The third day of the 2026 French Open delivered a mix of local hope, familiar dominance, and surprising upsets at Roland Garros.
French fans, already disappointed by the exits of Gaël Monfils and Arthur Fils and the early loss of wild card Loïs Boisson, finally had something to celebrate when 17-year-old Moïse Kouamé produced a breakthrough victory. Playing on Court Simonne-Mathieu, the teenager beat 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Čilić in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1, becoming the youngest man to win a Grand Slam match in 17 years and the first male player born in 2009 to do so. Kouamé, from Sarcelles in Paris’ northern suburbs, was emotional in front of a lively home crowd. The win was a major boost for the host nation, and he will next face Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay.
Coco Gauff also advanced safely, opening her title defense with a 6-4, 6-0 win over fellow American Taylor Townsend. But her morning was anything but smooth. Gauff said her trip to the stadium was disrupted by a minor car accident when the vehicle carrying her struck a pole barrier that had not fully lowered. She joked about spilling juice in the car and having to finish the journey by taxi and tournament vehicle. Gauff also described other pre-match oddities, including her dress getting stuck and her rackets being stored in a cooler because of the intense Paris heat. She next plays Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif.
Aryna Sabalenka continued her usual Grand Slam pattern: a shaky opening set, then control. The world No. 1 defeated Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 despite an uneven start, in which a 4-0 lead in the first set nearly slipped away. Sabalenka said first rounds are always the hardest because players are adjusting to conditions and nerves, but she felt fully fit despite recent back and hip concerns. She will play French player Elsa Jacquemot in the second round.
Elsewhere, the day produced several notable results. Sixth seed Daniil Medvedev was eliminated by Australia’s Adam Walton in a five-set battle. Fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula lost to Kimberly Birrell after taking the first set. Félix Auger-Aliassime survived a five-set scare against Daniel Altmaier. Rising American teenager Iva Jović also impressed, beating Alexandra Eala in straight sets.
With the second round underway, Roland Garros continues to offer a blend of heat, pressure, and emerging talent, while France waits to see whether Kouamé can keep his dream run alive.
