2026 French Open: With Kim Clijsters’ Guidance, How Far Can Katie Volynets Go?

Katie Volynets has reached the second round of the 2026 French Open with a notable addition to her team: Belgian tennis great and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters. Volynets, whose career-high WTA ranking is No. 56, said the partnership had been planned for months and was finally realized in Paris. The collaboration marks a surprising return to coaching for Clijsters, who has rarely worked outside Belgian tennis and has previously been associated with players such as Elise Mertens and Yanina Wickmayer.

Volynets said she is excited to have Clijsters involved as she continues her Roland Garros run. The timing of the partnership adds intrigue to her campaign, especially because the effects of working with a former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion could become evident quickly in Paris.

Her next test is a difficult one against Marta Kostyuk in the second round on Wednesday. Kostyuk, the recent Mutua Madrid Open champion, enters the match in strong form and is enjoying the best season of her career in 2026. Still, Volynets has already shown she can beat top opponents, including Kostyuk in their previous meeting at the 2024 China Open on hard courts. That result, however, may not be a reliable guide on clay, where Kostyuk’s current form and surface comfort could make her a tougher opponent.

Volynets’ recent résumé includes other notable wins, such as a victory over Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells in 2024 and a win over Emma Navarro at the WTA 125 Paris Challenger event on May 13. That loss was Navarro’s most recent defeat before her current run of form.

Clijsters’ involvement has drawn attention because it is an unusual move for the Belgian legend, who has typically kept her coaching work close to home and focused on Belgian players. Her return to a coaching role comes after a difficult period in which she dealt with two Achilles injuries last year and a lengthy recovery. Even if the arrangement with Volynets proves temporary, it represents a welcome return to the sidelines for one of the sport’s most respected figures.

Wednesday’s match also stands out for another reason: both Volynets and Kostyuk have female coaches on their teams, making it an uncommon all-women presence in a sport where coaching boxes are still often dominated by men. Whether Clijsters’ influence can help Volynets advance deeper at Roland Garros remains to be seen, but the partnership has already become one of the more interesting storylines of the tournament.