Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Daniel Altmaier
Felix Auger-Aliassime is a top four seed for the first time at a Grand Slam, which adds some pressure on him to perform well. This has never been his most successful Major or surface, but he can still play at a high level on his day and trouble anyone. The Canadian took Rafael Nadal to five sets here in 2022, which shows his ceiling. However, with just a 4-4 record on clay this season, he enters the 2026 French Open short of confidence, and Daniel Altmaier, with his consistency and top-level play, can cause serious problems in this matchup.
Atmaier famously upset Jannik Sinner here in 2023 and also defeated Taylor Fritz in the first round last year. He can extend rallies and frustrate his opponents, which will force Auger-Aliassime to show mental toughness early. This has the makings of a marathon battle and can not be missed.
Andrey Rublev vs Ignacio Buse
#11 seed Andrey Rublev has been pretty consistent this season and has gained some good momentum since losing to Zizou Bergs in Monte Carlo. However, in the bigger picture of Grand Slams, he has lost his consistency. He used to be the “quarterfinal specialist” with 10 quarterfinals to his name, but hasn’t made the last eight at a Slam in over two years.
The Russian will face Igancio Buse, a young clay-court specialist on the ascent with notable recent wins and momentum. A year ago, Buse was ranked near 200, but with his latest win over Ugo Humbert in Hamburg, he is #42 in the live ranking. It has been an incredible first full clay season for the Peruvian, and we can expect him to deliver some great tennis in his first French Open main draw appearance. Rublev has to be on his toes to avoid an early upset here.
Arthur Fils vs Stan Wawrinka
This is easily the most anticipated and biggest match of the 2026 French Open first round. Arthur Fils suffered a stress fracture in his lower back during the 2025 French Open, which forced him to withdraw before the third round. It sidelined him for roughly eight months, causing him to miss the rest of 2025, barring a brief, premature return in Toronto. However, since his return this year in February, he has been one of the best players on tour and is a big hope for the French fans. Fils retired early in the second round of the Rome Masters due to hip pain, but later confirmed that everything was fine.
On the other hand, the 2015 French Open champion, Stan Wawrinka, will be making his 21st and final main draw appearance after being provided a wild card. It will be an uphill battle for Wawrinka to beat a young and strong player like Fils, but this match will be much more than the result. It’s a veteran legend’s potential final walk on these iconic clay courts. The French crowd are one of the most partisan crowds in tennis, but it’s safe to say Wawrinka will have his fair share of love, support and even tears. Even if Fils wins comfortably, the match will be remembered for the occasion more than the scoreline.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
