The 2026 French Open semifinals have delivered an unusually fresh and unpredictable lineup, with no Grand Slam champions remaining in either draw. Injury issues, surprise results and difficult playing conditions have opened the door for a group of rising players and breakthrough performers to reach the final stages at Roland Garros.
In the women’s draw, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk has produced one of the biggest moments of her career by defeating compatriot Elina Svitolina to reach her first major semifinal. The 23-year-old, who made her Grand Slam debut as a 15-year-old at the 2018 Australian Open, has long been viewed as a talented but inconsistent player. Her run in Paris follows a strong rise in form over the past year and has carried her to a career-high level among the world’s best. Kostyuk’s victory also carried emotional weight as she dedicated the result to the people of Ukraine amid the war with Russia.
Kostyuk will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who is already one of the most accomplished young players on tour. The 19-year-old previously reached the Roland Garros semifinals in 2024 and has built a reputation as a precocious talent with maturity beyond her age. Andreeva’s rise has accelerated quickly, including becoming the youngest WTA 1000 champion in 2025 and climbing into the top 10. Playing on clay in Paris, she remains a major threat to go even further.
The other women’s semifinal features another surprise package in Diana Shnaider and Poland’s Maja Chwalińska. Shnaider, 22, stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals to reach the deepest Grand Slam run of her career. The victory marked a major breakthrough for a player who has steadily improved after moving to the United States for college and training before turning professional.
Chwalińska, 24, has produced one of the most remarkable stories of the tournament. A qualifier and world No. 114, she has reached the semifinals in just her third Grand Slam main draw appearance. Her journey is particularly notable because she stepped away from tennis in 2021 to address mental health struggles before returning to the sport. Her run in Paris will lift her into the top 100 for the first time.
In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev stands out as the most established name still alive. The world No. 3 has reached multiple major finals but has yet to win a Grand Slam title, and this tournament may present one of his best remaining chances. With Carlos Alcaraz injured and Jannik Sinner eliminated early, the path has opened for the German to pursue his long-awaited breakthrough.
Zverev will face Czech 20-year-old Jakub Menšík, who has emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest young surprises. Menšík reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by upsetting higher-ranked opponents and continues to build on a breakout season that included an ATP title and a win over Novak Djokovic in Miami.
The men’s other semifinal guarantees an Italian finalist, with Flavio Cobolli set to meet Matteo Arnaldi in the first all-Italian Grand Slam semifinal of the Open Era. Both are enjoying career-best runs in Paris, extending a strong year for Italian tennis and adding another historic chapter to a wide-open French Open.
