finals last month, said he twisted his right ankle and heard a “snap” after tripping over the rolled-up covers positioned at the back of the court.
The 21-year-old was due to face eighth seed Alex de Minaur but the Australian has now been handed a walkover into the third round after Blockx suffered the injury during a hit with fellow rising star Joao Fonseca.
He was seen hopping on one leg and with his right ankle wrapped in ice as he made his way through the grounds before his withdrawal was confirmed.
In a post on Instagram, Blockx took a swipe at the “really necessary covers” at the back of the court, tagging Roland Garros, before he edited the caption and removed that line.
Blockx’s injury has striking similarities to a 2017 incident involving fellow Belgian David Goffin, the former world No 7, who was forced to retire from a third-round match against Horacio Zeballos at the French Open after suffering an ankle injury when his foot got stuck in the rolled-up covers stationed at the back of the court.
French Open player left furious after freak injury forces withdrawal
Fran Jones exits French Open as second-round fightback falls short
Thursday 28 May 2026 00:09 , Jamie Braidwood
Fran Jones’ fightback proved in vain as she lost in the second round of the French Open to 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.
Jones was hugely emotional after posting her first grand slam main draw win against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the opening round on Sunday.
Like her good friend Emma Raducanu, who played on the same court in her first-round defeat, Jones recovered admirably from losing 10 of the first 11 games only to ultimately go down 6-0 7-6 (3).
The defeat means Katie Boulter, who takes on Anastasia Potapova in the same round on Thursday, is the last British singles player remaining.
Fran Jones exits French Open as second-round fightback falls short
Jannik Sinner scheduled to play in hottest part of day in second round of French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 23:09 , Jamie Braidwood
Jannik Sinner has been scheduled to play his second-round match at the French Open during the day, with the world No 1 set to face the hottest part of the afternoon as he bids to reach the third round and continue his winning streak.
Sinner will play Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the opening match on Court Philippe-Chatrier and at noon local time in Paris, with temperatures set to be at least 30 degrees as he bids to extend his winning streak to 31 matches and close in on the career grand slam with his first French Open title.
The Italian has previously struggled in hot conditions.
Jannik Sinner scheduled to play in hottest part of day in second round of French Open
Jakub Mensik fumes at ‘insane’ playing conditions during scorching French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 22:09 , Jamie Braidwood
“My body just turned off. It’s insane to play in this weather, and especially in front of the sun. To be there for more than four-and-a-half hours, that’s just insane.
“Even with the breaks, you don’t have that much time. You have just one minute, which when you sit it’s already just 30 seconds. There is not that much time to cool yourself down.”
Jakub Mensik fumes at ‘insane’ playing conditions during scorching French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 22:08 , Jamie Braidwood
Jakub Mensik was helped into a wheelchair after collapsing onto the court while suffering from cramps following his brutal victory over Mario Navone in a five-set epic at the French Open.
The 20-year-old Czech and 26th seed fell to his back after beating Navone 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 (13-11) in a fifth-set tiebreak, after four hours and 41 minutes in gruelingly hot conditions in Paris.
After struggling physically earlier in the match and requiring a medical timeout for cramp, Mensik was unable to meet Navone at the net following match point and the Argentinian walked round to shake hands while he was still lying on the clay.
French Open star leaves court in wheelchair after gruelling five-set victory
Novak Djokovic to play Joao Fonseca in third-round blockbuster
Wednesday 27 May 2026 21:23 , Jamie Braidwood
🍿Blockbuster alert! 🍿
After battling from two sets down to beat Dino Prizmic, Joao Fonseca will play Novak Djokovic for the first time in his young career in the third round on Friday.
Fonseca, 19, showed immense grit to come from behind and beat Prizmic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in just the second five-setter of his career, in three hours and 27 minute.
Can’t wait for that.
Yuliia Starodubtseva stars in special day for Ukraine at French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 21:07 , Jamie Braidwood
Yuliia Starodubtseva equals the best result of her career by reaching the third round of the French Open for a second consecutive year.
She is the third player from Ukraine into the third round of the women’s singles draw at Roland Garros, following seventh seed and Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina and 15th seed and Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk.
“It’s hard to describe, I'm super happy,” Starodubtseva, 26, said in her on-court interview. “Elena is one of the top players. She has had an incredible year and I'm super proud of myself that I was able to do this today. It was a hard third set, but got it done.
“She's again one of the top players, and you, you can't be thinking that it's going to be easy today. Even at 3-0 [in the third set], I had a feeling it might not be that easy. Tough match, but happy to be the winner today.”
Second seed Elena Rybakina crashes out in biggest upset of French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 20:06 , Jamie Braidwood
Elena Rybakina crashed out of the French Open as the second seed fell to a three-set defeat to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
Rybakina, the Australian Open champion, looked on course for the third round when she won the opening set but Starodubtseva turned the match around in what became a lengthy battle in gruelingly hot conditions.
The world No 55 built on a one-sided second set to earn a double-break in the third, but Rybakina responded to force the deciding match tiebreak.
Starodubtseva, however, immediately took charge of the tiebreak to convincingly close out a 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-4) victory, claiming the biggest win of her career and first top-10 victory.
Second seed Elena Rybakina crashes out in biggest upset of French Open
Who's next for Novak Djokovic at this year's French Open?
Wednesday 27 May 2026 19:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic will play either Joao Fonseca, the 28th seed, or Dino Prizmic in the third round. Either way, he knows he will face a dangerous opponent - and one of the sport’s rising stars.
Prizmic won the first two sets but Fonesca has rallied to win the third. If Prizmic wins, it will be an immediate rematch of their second-round meeting in Rome, which was won by Prizmic in Djokovic’s first match of the clay-court season.
Djokovic speaks to the crowd in French: 'That was a big challenge for me'
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:50 , Jamie Braidwood
“Very happy and relieved to have got through, to have finished. Clearly the emotions are different when you win the match. Really, really important win for me. Difficult conditions for both of us, for both players. Really, really hot on the court. Valentin deserves a big round of applause for what he put out on the court.
"It's a really, really hard, a big challenge for me. Credit to him.
“He found his best game in that third set when I was serving for the match, a couple of times. I thought I might win it, but in the end these are the kinds of games that provide the challenges.
“I hope I don’t play against any other French player until the end of the tournament. That's enough for me! Goodness me, I played two matches and I feel like I've played for two weeks!”
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic battles on at French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:39 , Jamie Braidwood
That was an extraordinary final point, an extraordinary couple of hours really. Djokovic shows Royer a lot of respect at the net as they come together and shake hands. He knows the Frenchman has pushed him to three hours and 44 minutes. We all know that almost four hours on court, in these conditions, is far from ideal.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-3 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:36 , Jamie Braidwood
GAME, SET AND MATCH! A 21st consecutive third round at the French Open for Novak Djokovic, who was pushed into an extra set and extra hour by a spirited Valentin Royer but prevails in four sets to keep his bid for a 25th grand slam title alive.
Djokovic will know he could have been off court a while ago, but credit to the Frenchman for digging in and saving match point in the third-set tiebreak. Djokovic has now won 31 matches in a row against French opponents.
From deuce, Djokovic found an ace down the middle. From there, he breaks Royer’s resistance on the fifth match point of the match, with Djokovic almost collapsing after the sheer effort of getting over the line!
Encroyable. Djokovic brings out the violin on match point.
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 5-3 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Royer saves TWO MORE MATCH POINTS in a huge last stand from the Frenchman! He has Chatrier on its feet, begging for more, and gets a look at break point as Djokovic double-faults. Royer goes big on the forehand, and has a look, but he pushes long! What a battle this is!
Djokovic roars after the backhand down the line... a fourth match point, but Royer saves again! This time he does it with touch, controlling a big whack from Djokovic to guide a clever volley over the net. This is good stuff.
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 5-3 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:24 , Jamie Braidwood
Credit to Royer for holding serve, aiming another big forehand down the barrel of Djokovic and coming out on top. Djokovic will serve for the third set.
Jakub Mensik leaves court in wheelchair after gruelling five-set French Open victory
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Jakub Mensik was helped into a wheelchair after collapsing onto the court while suffering from cramps following his brutal victory over Mario Navone in a five-set epic at the French Open.
The 20-year-old Czech and 26th seed fell to his back after beating Navone 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 (13-11) in a fifth-set tiebreak, after four hours and 41 minutes in gruelingly hot conditions in Paris.
After struggling physically earlier in the match and requiring a medical timeout for cramp, Mensik was unable to meet Navone at the net following match point and the Argentinian walked round to shake hands while he was still lying on the clay.
4 hours and 41 minutes 🔥
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 27, 2026
Jakub Menšík survives a brutal five-set battle against Mariano Navone before cramping during the celebration 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/I4yQqVVtJr
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 3-1 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 18:07 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic gets the break! He is guiding Royer all around the court in these baseline rallies, and picks his moment to find the crosscourt forehand.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 2-1 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:57 , Jamie Braidwood
Wow! A stunning forehand winner from Djokovic, on the run, as he finds the narrow gap between umpire’s chair and net post and drills the shot down the line. Royer is stunned.
AROUND THE NET FROM NOVAK 🤯#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/2p9m1hv7lz
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 1-0 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:50 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic was involved in an animated conversation with umpire James Keothavong during the pause between sets, and he appeared irritated by the lights or the shadows on Chatrier. We have reached that awkward point in the day where the shadows lengthen across the court.
Djokovic is taken to deuce on serve, with Royer making life very difficult as he launches into returns, throwing everything at it - and wriggles out of a testing game to get the opening hold of the fourth.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-7 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:37 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re going to a fourth set! Royer saves match point, then forces another chapter!
On 7-7, Royer caught the net tape and the ball landed awkwardly for Djokovic, while there was a cry from the crowd. Djokovic hit out, and then sarcastically applauded the crowd. On set point, Djokovic put his return long, and Chatrier rises to applaud the Frenchman! A great effort, from a break down in the fourth.
I had already thought that Djokovic had this done and dusted.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-6 (6-6) Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Royer saves match point! Point of the match so far, as the Frenchman battles for survival from the baseline. He injected some width with the backhand crosscourt, and Djokovic went for the winner down the line, but goes long!
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-6 (3-3) Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Interesting tiebreak so far.
Djokovic broke Royer’s heart with a deep lob from behind the baseline that somehow managed to find the chalk down the opposite end of the court.
However, Royer is not giving up without a fight and landed a big forehand winner, roaring as it sailed past Djokovic. And a double-fault from Djokovic brings us level at 3-3.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-6 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:18 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re two hours and 26 minutes in but Valentin Royer wants Djokovic to work just a little harder, and for a little longer, as he forces the third-set tiebreak.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 5-5 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Quite the turnaround on Chatrier! From a break up in the third, Djokovic is pegged back by Royer and then has to serve to stay in the set at 5-4. Royer, battling impressively, manages to get to 0-30 and forces Djokovic to dig deep: he finds precision on serve to level, but we have some drama in this match at last!
Second seed Elena Rybakina crashes out in biggest upset of French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 16:59 , Jamie Braidwood
Elena Rybakina crashed out of the French Open as the second seed fell to a three-set defeat to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
Rybakina, the Australian Open champion, looked on course for the third round when she won the opening set but Starodubtseva turned the match around in what became a lengthy battle in gruelingly hot conditions.
The world No 55 built on a one-sided second set to earn a double-break in the third, but Rybakina responded to force the deciding match tiebreak.
Starodubtseva, however, immediately took charge of the tiebreak to convincingly close out a 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-4) victory, claiming the biggest win of her career and first top-10 victory.
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 3-2 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 16:44 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic gets the break in third set by finding a wonderful combination of forehand crosscourt and backhand down the line. That will likely finish off Royer’s fight. The Frenchman had double-faulted to allow Djokovic a look at the break point.
How valuable it would be, also, for Djokovic to wrap this up in three sets.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 16:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic controls a masterful half-volley to put away the forehand winner and move two sets up on Chatrier. With a lot of top players struggling in this heat, the 39-year-old is putting on a show. He’s a set away from a 21st consecutive French Open third round (!).
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-1 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 16:03 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic is cruising now on Chatrier and launches into a forehand volley to seal the double-break on Royer. The 39-year-old surely now has one foot in the third round, with his game warming up nicely in the heat. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina is now a double break down to Yuliia Starodubtseva in the third set of Lenglen. That would be the biggest shock of the tournament so far.
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 6-3 1-0 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:44 , Jamie Braidwood
And that’s just the start to the second set Djokovic would have wanted when in this clinical mood. He breaks Royer, with the Frenchman now allowing some errors to grow into his game.
Elsewhere at Roland Garros we have some interesting deciding sets coming up. Australian Open champion and second seed Elena Rybakina has been forced into a third by Yuliia Starodubtseva, while Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk has battled back to force a decider against Katie Volynets.
And Jakub Mensik, one of only two players to beat Jannik Sinner this year (Djokovic is the ohter), has been taken to a fifth set by Mario Navone, with the Czech also appearing to struggling with the feet out on Court 6.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 6-3 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Royer is going after the ball BIG when he gets a look and Djokovic applauds a belting return winner from the Frenchman that dropped into the corner. Djokovic can reflect on a controlled opening set, though, with the 39-year-old taking the opener 6-3 in 40 minutes.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 5-2 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:21 , Jamie Braidwood
BREAK! Djokovic will be feeling a lot better about things now. A loose game from Royer, after what had been a promising start, is ruthlessly capitalised on by Djokovic and he holds to love to take control of the opener. He wraps his shoulder and neck in an ice towel during the sit-down.
French Open: Fran Jones out as comeback against Marie Bouzkova falls short
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:20 , Jamie Braidwood
A double-fault down match point is a heartbreaking way for Fran Jones to exit the French Open. The Briton produced a courageous fightback after being 6-0 4-1 down to the 27th seed Marie Bouzkova, and twice served to force a decider at 5-4 and 6-5.
But the Czech showed her class to save and then take charge of the tiebreak, producing two sumptuous winners when the pressure was highest and get to two match points. Jones struggled on serve, and the double-fault was followed by the handshake.
But she will look back at this week with pride after earning a first grand slam win in what was been a tough year.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 3-2 Valentin Royer*
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:14 , Jamie Braidwood
A group of schoolchildren are having a day out on Philippe-Chatrier and the British umpire James Keothavong has his work cut out trying to get some to stay quieten down while the players are serving.
There’s more than a flicker of annoyance on Djokovic’s face as he nets on a forehand to look at 15-30, but he produces a belting forehand down the line on his way to getting his hold. A roar from Djokovic as he moves 3-2 ahead. This is a battle!
French Open: Former champion Jelena Ostapenko out
Wednesday 27 May 2026 15:03 , Jamie Braidwood
There will be no rematch between Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko, who holds a 6--0 winning record against the four-time French Open champion. That, in all honesty, was the third-round match we all wanted, but Magda Linette has thrown a spanner in the works and come through a two-hour battle 6-2 2-6 6-2.
So we will not get Swiatek-Ostapenko in Paris. We will, though, get an all-Poland clash between Swiatek and Linette.
French Open: *Novak Djokovic 1-1 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:58 , Jamie Braidwood
There’s plenty of pop on the ball in the afternoon heat on Philippe-Chatrier. Royer is pushed into a wide forehand and holds as Djokovic’s lob sails long. But the 39-year-old’s forehand is looking sharp and powerful. Now, though, he has to serve into the sun.
French Open: Novak Djokovic 0-0 Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:48 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic walks out in the sunshine on Court Philippe-Chatrier to rapturous applause. The bad omen for Valentin Royer is that Djokovic is bidding to reach the third round for a 21st consecutive year, and has a 30-match winning streak against French opponents. Royer, the No 74, is playing in the match of his life and is playing in the second round for just the second time.
How big a role will the heat play, however. Djokovic is wearing a white cap and it looks baking in Paris.
French Open: Fran Jones battling back in second round
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Such spirit from Fran Jones. A set and a break down, to an inspired opponent in Marie Bouzkova, the Brit has battled back to get the second set back on serve at 3-4.
Up next: Novak Djokovic v Valentin Royer
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:36 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic will tackle the intense afternoon heat of the French Open on Wednesday as the 24-time grand slam champion battles Valentin Royer in his second-round match.
Djokovic, 39, has been handed the third match of the day on Court Philippe-Chatrier so may face the hottest part of the day as temperatures at the tournament continue to soar.
The third seed may have preferred the night session, which he featured in on Sunday in his win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but that slot has been allocated to Alexander Zverev for his match with Tomas Machac.
Djokovic recovered from losing the opening set against the big-serving Mpetshi Perricard and will face another Frenchman in Royer, the 24-year-old who is ranked 74th in the world.
French Open: Elina Svitolina through to third round
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Huge cheers as adopted Frenchwoman Elina Svitolina surges through to round three with a 6-0 6-4 victory over Spain’s Kaitlin Quevedo. A much more routine victory for the Ukrainian following her dramatic first-round battle against Anna Bondar. She will play Tamara Korpatsch next.
And that means Novak Djokovic will be on court shortly against Valentin Royer.
French Open: A tough start for Fran Jones
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Marie Bouzkova has showed her class and is in complete control of her second-round match against Fran Jones on Court 13. The Czech has won the first set 6-0, with Jones struggling on serve and the 27th seed taking charge in the rallies. Jones won from a set down against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round, and will need another comeback if she is to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time. But it’s been a tough opening 30 minutes for her.
French Open: Jannik Sinner to play in tomorrow's day session
Wednesday 27 May 2026 14:08 , Jamie Braidwood
Jannik Sinner has been scheduled to play in the opening match of the day on Court Philippe-Chatrier tomorrow. The world No 1 will play Juan Manuel Cerundolo at noon local time, so will face the hottest part of the day as he bids to extend his winning streak to 31 matches and close in on the career grand slam with his first French Open triumph.
Sinner has often struggled in hot conditions and the Italian played his first-round match in the night session on Tuesday, when temperates are cooler. But the night session match on Thursday will be between Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.
French Open: Fran Jones in second-round action
Wednesday 27 May 2026 13:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Britain’s Fran Jones is back on court as she bids to back up her groundbreaking win against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round, which was her first at a grand slam main draw in seven attempts. The 25-year-old is now up against 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.
‘A monumental moment’: Fran Jones defies the odds with groundbreaking French Open win
French Open: Elina Svitolina flies to 6-0 set
Wednesday 27 May 2026 13:40 , Jamie Braidwood
Elina Svitolina, the Rome champion, had a huge first-round battle against Anna Bondar but is sailing through her second-round match against Spain’s Kaitlin Quevedo.
The Ukrainian, who is supported as if she is French in Paris because she is married to Gael Monfils, races through the opening set 6-0.
Novak Djokovic playing in the day 'adds some intrigue'
Wednesday 27 May 2026 13:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Speaking on TNT Sports, former French Open champion Jim Courier says it is “fair” that Novak Djokovic will have to play in the day and expects Jannik Sinner to also have at least one match scheduled in the afternoon.
“It definitely does add an extra layer of intrigue, and I would be surprised if Jannik Sinner isn't slated in the day tomorrow as well,” he said.
”I expect for Novak and Jannik to both go night, day, night in their first three matches, should they keep winning.
“And I think that's sensible. I think you have for a sense of fairness when it's so extreme, I think everyone should have to deal with the elements at least once, so, but it's a real thing.
“Novak does not like playing in the heat. We know Jannik has struggled in the heat too.”
Cameron Norrie issues Wimbledon update after injury forces him out of French Open
Wednesday 27 May 2026 13:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Cameron Norrie is set to undergo a scan in London for a rib injury that led to his withdrawal from the French Open, though he remains optimistic about his Wimbledon prospects.
“It’s a tough feeling right now,” he said. “I thought I would be ready but it was obviously too soon.
“I think I was just a little bit mentally tired, not having the ability mentally to put the pain away, the pain aside, and just play point for point.
“I know I’m playing so well, so that was even more frustrating, and even at 20 per cent today I was able to compete with the guy.
“I thought I was feeling better this morning when I woke up and when the match started it was just a lot of distraction on every shot. So it was tough.”
French Open - upset alert! 14th seed Davidovich Fokina out
Wednesday 27 May 2026 13:10 , Jamie Braidwood
There’s been another upset on the men’s side with 21st seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina knocked out by Argentina’s big-serving Thiago Agustín Tirante, 4-6 7-6 6-1 6-3.
Tirante, the world No 60, is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time and loves the clay.
French Open: Swiatek marches on in Paris, is Ostapenko up next?
Wednesday 27 May 2026 12:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Victory for Iga Swiatek in round two! The four-time French Open champion wins 6-2 6-3 against left-hander Sara Bejlek, in around 90 minutes, with the 20-year-old Czech putting up a decent fight in a match that was more competitive than the scoreline suggests.
Swiatek is now 26-2 in second-round matches at a grand slam, and has not lost at this stage since the 2019 US Open. She improves her record to 42-3 at Roland Garros, as she aims for a fifth title.
However, a big battle could be coming up next: Swiatek may play former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who has won all six matches she has played against Swiatek. Ostapenko plays Magda Linette in round two.
French Open player left furious after freak injury forces withdrawal
Wednesday 27 May 2026 12:44 , Jamie Braidwood
Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx voiced his frustration at the French Open shortly after being forced to withdraw from the tournament having suffered a sprained ankle during a practice session.
Blockx, the in-form world no 37 who achieved a career-best run to the Madrid Open semi-finals last month, said he twisted his right ankle and heard a “snap” after tripping over the rolled-up covers positioned at the back of the court.
In a post on Instagram, Blockx took a swipe at the “really necessary covers” at the back of the court, tagging Roland Garros, before he edited the caption and removed that line.
French Open player left furious after freak injury forces withdrawal
French Open: Lucky loser Jesper de Jong into third round
Wednesday 27 May 2026 12:24 , Jamie Braidwood
Dutchman Jesper de Jong was the top seed in men’s qualifying but lost in the final round. However, the withdrawal of Arthur Fils saw the world No 106 enter the main draw as a lucky loser, where he made the most of his chance by beating former champion Stan Wawrinka on Monday.
Now, De Jong has backed up that win by beating Italy’s Federico Cina to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career. What an achievement for the 25-year-old, who is the first man through today.
Moise Kouame, 17, makes French Open history with victory over grand slam champion
Wednesday 27 May 2026 12:17 , Jamie Braidwood
Moise Kouame became the youngest man to win a match at Roland Garros since 1991 as the teenage wildcard defeated former US Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets on his first appearance at a grand slam tournament.
The 17-year-old Frenchman triumphed 7-6 6-1 6-1 against the veteran Cilic, 37, and is also the youngest man to win a grand slam match since a 16-year-old Bernard Tomic advanced to the second round of the 2009 Australian Open.
A night after French favourite Gael Monfils waved goodbye to Roland Garros at the age of 39, the tournament may have witnessed the arrival of a new star in the Paris-born Kouame - who is also coached by France’s Richard Gasquet, a former prodigy who reached a career-high No 7.
Moise Kouame, 17, makes French Open history with victory over grand slam champion
French Open: Iga Swiatek wins first set on Chatrier
Wednesday 27 May 2026 11:58 , Jamie Braidwood
Four-time champion Iga Swiatek is up and running on Philippe-Chatrier and wins the opening set 6-2 against Czech opponent Sara Bejlek, the 20-year-old who has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the WTA this year with her first title coming in Abu Dhabi.
The first winner of the day is 11th seed Belinda Bencic, who routs American opponent Caty McNally 6-4 6-0. Curiously, Bencic equals her career-best result at Roland Garros by reaching the third round.
British men out of French Open before second round
Wednesday 27 May 2026 11:56 , Jamie Braidwood
British No 1 Cameron Norrie retired from the French Open while trailing Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and struggling with a pre-tournament rib injury.
Jacob Fearnley was then beaten in straight sets by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, meaning none of the male Brits have progressed further than the first round.
British men out of French Open at first round as Norrie retires and Fearnley exits
Daniil Medvedev’s latest first-round defeat extends miserable French Open record
Wednesday 27 May 2026 11:35 , Jamie Braidwood
Also yesterday, Daniil Medvedev lost in the first round of the French Open for the seventh time in his career as the former world No 1’s difficult relationship with Roland Garros continued in a five-set defeat to Australian wildcard Adam Walton.
Medvedev, the sixth seed, lost the final four games of a rollercoaster first-round match and capitulated on serve to lose the last game to love, with Walton winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in three hours and 22 minutes.
Medvedev, 30, has now fallen at the opening hurdle in seven of his 10 appearances in Paris since making his debit in 2017, including three of the last four years.
Jessica Pegula upset in biggest shock of French Open so far
Wednesday 27 May 2026 11:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Late last night, fifth seed Jessica Pegula became the biggest casualty of the French Open so far as the American fell to a a 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat to Australian Kimberly Birrell.
Pegula has never made it past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, and has now lost in the first round of the tournament three times. Birrell, the world No 83, secured one of the biggest victories of her career and will now face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in round two.
Hello and welcome
Wednesday 27 May 2026 11:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic returns to action as the second round of the French Open begins amid the continuing heatwave in Paris.
Djokovic being handed the afternoon session certainly raised some eyebrows, with Alexander Zverev given the night session later for his match against Tomas Machac.
Djokovic will likely be on court at around 2pm or 3pm. Until then, we’ll cover the latest scores and news from Roland Garros.
