Experts pick out French Open highlights with huge shocks and crazy storylines in wild two weeks at Roland-Garros
Updated 08/06/2026 at 10:20 GMT+1
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The 2026 French Open was one of the most surprise-filled Grand Slams in recent memory.
'I feel very grateful' - Chwalinska on 'amazing' Roland-Garros and potential Wimbledon 'wildcard'
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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner looked the heavy favourite for the men’s title but crashed out in the second round after feeling "dizzy" due to a heatwave in Paris.
Novak Djokovic saw his hopes of a record 25th major ended a day later by Joao Fonseca, and by the quarter-finals just three top-20 seeds were left standing.
Defending women’s champion Coco Gauff was upset in the third round, and Aryna Sabalenka lost 10 games in a row in a shock defeat to Diana Shnaider.
There was also the fairytale run of qualifier Maja Chwalinska to the final, and of Moise Kouame, 17, making his Grand Slam breakthrough, plus a number of gruelling five-set matches in hot conditions.
What were the best moments from the tournament? We asked our TNT Sports experts to pick their highlights.
Mats Wilander - Fonseca v Djokovic
”To me, the highlight was Joao Fonseca v Novak Djokovic in the third round.
”There was a lot of anticipation beforehand and I didn’t realise how good Fonseca was going to play, and the way the match ended with the three aces, it’s the highlight of the tournament.
”I wanted to see Novak go further but in terms of a tennis match that was the best for me.”
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Watch top five shots from Fonseca v Djokovic five-set thriller
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Christopher Eubanks - Kouame and Fonseca
”Moise Kouame, what he was able to do at 17-years-old.
”He beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the first round and the way he was then able to own the moment.
”He could be playing juniors here but instead he really rose to the occasion and it was a super fun and emotional scene watching him win on Lenglen [in five sets in the second round].
”That was one of the very few times when I felt emotional watching someone I had never spoken to. I felt myself bubbling up a bit and I had never felt that before except for with close friends.
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'One of the best shots I've ever seen!' - Kouame sends Paris crowd wild with 'incredible' winner
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”I also want to highlight Fonseca. It was a bit of a coming-out-party for him, coming back from two sets down to beat Dino Prizmic in five and the emotional scenes afterwards.
”Then he has to face Djokovic and is down two sets to love, to come back and win that is so impressive, especially after the previous match against a peer, someone who people were saying 'now we’re going to see how Fonseca deals with the pressure of playing someone his age.'
”He fights back to win that match, then fights back to beat Djokovic, then comes out against Casper Ruud and beats him in four.
”I think a lot of people have expected more from Fonseca because they have heard so much about him, but I think he rose to the occasion and I look forward to seeing more of him this summer.”
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Fonseca with 'unbelievable' volley - 'How in the world did he hit that?'
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Jim Courier - Physicality in the heat
”I’m going to remember a lot about the first week and how incredible the physicality was.
”So many of the matches were played over several sets and into five hours at times, one going almost six hours, in these incredibly hot conditions.
”Most players survived it, but famously, Jannik Sinner went out after two hours. His body was finished in that heat. But these athletes are so incredibly focused and disciplined and so impressive.
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Watch huge shock as Sinner loses to Cerundolo - 'We'll remember this for a long time'
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Anne Keothavong - Kouame and Sabalenka v Osaka
”There have been so many storylines. Kouame’s breakout, what a story, and then Sinner going out in the way he did. He was the overwhelming favourite who everyone had to win, then two sets to love and 5-1 up, seeing him suffering as much as he was out there was a real surprise.
”It shows that anything is possible in tennis. No matter how someone might be coming into a tournament and how strong they might be feeling, just expect the unexpected.
”There was also the night match between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka. The tennis was outstanding and the way Sabalenka was able to rise to the challenge and how tactically smart she was.
”I thought both women played a classic. It’s been three years since the last women’s match at night and I hope next year we will see more.”
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Highlights: Sabalenka too good for Osaka in battle of Grand Slam champions
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Alex Corretja - Mensik's run
”For me, the Jakub Mensik v Mariano Navone match was unreal. Mensik finished so tired, he went off the court in a wheelchair, and I thought there was no way he could come back in the next round.
”Then he beat Alex De Minaur, Andrey Rublev, Fonseca, and reached a semi-final for the first time.
”It was a huge effort and he showed that he is going to be one to look at, and he can play on any surface. He is going to be one of the names we remember from this Roland-Garros.”
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'What an athlete!' - Watch as Mensik wows Agassi with sensational backhand winner down line
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Henri Leconte - Cobolli's artistry
”I will go for Flavio Cobolli because he is an artist and a new name. The way he played has been magnificent, and you look at Italian tennis, they are everywhere.
”It was the Swedish during my generation, then the Spanish, and now Italian tennis.”
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Watch as Cobolli stuns crowd with 'beautiful' drop shot to send fans wild
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Tim Henman - An unpredictable Slam
”The unpredictability. When you look at the women’s draw, you had Sabalenka melting down and losing 10 games in a row, Elena Rybakina going out in the second round, defending champion Gauff losing.
”The Sinner exit almost set the tone that everybody can be vulnerable on their day. It’s just been such an unpredictable Roland-Garros.”
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