For the first time in recent memory, Roland Garros will crown a first-time champion in both the men's and women's singles draws. The last piece fell into place Sunday when Iga Swiatek lost in the fourth round, ending the reign of the woman known as the Queen of Clay.
According to BBC Sport, Swiatek was beaten by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, a result that came on Swiatek's 25th birthday. The Polish four-time champion had already lost in the semi-finals in 2025 and arrived at this year's tournament in a crisis of confidence.
"I know that I lost because I was tense, and my body couldn't really do the proper things," Swiatek said. "But it's not the first time, as well, so I just need to work on it."
Swiatek had won three consecutive Roland Garros titles between 2022 and 2024, a rare and celebrated run. Her exit leaves the women's draw without a defending or former champion still in contention.
Kostyuk, the 15th seed, arrived in Paris having already won titles in Rouen and Madrid this season. She has won all 16 of her clay-court matches in 2026. The 23-year-old was direct about her own ceiling.
"Things change in tennis, but I'm much more consistent. I'm the most consistent I have ever been in my career," she said.
Kostyuk still faces a steep climb. She described herself as having a long way to go to crack the top five or top 10. Her next test is a quarter-final against seventh seed Elina Svitolina, an all-Ukrainian matchup that guarantees a first-time Grand Slam finalist from that section of the draw.
On the other side of the women's bracket, top seed Aryna Sabalenka stands as the clear favorite. She has never won the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen and is targeting her first French Open title. Naomi Osaka, who has found more consistency on clay this season, is a likely quarter-final opponent. American 19th seed Madison Keys, who won the 2025 Australian Open, could await the winner of that match.
The men's draw presents a similar situation. Top seed Jannik Sinner had been widely predicted to win the title before the tournament began, but with no previous French Open champions remaining in either draw, both trophies will go to first-time Roland Garros winners.
