Analysis of the men's draw at Roland Garros 2026: Djokovic avoids Sinner, but not other "tough opponents"

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The moment of truth has arrived. Roland Garros 2026 is here, marking one of the most important moments in the tennis calendar. Jannik Sinner comes in as the clear favorite, but he won't be able to relax in the face of opponents like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, or Rafa Jódar. We analyze in-depth how the bracket looks after the draw, predicting potential round-by-round matchups.

All eyes are now on Paris, the city that will become the tennis epicenter for two weeks, hosting Roland Garros 2026. A total of 128 players will compete to achieve glory in the Grand Slam played on clay courts, with Jannik Sinner as the top title contender. It's worth examining closely the path of the main candidates, trying to determine the potential clashes they may face in each round.

This is the men's bracket for Roland Garros 2026 after the draw

1st Quadrant

If the clear favorite before the draw was Sinner, it has only been reinforced now. An easy path expected for the Italian unless Landaluce shows his best form and can challenge him in a potential third round, where Moutet or Kopriva don't seem like threatening opponents for Jannik.

There are no particularly intimidating names even in the round of 16 for the player from San Candido, with Darderi and Rinderknech emerging as players whose playing style and actual level don't seem likely to seriously trouble the world number 1.

Regarding his potential opponent in the quarterfinals, based on ranking it would be Shelton, but the American doesn't quite feel comfortable on slow clay like that in Paris. His positive results on this surface have always come under high-altitude conditions, and the challenge of facing Mérida represents a very demanding start for the young American.

Tsitsipas' name stands out in the third round, even though the Greek is far from his best form, while in the round of 16, there is a wide and talented list of candidates to advance through that section of the draw, with Munar possibly having a good opportunity since both Tiafoe and Bublik are not entirely comfortable at the moment.

What is clear is that Sinner can be pleased as he has avoided the most dangerous opponents possible in each round, having a tournament where he can gradually build up to confirm his dominance.

2nd Quadrant

 Seeing Félix Auger-Aliassime as the fourth seed never ceases to surprise, even more so if the Canadian were to fall in the first week of the tournament. Altmaier, Báez, or Burruchaga are accomplished specialists on clay courts, who could deepen Félix's lack of confidence. If he overcomes the initial hurdles, Nakashima should not be a problem, but in the round of 16, he might have to face truly demanding opponents. 

It will be very interesting to see what Vacherot is capable of in his second home. After his good performance in Monte Carlo, the Monegasque player has struggled on the clay court circuit, but it cannot be denied that his tennis suits the Parisian conditions perfectly. In that section, there are strong rivals like Norrie, Cilic, or Tabilo, capable of defying all predictions and making their way to the round of 16 or even the quarterfinals.

In the penultimate round, Daniil Medvedev would await, if the Russian manages to assert his status as the favorite. He shouldn't have any issues in resolving his initial matches, although facing Cerúndolo in the third round would pose a real challenge. If he overcomes it, Daniil would have another major test in the round of 16, where he could seek revenge for what happened in Madrid against Cobolli, or engage in a new chapter of his intimate rivalry with Tien.

Whoever emerges from this quadrant is likely to be Sinner's opponent in the semifinals, and honestly, very few players inspire any hope not only of defeating the Italian but even of competing on equal terms against him. By experience and intangibles, Medvedev would be the most dangerous for Jannik, which clearly indicates how satisfied the world number 1 can be.

3rd Bracket

Maximum attention to what Novak Djokovic could achieve in this tournament, where he arrives lacking rhythm but overflowing with intangibles and self-confidence in big moments. The Serbian has accustomed us to surrealistically raising his level when he needs it the most, but in Paris, he will have to do it from the early rounds. He shouldn't have trouble countering the rocket serves of Mpetshi-Perricard, nor resolving his second-round match, but in the third game, he might face a showdown that captivates the fans.

Everything indicates that if Novak reaches that stage, he will have to face either Joao Fonseca or Dino Prizmic, who recently defeated him in Rome. Either scenario promises an exciting generational battle, in which the Balkan player will seek to assert his hierarchy and experience.

Winning that match would elevate Djokovic's glory aspirations to a higher level, posing a real threat to all. In the round of 16, potential opponents like Casper Ruud, a former finalist here, or Tommy Paul, would provide a tough challenge to the Serbian.

The fight in this quadrant to secure the other available spot in the quarterfinals will be fierce. Despite De Miñaur being the favorite based on rankings, the likes of Blockx or Mensik could prove to be truly dangerous opponents for the Australian, who hasn't been in his best form in recent tournaments. Even accomplished clay court specialists like Navone, Buse, or Etcheverry have reasons to dream of exploring their limits, just like Rublev.

4th Quadrant

Ambitious and exciting ideas run through the mind of any Spanish tennis fan who analyzes this draw. Rafael Jódar has been fortunate with a more manageable draw than expected, potentially facing Fritz in the third round, who arrives in Paris with few expectations having played only one match on clay this season due to a knee injury. The Madrid player will have to work hard to overcome Kovacevic and avoid surprises against Diallo or Duckworth, to show his best performance in that potential third-round contest.

Next, in the round of 16, names like Lehecka or Davidovich appear, favorites based on ranking, although Atmane, Tirante, or Carreño himself, could become giant killers and cause an earthquake in this section of the draw. Many are already dreaming of seeing Jódar facing Zverev in the quarter-finals, although the German also has a lot of work to do to reach that stage.

The likes of Bonzi, Machac, or Bergs, even if not at their best, are very competitive players who can surprise that hesitant version that the German usually offers in the early rounds of a Grand Slam. The third-round match is less worrisome, where Humbert should not pose a problem, but the Pandora's box would open in the round of 16.

At that stage, the great local hope emerges, Arthur Fils. If he has overcome the physical problems that forced him to retire in Rome and manages to get past the initial obstacle of Wawrinka, the Frenchman could be at a turning point in his career if he secures a spot in the quarter-finals. That match, Zverev vs Fils if it happens, would significantly impact the tournament's outcome.

Full Men's Draw for Roland Garros 2026

Printable version of both singles draws here at Roland Garros. pic.twitter.com/z3B5HTZqbp

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 21, 2026

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Análisis del cuadro masculino de Roland Garros 2026: Djokovic evita a Sinner, pero no a otros "cocos"