2026 French Open action gets underway on Sunday with nearly one-third of the women’s slate scheduled to hit the red clay in Paris. Among them, Ajla Tomljanovic squares off against Caty McNally of the United States. Nurein Ahmed, Ilemona Onekutu, and Tope Oke offer their insights. But who will advance?
French Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Marta Kostyuk vs Oksana Selekhmeteva
Nurein
Kostyuk has the burden of expectations weighing on her shoulders. She will be expected to go deep in this tournament after a perfect clay swing so far. Selekhmeteva is a player who thrives on this surface but is having a dismal run of results.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Ilemona
Kostyuk arrives at Roland Garros on an 11-match winning streak on red clay, having claimed back-to-back titles in Rouen and Madrid — the latter the biggest of her career. She is an all-court player who can close at net and has particularly fortified her forehand, a stroke that was once a target for opponents but has become a genuine weapon this season. Selekhmeteva is a capable player but faces a Kostyuk who is simply playing the best clay-court tennis of her life right now. There is very little in this matchup that suggests a departure from the Ukrainian’s dominant run.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Tope
Marta Kostyuk arrives at Roland-Garros in full flight, with Madrid glory in her pocket, Rouen before that, and a 12-match clay winning streak that makes her feel almost invincible right now and that’s bad timing for Oksana Selekhmeteva. The Russian has yet to find a win at the French Open, and while she’s still developing, this stage has so far brought more frustration than breakthrough. Against a player as confident and heavy-hitting as Kostyuk, that lack of clay confidence in Paris could be exposed quickly. Unless Kostyuk dramatically misfires, this looks like a match she controls from start to finish.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Katie Volynets vs Clara Burel
Nurein
It’s nice to see Burel return to full fitness, but with just three matches under her belt coming to the French Open, I don’t expect her to hit the ground running. Volynets has competed well on clay this season and brings excellent movement and consistency.
Prediction: Volynets in 2
Ilemona
These are two players who compete in a similar zone — solid baseliners who can make things uncomfortable without consistently dominating. Burel holds the home advantage of playing in Paris, and a French crowd can be a powerful extra presence in close matches. Volynets has shown improved consistency through the year but has not made a significant mark on clay specifically. Burel’s familiarity with these courts and the lift that comes from playing in front of home support should give her the edge in what could be a tight contest.
Prediction: Burel in 3
Tope
Katie Volynets arrives in Paris as the favourite on paper, but nothing comes easy when you’re standing across the net from a French player at Roland-Garros. Clara Burel is still finding her form after an ACL setback, yet her pedigree and the surge of home support could make her far more dangerous than her ranking suggests. Volynets, who has hovered around the early rounds here with a couple of second-round appearances, has shown solid clay form this season and will feel this is a match she must convert if she’s to progress deeper.
Prediction: Volynets in 3
Mirra Andreeva vs Fiona Ferro
Nurein
Andreeva has done well at the French Open in previous seasons and I expect the Russian to live up to the billing again. Ferro has the forehand to make this a tight affair, but against Andreeva’s weight shot, she will likely finish second best.
Prediction: Andreev in 2
Ilemona
Mirra Andreeva has been piling up clay-court wins this year and moves incredibly well for her age. Fiona Ferro knows how to battle on clay at home but faces a much higher level now. Andreeva’s topspin and fitness should wear her down over time.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Tope
Mirra Andreeva is clearly the superior player, bringing fearless ball-striking, court craft beyond her years, and a level of intensity that tends to overwhelm opponents early in rallies. Although Fiona Ferro is a seasoned competitor and can make her work in patches, Andreeva’s higher ceiling and relentless shot tolerance make her the likelier straight-sets winner as she tightens control the longer the match breathes.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Caty McNally
Nurein
McNally is one of those players who mixes pace very well and that comes in handy on clay. Tomljanovic is on a wretched run of form and given her fitness record, I’m not giving the Aussie much of chance to progress.
Prediction: McNally in 2
Ilemona
Caty McNally has had some strong head-to-head success against Ajla Tomljanovic and plays with good variety. Tomljanovic is a fighter with solid all-court skills, but clay can expose movement issues if she’s not fully sharp. McNally’s recent confidence gives her the edge.
Prediction: McNally in 2
Tope
Ajla Tomljanovic will have to overturn a tricky recent trend if she’s to survive the opening round at Roland Garros, having lost both of her 2025 meetings with Caty McNally. She arrives in Paris with just one win in her last eight matches and no main-draw clay victory this season, a run that does little to inspire confidence. In contrast, Caty McNally is edging close to a career-high ranking and has already shown her clay-court comfort with solid runs to the last 16 in both Rouen and Madrid. With the head-to-head advantage, better recent form, and clearer rhythm on the surface, McNally looks the more settled operator heading into this one.
Prediction: McNally in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte – Imagn Images
