French Open 2026 Day 1: Djokovic battles back, Raducanu crashes out, Kostyuk plays through missile strike horror

The first day of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros produced a range of outcomes that extended well beyond the scorelines, with personal hardship, physical struggles, and a generational champion’s resilience all playing out across the clay courts of Paris.

Among the most harrowing moments of the day came from Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk, who advanced through her first-round match despite learning that morning that a Russian missile had destroyed a building 100 metres from her parents’ home in Ukraine. “This morning, 100 metres from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building. It was a very difficult morning. I didn’t know how this match is gonna turn out for me. I didn’t know how I would handle it,” Kostyuk said following her victory. “I’m incredibly proud of myself today. I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career.” Russia’s ongoing military campaign against Ukraine has repeatedly intersected with the tennis season, with Kostyuk among the players who have spoken most publicly about the conflict’s personal toll.

Novak Djokovic, who turned 39 last Friday, opened his Roland Garros campaign against French wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Court Philippe-Chatrier and found himself in difficulty early, dropping the opening set 5-7. The 24-time Grand Slam champion recovered to take the match 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, but did not shy away from addressing the atmosphere generated by the home crowd backing Mpetshi Perricard. “Obviously playing a French player, center court at Roland Garros is never so easy. The crowd gets into it and then you feel the pressure even more,” Djokovic said. “But all in all it was a good match to be part of: Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39.” Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is competing at Roland Garros as he continues to pursue further Grand Slam titles deep into his thirties.

Emma Raducanu’s 2026 French Open campaign ended in the first round, where the British No. 1 was beaten by Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-0, 7-6(4). Raducanu, who has faced a series of injury and fitness setbacks in recent seasons since her 2021 US Open title, was visibly emotional after the defeat. She cited a persistent illness as a contributing factor, though the margin of her loss — which included 42 unforced errors — underlined the scale of the challenge she faced. “I’ve been struggling with a cough for the last few weeks. Otherwise, my symptoms have been good. I’ve just been left with a lingering cough,” Raducanu said. The defeat continues a difficult stretch for the 22-year-old, who has struggled to convert her considerable potential into consistent results on the Grand Slam stage.

In another notable first-round exit, American 12th seed Taylor Fritz was eliminated by fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy, losing 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-1. Fritz has endured a turbulent period in recent months, dealing with reported injury concerns alongside a widely covered personal split from influencer Morgan Riddle. Despite the result, Fritz maintained that his performance level was not as poor as the scoreline suggested. “I really don’t think my level was that bad, to be honest. All things considered, I thought actually I played all right,” he said. “Certain things here and there that I could do a bit better. I wasn’t hitting some of the spots on my serve as good as I could have. I could have returned a lot better as well, but a bit frustrating because a lot of times I’m not returning well, it’s more like I’m having trouble just getting my racquet in a good place to make contact.” The loss represents a significant blow for Fritz, who reached the US Open final in 2024 but has since found consistent form difficult to maintain.

The opening day of the 2026 French Open runs from 26 May, with the tournament scheduled to conclude in mid-June. Several of the day’s storylines — Djokovic’s pursuit of more Grand Slam titles, Raducanu’s search for form, and Kostyuk’s resilience amid ongoing conflict — are expected to remain prominent talking points throughout the fortnight.