Sunday’s opening round of fourth-round matches at Roland Garros delivered a day full of surprises, strong performances and major shifts in the draw as several established stars exited and emerging players continued their rise.
The headline result came on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk produced a significant upset by defeating four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek. Kostyuk not only ended Swiatek’s bid for a first clay-court title in two years, but also announced herself as one of the players to watch in the tournament’s second week. The win was one of the biggest shocks of the day and opened up the women’s draw further.
Kostyuk’s victory was followed by another strong Ukrainian performance when Elina Svitolina beat Belinda Bencic to advance to the quarterfinals. That result set up an all-Ukrainian quarterfinal between Svitolina and Kostyuk, giving Ukraine a guaranteed presence in the last eight and creating one of the most compelling matchups of the tournament so far.
On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev advanced with little trouble in his match against Jesper de Jong. With many fans and observers already backing the German as a title contender, Zverev handled the pressure and continued his steady run through the draw. His progress kept him firmly in the conversation for the men’s crown as the event moved deeper into the final week.
Elsewhere, the all-Spanish clash between veteran Pablo Carreno Busta and teenager Rafael Jodar on Court Suzanne-Lenglen underlined the changing of the guard in men’s tennis. The 19-year-old Jodar came through the match, showing the composure and energy of a younger generation challenging established players. It was another reminder that Roland Garros has become a stage where experience and youth frequently collide.
Another standout result came from Mirra Andreeva, the 8th seed, who continued her impressive consistency at Roland Garros by defeating Swiss player Jil Teichmann. The victory sent Andreeva into the quarterfinals for the third straight year, reinforcing her status as one of the brightest young talents in the women’s game and one of the most reliable performers at this tournament.
Brazilian star Joao Fonseca also made headlines with a late-night four-set victory over Casper Ruud. The win secured Fonseca’s first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance and marked a major breakthrough in his career. Beating a proven top-level opponent in Ruud gave Fonseca a signature result and added another exciting young name to the list of players making waves in Paris.
Sunday also included a human-interest feature on Zach Svajda, whose 2026 season has been shaped by grief off the court and resilience on it. The piece highlighted his ability to manage personal loss while still finding success in competition, offering a deeper look at one of the more thoughtful stories of the day.
Overall, Sunday at Roland Garros delivered upsets, breakthrough wins and a clear sense that the tournament is entering a decisive and unpredictable phase.
