Roland-Garros Draw Reaction! Djokovic avoids Sinner + can Gauff defend her title?
5/21/20261 hr 2 min
Roland Garros draw day has arrived at Tennis Weekly HQ, and Joel, Kim and Chris are here to break down the 2026 French Open singles draws quarter by quarter with predictions, picks and some truly questionable calls for Paris. In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner - to pretty much everyone’s relief in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz - landed in opposite halves, sparking debate over whether anyone can stand in Sinner’s way in his pursuit of a Career Grand Slam and if this year’s Roland Garros represents Djokovic’s best opportunity to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title. The trio also discuss why it could be Casper Ruud’s time again for another Grand Slam final and why it just doesn’t feel right having Felix Auger-Aliassime as the fourth seed at a major.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff headline the same half, while Iga Swiatek faces a nightmare route to another French Open crown including a potential battle with Latvian H2H nemesis Jelena Ostapenko. There’s also discussion on how much we can really expect from Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka’s tricky opener against Laura Siegemund, and Chris reports live from Paris with behind-the-scenes draw reaction including new pastry snacks. Plus, we unveil our Collect a Set player picks - Djokovic, Monfils, Jodar, Svitolina, Gauff and Andreeva - tell us how far you think they’ll go and enter before play begins on Sunday for a chance to win a Tennis Weekly mug!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJoel· Host0:02
Please take your seats quickly, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Tennis Weekly with Joel, Kim, and Chris. On today's French Open draw reaction.
Kim· Host0:10
Djokovic and Sinner are drawn in separate halves.
Joel· Host0:13
Swiatek handed difficult path to the final.
Chris· Host0:15
And Monfils takes on Gaston as Murinco faces Fies in their final Roland Garros.
Joel· Host0:20
[upbeat music] Kim, Chris, today is the 21st of May, and we are here to catch up on the French Open draws at Tennis Weekly HQ. On this episode, we are going to be diving into the men's and women's singles draw quarter by quarter, and we are gonna be making some champion predictions, some bold predictions. We're gonna be looking at everything that has come out today. Collector's set is also back, and we will be unveiling our player picks, which we want you to predict how far they will go in the chance to win a Tennis Weekly mug. So lots and lots to look forward to as we head into Grand Slam daily coverage at Tennis Weekly HQ. And it's rather exciting because Chris, you are in Paris. You are actually at the draw and have been around the grounds today.
Chris· Host1:24
I have. I've been there all day. I mean, I've watched a lot of Sloane Stephens. I'm not sure how much, I mean,