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Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka lead Roland Garros seedings as Medvedev returns to top 8

A week before the start of the French Open – the second Grand Slam of the season, to be played at Roland Garros – the seedings for the men’s and women’s draws have been defined. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka go to the top of their respective draws and enter as the main favourites for the title.

The weeks prior to Grand Slams always include the added element of players fighting for a seeded spot. In the men’s draw, Alejandro Tabilo, Corentin Moutet and Rafael Jodar were among the names who secured their seeded status in recent weeks – which will give them an advantage in the draw, and the chance to avoid top-30 rivals, at least until a potential third round.

However, being inside the top 32 of the main draw is not the only important factor. The top 8 seeds are guaranteed not to face each other until the quarter-finals – and the last player to secure that position was Daniil Medvedev, Rome semi-finalist, who climbed to No. 7. The Russian returns to being among the top 8 seeds in a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2025 Australian Open.

On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina achieved an important boost that places her inside the top-8 seeds in the main draw – notably affecting teenager Victoria Mboko – something that could end up reshaping the draw once the bracket is made.

Medvedev back in top 8 seeds

The top seeds will be Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev – each leading one half of the draw and only able to meet in a potential final. The absence of Carlos Alcaraz gives an advantage there to the German, who as world No. 3 is guaranteed not to face Sinner until a potential final. The third and fourth seeds are Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime, who on paper could meet the top seeds in the semi-finals.

Completing the top 8 are other big names, although none are true clay-court specialists: Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz join Daniil Medvedev and Australian Alex de Minaur. None of them can meet each other until a potential quarter-final.

Behind them – and potential Round of 16 opponents for the top 8 – are names such as Alexander Bublik, Andrey Rublev, Luciano Darderi and Casper Ruud, recent Rome finalist. The final spot in the top 16 goes to Valentin Vacherot.

Of particular interest is the range from 16 to 32 – potential third-round opponents for the top seeds. Any of them could face players like Sinner, Djokovic or Zverev from the third round onwards. Among them stand out Arthur Fils (17th seed), Learner Tien (18th), Cameron Norrie (20th), Jakub Mensik (26th), Rafael Jodar (27th) and Joao Fonseca (28th).

Roland Garros 2026 – Men’s Seeds (Top 32)

Seed Player Country Rank
1 Jannik Sinner ITA 1
2 Alexander Zverev GER 3
3 Novak Djokovic SRB 4
4 Félix Auger-Aliassime CAN 5
5 Ben Shelton USA 6
6 Taylor Fritz USA 7
7 Daniil Medvedev RUS 8
8 Alex de Minaur AUS 9
9 Alexander Bublik KAZ 10
10 Flavio Cobolli ITA 12
11 Andrey Rublev RUS 13
12 Jiri Lehecka CZE 14
13 Karen Khachanov RUS 15
14 Luciano Darderi ITA 16
15 Casper Ruud NOR 17
16 Valentin Vacherot MON 18
17 Arthur Fils FRA 19
18 Learner Tien USA 20
19 Frances Tiafoe USA 21
20 Cameron Norrie GBR 22
21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ESP 23
22 Arthur Rinderknech FRA 24
23 Tommy Paul USA 25
24 Tomás Martín Etcheverry ARG 26
25 Francisco Cerúndolo ARG 27
26 Jakub Mensik CZE 28
27 Rafael Jódar ESP 29
28 João Fonseca BRA 30
29 Tallon Griekspoor NED 31
30 Corentin Moutet FRA 32
31 Alejandro Tabilo CHI 33
32 Brandon Nakashima USA 34

Mboko impact from Svitolina run reshapes women’s draw

On the women’s side, things remained largely stable at the top, with Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina remaining the main title favourites, each commanding one half of the draw. They are joined by Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff – potential semi-final rivals if everything goes according to seeding.

Between the 5th and 9th seeds stand out Americans Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova, joined by recent Rome champion Elina Svitolina and teenage Russian Mirra Andreeva.

As a result, one of the main players affected by Svitolina’s Rome campaign is Canadian Victoria Mboko, who enters as 9th seed. This means she would have to face one of the top-8 seeds as early as the fourth round, potentially too early for the Canadian, who will still be seen as a player capable of a deep run and someone top contenders will want to avoid.

Below Mboko – and also within the 9th to 16th seed range – are names such as Karolina Muchova, Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini and Naomi Osaka.

From 17th to 32nd seeds – potential top-16 opponents from the third round onwards – there are several players ready to cause upsets. Young Iva Jovic (17th), experienced Sorana Cirstea (21st), former Grand Slam champions Madison Keys (19th) and Jelena Ostapenko (29th), as well as the recent resurgence of Anastasia Potapova (28th), are among the seeded names with upset potential.

Roland Garros 2026 – Women’s Seeds (Top 32)

Seed Player Country Rank
1 Aryna Sabalenka BLR 1
2 Elena Rybakina KAZ 2
3 Coco Gauff USA 3
4 Iga Swiatek POL 4
5 Jessica Pegula USA 5
6 Amanda Anisimova USA 6
7 Elina Svitolina UKR 7
8 Mirra Andreeva RUS 8
9 Victoria Mboko CAN 9
10 Karolina Muchova CZE 10
11 Belinda Bencic SUI 11
12 Linda Noskova CZE 12
13 Jasmine Paolini ITA 13
14 Ekaterina Alexandrova RUS 14
15 Marta Kostyuk UKR 15
16 Naomi Osaka JPN 16
17 Iva Jovic USA 17
18 Liudmila Samsonova RUS 18
19 Madison Keys USA 19
20 Clara Tauson DEN 20
21 Sorana Cirstea ROU 21
22 Anna Kalinskaya RUS 22
23 Elise Mertens BEL 23
24 Leylah Fernandez CAN 24
25 Diana Shnaider RUS 25
26 Hailey Baptiste USA 26
27 Marie Bouzkova CZE 27
28 Anastasia Potapova RUS 28
29 Jelena Ostapenko LAT 29
30 Ann Li USA 30
31 Cristina Bucsa ESP 31
32 Xinyu Wang CHN 32

This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.

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