By Jerry Hugh
Novak Djokovic will begin his 2026 French Open campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Stade Roland Garros on Sunday, May 24. The 39-year-old Serbian, seeded third in the men’s singles draw, is scheduled to headline the tournament’s first night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier not before 8:15 p.m. local time. The opening day schedule is highlighted by several high-profile encounters, including Alexander Zverev facing Benjamin Bonzi and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva taking on French wildcard Fiona Ferro.
The men’s draw enters the opening Sunday under a cloud of uncertainty following the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz due to injury. With Jannik Sinner arriving in Paris as the tournament favorite, the path to the finals appears open for several contenders. This creates immediate pressure for veterans like Novak Djokovic, who has battled physical concerns throughout the current season and reportedly faces a “challenging” route through the tournament’s early rounds.
Tournament organizers have confirmed a total prize pool of €61.723 million for this edition, marking a 9.53% increase compared to 2025. Players competing in the first round of the singles draw will earn €87,000 and 10 ranking points. Daily attendance is expected to reach 20,000 fans at the Stade Roland Garros gates, with many likely to throw their support behind the heavy contingent of French players scheduled for Day 1.
Novak Djokovic faces heavy server in opening night session
The match between Novak Djokovic and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is expected to be a clash of styles. Perricard is known for possessing one of the most explosive serves in tennis and playing a fearless, first-strike brand of tennis. While Djokovic is the favorite on paper, he will need to navigate the Frenchman’s ability to shorten points and use the Paris crowd to gain momentum.
Djokovic arrives in Paris without the same aura of invincibility that has historically followed him into Grand Slams. However, Roland-Garros has often served as a venue for his tactical elasticity and ability to handle the pressure of five-set matches. Much like how a
underdog looks to shock the world in combat sports, Perricard will seek to keep points short to prevent the 39-year-old from establishing rhythm in elongated rallies.
The match marks a generational collision between an established legend and one of the ATP Tour’s most dangerous momentum players. If Perricard can protect his service games and maintain his level beyond the fourth or fifth shot of a rally, the atmosphere inside Court Philippe-Chatrier could become increasingly difficult for the Serbian seed.
Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva face French resistance
The day session on Court Philippe-Chatrier will feature Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s second seed, against Benjamin Bonzi. Many analysts view the matchup as “trap territory” for the German, as Bonzi is known for his intelligent court positioning and counterpunching. Zverev currently carries high expectations to reach the final, and his performance on Sunday may signal whether he is playing with authority or tension.
Following the Zverev match, the third event on the main court features eighth seed Mirra Andreeva against Fiona Ferro. Andreeva is considered a fascinating contender due to her tactical maturity at a young age, but she faces a player intimately familiar with the Parisian clay. The young seed will need to manage higher expectations than last season while neutralizing Ferro’s resilience and local crowd support.
Just as
expert predictions and betting insights often focus on mental fortitude, Zverev’s psychological approach will be under scrutiny. After several deep runs in Paris without a title, every wobble in the opening round against a local competitor will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
Complete Day 1 schedule for Stade Roland Garros
The schedule for Sunday features matches across several show courts, with day sessions starting as early as 11:00 a.m. local time. Fans will see a mix of established seeds and French wildcards throughout the morning and afternoon.
Court Philippe-Chatrier (Starts 12:00 PM CEST)
1. Belinda Bencic (11) vs. Sinja Kraus (Q)
2. Alexander Zverev (2) vs. Benjamin Bonzi
3. Fiona Ferro (WC) vs. Mirra Andreeva (8)
4. (Night Session – 8:15 PM): Novak Djokovic (3) vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Court Suzanne-Lenglen (Starts 11:00 AM CEST)
1. Arthur Gea (WC) vs. Karen Khachanov (13)
2. Hailey Baptiste (26) vs. Barbora Krejcikova
3. Taylor Fritz (7) vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (WC)
4. Ksenia Efremova (WC) vs. Sorana Cirstea (18)
On the outer courts, Britain’s Emma Raducanu is scheduled to face Argentina’s Solana Sierra on Court 13 in the third match of the day. Other notable matchups include Miomir Kecmanovic against Fabian Marozsan and Taylor Fritz taking on fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy.
With prize money for the main draw rising by 10.1% this year, the financial stakes are higher than ever for those attempting to advance through the first week. Just as
Aaron Rai showed poise to win under heavy scrutiny, the winners on Day 1 will need to prove they can handle the unique volatility of the clay-court major.
