Tennis Weekly — May 20, 2026

Tournament Recap

Roland-Garros 2026 is underway, running from May 18 through June 7. The tournament features its usual star-studded field with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Coco Gauff among the headline attractions chasing clay-court glory.

The French Open draw ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 2 p.m. local Paris time, which will determine the bracket matchups for the main singles draws.

Prize money in 2026 has been dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the earnings leaderboard heading into the French Open, according to a new breakdown from Sportico.

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sportico.com

sportico.com

Player Spotlight

Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Roland-Garros and Wimbledon — In a devastating blow to tennis fans and broadcasters, the Spanish star has pulled out of both upcoming Grand Slams due to a wrist injury. Alcaraz's rivalry with Sinner had been one of the sport's most compelling storylines — the pair produced a legendary 2025 French Open final that Alcaraz won in a comeback, before Sinner returned the favour at Wimbledon. His absence from two consecutive Majors is a significant setback.

Players threatening media blackout at French Open — In perhaps the biggest off-court story of the fortnight, top players are reportedly planning to limit or refuse media appearances at Roland-Garros as a protest over their share of Grand Slam tournament revenue. The Athletic reported that a formal protest has yet to be staged, but players pushing for prize-money reform — including discussions spearheaded by the newly energized Players United movement — are building toward action.

According to Sportstar, players at Roland-Garros are specifically planning to reduce their media interactions as part of the ongoing Grand Slam revenue dispute. This comes amid a broader conversation about how prize money is distributed relative to what the Grand Slams earn.

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sportstar.thehindu.com

nt revenue.

Coming Up

Roland-Garros 2026 runs through June 7 in Paris. With the draw ceremony happening Thursday (May 21), watch for blockbuster first-round matchups to be announced. Key storylines to follow:

• Alcaraz's absence opens the men's draw, potentially making it a cleaner path for Sinner or Djokovic to the title.
• Gauff will be one of the WTA favorites on clay as defending French Open champion.
• The media protest saga could escalate during the tournament's first week if player-Grand Slam revenue talks stall.
• The prize money debate — already bubbling since the Italian Open — will be front and center throughout the fortnight.

After Roland-Garros concludes in early June, the grass-court season begins, with Wimbledon scheduled for late June. Without Alcaraz, the grass-court storylines will require a major rethink.