On day two of the 2026 French Open, Elena Rybakina took the first set against Veronika Erjavec 6-2, registering an assertive start as the clay-court major opened into its second day.
Rybakina, the tournament's second seed, set the tone early in her match, claiming a clear first-set margin on a Paris afternoon forecast to reach 33C. Her early dominance was one of several results that underlined a steady opening for higher-ranked players.
Iga Świątek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, moved through in straight sets, beating Australian teenager Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2, while Julia Grabher advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Rebecca Šramková. The day also produced a number of decisive wins in the men's and women's draws: Arthur Rinderknech beat Jurij Rodionov 7-6, 6-2, 6-3; Alex Michelsen defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-4, 6-2; Susan Bandecchi came through a three-set battle with Cristina Bucşa 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; and Daria Kasatkina beat Zeynep Sönmez 6-4, 6-4.
Play was scheduled into the evening with Gaël Monfils lined up to play under the lights on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the nightcap, a match described in build-up as potentially his final professional singles appearance at Roland Garros. The appearance of marquee names under the lights rounded out a day that combined comfortable victories with a handful of tight contests.
The contrast in results offered a clear narrative: some favorites moved through with little resistance, while other matches required more grit. Świątek’s 6-1, 6-2 scoreline was a reminder of the dominant form that has produced multiple titles on these courts. By comparison, Rybakina’s 6-2 opening set left her match unresolved in the public record for the moment, creating a small but meaningful gap between a promising start and a completed victory.
Tension on the clay came from those gaps. Rinderknech’s opening-set tiebreak in a straight-sets win, and Bandecchi’s three-set test, showed how quickly momentum can swing in Paris. For Rybakina, the first set measures intent more than outcome; the long days ahead and the 33C heat forecast could matter as much as the early scoreboard.
What happens next is straightforward and decisive: Rybakina must convert the fast start into a full-match win to justify her seeding and preserve energy for tougher rounds. The broader question for the tournament is whether the clearer winners of day two will carry that form into the second round or whether the clay and conditions will produce surprises as the event unfolds.
For now, Rybakina leaves the court with the advantage she wanted — a 6-2 opening statement — and the rest of the draw proceeds around her as other top names, including Świątek and the evening's Monfils match, shape the early storylines of this French Open.
