Swiatek Begins Roland Garros Campaign as Monfils and Wawrinka Face Emotional Farewells

Posted : 25 May 2026

Iga Swiatek will open her bid for a fifth Roland Garros title on Monday, headlining a packed day of action that also features Elena Rybakina, Gael Monfils, and Stan Wawrinka in emotionally charged appearances in Paris.

The four-time French Open champion begins her campaign on Court Philippe Chatrier as she looks to bounce back after her semi-final exit last year ended a dominant three-year reign in Paris.

Swiatek has recently made changes to her coaching team, bringing in Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig, and says she approaches this year’s tournament with a refreshed mindset and improved match rhythm following her run at the Italian Open.

The 24-year-old Pole will face 17-year-old Australian wildcard Emerson Jones in her opening match as she targets a seventh Grand Slam title.

Second seed Elena Rybakina will also begin her campaign on Chatrier, taking on Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec as she aims to build on her Australian Open triumph earlier this year.

Despite inconsistent results on clay in Madrid and Rome, Rybakina arrives in Paris with confidence after winning the Stuttgart Open, although she has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina continues her campaign against Hungary’s Anna Bondar on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The emotional tone of the day will be heightened by the presence of Gael Monfils, who will play his final Roland Garros appearance later this year. The French favourite will face compatriot Hugo Gaston under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier as he looks to extend his farewell run in Paris.

Another emotional storyline will feature 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who is also approaching retirement after a 24-year career. The Swiss veteran will face Jesper de Jong after originally being scheduled to meet France’s Arthur Fils, who withdrew due to injury.

Wawrinka joked ahead of the match that he may bring back his iconic checkered shorts from his title-winning campaign, even suggesting they might need to be retrieved from the Roland Garros museum.

Meanwhile, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar is set to make his Grand Slam debut, adding a new generation presence to a day filled with experience, farewell tours, and championship ambitions.

Swiatek Begins Roland Garros Campaign as Monfils and Wawrinka Face Emotional Farewells

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