Amanda Anisimova opened her Roland-Garros 2026 campaign with a commanding straight-sets win over local hopeful Sarah Rakotomanga, advancing 6-3, 6-1 on Monday evening in Paris. The No. 6 seed looked sharp and composed in her return to action after missing WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome because of a wrist injury. On a sweltering Court Suzanne Lenglen, Anisimova quickly found her rhythm and imposed her aggressive baseline game to control the match from start to finish.
The American’s power and court coverage proved decisive as she handled the pressure of playing against a French crowd favorite without allowing the contest to become competitive. Rakotomanga struggled to find answers to Anisimova’s pace and depth, while Anisimova maintained her focus throughout both sets and rarely looked troubled on serve. The result marked an encouraging start for the 2026 French Open for a player whose career has often been shaped by bursts of elite form on the biggest stages.
Anisimova’s return to Paris also carried added significance given her history at Roland-Garros. She previously enjoyed a major breakthrough at the tournament in 2019, when she reached the semifinals and announced herself as one of the sport’s most promising young talents. That backdrop adds context to her latest run, as she once again appears well-suited to the conditions and the clay of Roland-Garros.
With her opening-round victory secured, Anisimova now moves on to face Austria’s Julia Grabher in the next round. The matchup will provide another test of her fitness and form as she continues to build momentum after the injury interruption earlier in the spring. If her performance against Rakotomanga is any indication, Anisimova enters the tournament with confidence and the heavy hitting needed to make a deep run in Paris.
The win also reinforces Anisimova’s status as one of the leading seeds in the women’s draw. Her ability to return from injury and produce an authoritative performance under difficult conditions suggests she is progressing well physically and mentally. For now, her Roland-Garros 2026 campaign is off to a strong and convincing start.
