Roland Garros' Monday matches delivered drama, with Thanasi Kokkinakis producing the comeback to overcome Terence Atmane from 4-1 down in the fifth set in a four-hour epic on Court 6. Casper Ruud endured an equally harrowing afternoon, squandering five match points and suffering a heat-related collapse before somehow finding a way past Roman Safiullin in five sets. Pablo Carreno Busta rolled back the years to stun 12th seed Jiri Lehecka without facing a single break point, further opening a draw quarter already rocked by Taylor Fritz's exit, while 19-year-old Rafael Jodar needed just 92 minutes to demolish Aleksandar Kovacevic and announce himself on the Grand Slam stage. Ben Shelton and Andrey Rublev both advanced in contrasting fashion - Shelton cruising in straight sets, Rublev needing four to hold off Hamburg champion Ignacio Buse - as Stan Wawrinka's Roland Garros chapter came to an emotional close with a defeat to lucky loser Jesper de Jong.
Kokkinakis stages epic comeback from brink against home favourite Atmane
In the day's most dramatic encounter, Thanasi Kokkinakis produced a comeback for the ages, storming back from 4-1 down in the fifth set to defeat home favourite Terence Atmane 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in four hours and 18 minutes. The Australian, ranked No. 855 after major pectoral surgery in February 2025, was playing just his third tournament since last year's Australian Open. Having missed 11 months of action before returning in January, Kokkinakis looked beaten when Atmane broke for a 4-1 lead in the decider on a raucous Court 6. Yet the 29-year-old found another gear, reeling off five straight games with an unrelenting serve that produced 24 aces and 13 of 21 serve pressure points won. Atmane, for his part, contributed to his own downfall - the Frenchman's body language visibly deteriorated as the match slipped away, with a series of embarrassing overhead misses compounding the collapse. The emotional payoff came when Kokkinakis collapsed onto the clay after the final point, a raw display of what this victory meant after months of rehabilitation. It was a statement of resilience that few expected from a player who had played only three hours and 26 minutes of competitive tennis in the four months prior to Roland Garros.
Carreno Busta dominates Lehecka in straight sets
Pablo Carreno Busta rolled back the years with a masterclass performance against 12th seed Jiri Lehecka, winning 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-3 in what proved far more one-sided than the scoreline suggested. The 34-year-old former world No. 10, who has spent much of the past two years battling back from injuries that derailed his career in 2023, was virtually untouchable on serve - firing 10 aces and not facing a single break point across three sets, a remarkable feat for a player not known for his serving prowess. His return game was equally sharp, winning 12 of 27 return pressure points and keeping constant pressure on the young Czech, who failed to generate even one break point opportunity all afternoon. Lehecka, who reached a career-high No. 12 earlier this season, looked rudderless from the baseline and summed up his afternoon by double-faulting the tiebreak away. It was only Carreno Busta's second clay-court win in an ATP main draw this season after beating Marton Fucsovics in Madrid, but the quality of this performance belonged to a different calibre entirely. Combined with Fritz's first-round exit yesterday, the result has blown Jodar's quarter of the draw wide open.
Ruud survives heat scare and five squandered match points to outlast Safiullin
Casper Ruud's Roland Garros campaign began in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, as the 15th seed needed five sets and all of his mental reserves to outlast Roman Safiullin 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2. Ruud looked in total command through two sets, dominating from the baseline and serving with authority before the match took a nightmarish turn. Serving for the match at 5-3 in the third, the Norwegian squandered five match points - three of them on his own serve - and the momentum shifted entirely. Visibly struggling with the Parisian heat, Ruud's level collapsed in the fourth set, where he was bagelled as he appeared on the verge of a medical emergency, taking multiple timeouts and barely able to move between points. The numbers told the story of a brutal afternoon: 53 pressure points created but also 39 defended against, six aces offset by six double faults, and six breaks of serve conceded across four hours of attritional tennis. Yet somehow, like a phoenix from the ashes, Ruud found another gear in the decider. After losing 11 consecutive games, he broke Safiullin midway through the fifth and closed it out 6-2, showing the kind of resilience that carried him to two Roland Garros finals. The question now is how much this gruelling opener cost him physically, with the heat expected to persist throughout the week and a second-round clash against Hamad Medjedovic - himself no fan of extreme conditions - awaiting.
Jodar announces arrival with statement win
27th seed Rafael Jodar announced his arrival on the Grand Slam stage with a thunderous Roland Garros debut, crushing Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1, 6-0, 6-4. The 19-year-old, part of a rare Spanish trio of players aged 21 or under in the main draw - a feat not seen since 2005 - dominated from the first point with baseline precision and power that left the American looking fatigued and overmatched. Jodar converted six of 12 break points and won eight of nine serve pressure points while dropping just five games in the entire match. His clinical display underlined why he is viewed as one of the brightest prospects in men's tennis, boasting a 19-4 clay record over the past 12 months that includes a maiden ATP title and back-to-back quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. The draw has opened up significantly in his quarter, with top seed Fritz already eliminated and 12th seed Lehecka following him out today courtesy of Carreno Busta. In just 92 minutes the Madrid native sent a loud signal that the next generation of Spanish talent has officially landed at Roland Garros.
Rublev survives Buse challenge in four sets
In what had been billed as the match of the day, Andrey Rublev weathered a stern test from rising Peruvian Ignacio Buse, prevailing 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5 in a match that showcased both players' fighting spirit. Buse arrived in Paris riding the wave of a career-defining week in Hamburg, where he won his maiden ATP 500 title as a qualifier - beating reigning champion Flavio Cobolli in the first round and Tommy Paul in the final - and climbed to a career-high No. 31 in the rankings. Despite visible fatigue from that exertion, the Peruvian pushed the 13th seed to the limit, saving seven of 12 break points faced and stealing the second set in a tight tiebreak. Rublev, a Barcelona finalist on clay earlier this season, looked in danger of unravelling when Buse threatened in the fourth set, but his experience ultimately proved decisive in the pressure moments - he won 27 of 43 serve pressure points and stayed composed to close it out. The victory underlined the threat posed by one of the tour's most improved players, and Buse can take enormous pride in competing at this level on just one day's rest after his Hamburg heroics.
Shelton powers past Merida in straight sets
Fifth seed Ben Shelton continued his impressive Grand Slam form, powering past Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida Aguilar 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in a display that highlighted his clear evolution on clay. The American has now not lost a first-round major match since Roland Garros 2023, extending that streak with a confident performance built on an elite serve - 86% first-serve points won and six aces - and markedly improved movement. Shelton did not face a single break point all afternoon, holding in all 14 service games while converting four of eight break opportunities. He won 12 of 13 serve pressure points, looking mentally rock-solid throughout. The win came after a difficult stretch on clay that saw first-round exits in Madrid and Rome followed by a second-round upset loss to Daniel Altmaier in Hamburg, making the straight-sets comfort here all the more significant. His comfort on the surface has grown noticeably, and with a favourable early draw he will head into a second-round clash against rising Belgian Raphael Collignon full of belief that another deep run is within reach.
Cobolli survives Pellegrino test
Flavio Cobolli needed every bit of his clay-court expertise to see off determined qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3 in a trickier encounter than the seeding suggested. The 14th seed built a comfortable lead only to almost throw it away in the third set, serving for the match at 5-1 before being broken for the first time all afternoon. Pellegrino, in his first Grand Slam main draw after 17 qualifying attempts, refused to fold and forced Cobolli to dig deep. The Italian responded with clutch tennis, winning seven of 26 return pressure points at key moments and landing nine aces to close out the win. It was the kind of confidence-boosting performance the Roman needed after some recent setbacks against rising stars.
De Minaur dispatches Samuel in routine fashion
Alex de Minaur made short work of qualifier Toby Samuel, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in a match that showcased his improved clay-court game. The seventh seed never let Samuel settle, using superior court coverage and rally tolerance to force over 40 unforced errors from the Briton across three relatively quick sets. De Minaur converted five of nine break points while remaining solid on serve, winning seven of just ten serve pressure points faced in three-setter. Second set was the only time of little trouble for the Aussie who came back from 0-2 after early break down. Samuel was trying to stay in contention in third set, but De Minaur gave him away just three points since 2-2 to win four games in a row and clinch the victory. The straight-sets victory successfully defended his first-round points from 2025 but sets up a fascinating clash against Alexander Blockx in second round. The Belgian was a semifinalist in Madrid and has profile of player relying on serve very well. This will be tough challenge for De Minaur, but the run into semifinal of ATP 500 in Hamburg last week and easy victory in first round are giving the Australian a chance to build valuable momentum on his least favorite surface.
Tiafoe overcomes Spizzirri in four sets
Frances Tiafoe survived an early scare from fellow American Eliot Spizzirri, recovering to win 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in an all-American battle. The 22nd seed looked momentarily vulnerable after dropping the second-set tiebreak but regained control in the crucial moments, firing 12 aces and winning eight of 12 serve pressure points. Spizzirri, in his Grand Slam debut, showed promising flashes but ultimately lacked the big-match experience to stay with Tiafoe. The victory highlighted the 22nd seed's improved movement and patience on clay and keeps alive the possibility of fireworks in the later rounds.
Navone continues clay court mastery
Mariano Navone continued his clay-court mastery with a straightforward 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over struggling Jenson Brooksby. The Argentine improved his 12-month clay record to an impressive 32-14 while exposing Brooksby's ongoing struggles on the surface - the American has now failed to win a single set on clay in 2026. Navone recovered from an early break deficit in the first set, took control with patient baseline play and converted five of 16 break points. Brooksby's return game looked rusty, winning just 15 of 43 return pressure points as Navone's consistency gradually wore down the resistance, showing no particular fatigue after run to final of ATP 250 in Geneva last week.
De Jong spoils Wawrinka's emotional Roland Garros farewell
Jesper de Jong ensured his lucky loser spot was no wasted opportunity, defeating Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the 2015 champion's final Roland Garros appearance. The Dutchman, who only entered the main draw after Arthur Fils withdrew through injury, fired 10 aces and held firm despite defending 31 pressure points throughout the match, creating just 20 of his own. It was an efficient, nerveless display from the world No. 106, who cruised through the opening set before weathering a mid-match storm when Wawrinka levelled at one set apiece to roars from a packed Court Simonne Mathieu. De Jong regained control with an early break in the third and delivered the decisive blow in a tight fourth set. For Wawrinka, 41, it marked a bittersweet end to his Paris chapter. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who plans to retire later this season, addressed the crowd in an emotional speech, thanking the tournament and the fans who chanted his name throughout. "I don't want to say goodbye to you here," Wawrinka told the crowd, before congratulating his opponent. Having reached the third round in Melbourne earlier this year, there was to be no extended farewell this time - but the standing ovation he received left little doubt about the mark he has left on this tournament.
For a full preview of Tuesday's final day of first-round action, including Jannik Sinner's campaign kick-off and the remaining seeds in action, head to our dedicated Day 3 preview.