First Grand Slam titles in Paris

Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva secured the biggest titles of their careers at the 2026 French Open, each winning a first Grand Slam singles crown on the clay of Roland-Garros.

Zverev’s long wait ended after a demanding five-set final against Flavio Cobolli, which he won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1. The victory marked a major turning point for the German, who had previously lost three Grand Slam finals. It also made him the first German man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Boris Becker, as described by GiveMeSport.

“This court is so special to me in so many ways. I’ve had the best moments of my life on this court. I had the worst moment of my life on these courts,” Zverev said after his win in Paris.

His route to the title was shaped by a tournament marked by early shocks and absences. Novak Djokovic was beaten in the third round by Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, Jannik Sinner lost in five sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round, and Carlos Alcaraz missed the event through injury.

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Andreeva confirms her arrival

In the women’s draw, 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva delivered a composed and commanding performance to defeat Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

The win confirmed Andreeva’s status as one of the leading young players in the sport and gave her a first Grand Slam title at an age when many players are still adjusting to the demands of the tour.

Record prize money, but a familiar dispute

The 2026 French Open was also notable for its record prize fund. Total prize money reached €61,723,000, an increase of 9.53 percent from the previous year, according to Perfect Tennis.

Zverev and Andreeva each earned €2,800,000 as singles champions, up 9.8 percent from the previous year. The runners-up received €1,400,000, while semi-finalists earned €750,000 and quarter-finalists €470,000. Early-round prize money also increased, with first-round losers receiving €87,000, an 11.5 percent rise.

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The French Tennis Federation said it had made a particular effort to support players in the opening rounds of the singles draw, with increases ranging from 11.11 percent to 11.54 percent. Prize money for qualifying also rose by 12.9 percent, while the main draw increased by 10.1 percent compared with 2025.

Players continue to push for a larger share

Despite the increases, the debate over how tournament revenue is distributed remains unresolved.

In a joint player statement, athletes argued that prize money has not kept pace with the value they bring to the event. “As Roland-Garros looks to post record revenues, players are therefore receiving a declining share of the value they help create,” the statement said.

Leading players estimate that the 2026 prize pool represents about 15 percent of Roland-Garros’ total revenue. They are pushing for that share to rise to 22 percent.

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The French Tennis Federation has defended its model, pointing to its status as a non-profit organisation and arguing that revenue is reinvested in the sport, including infrastructure, development programmes and grassroots tennis.

Attendance record adds to landmark event

Away from the prize money debate, the tournament set a new attendance record, with more than 727,000 spectators coming through the gates.

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo praised the organisation behind the event, particularly after a difficult opening week affected by extreme heat and scheduling pressure.

“This year, we were truly challenged, whether by the weather or by scheduling constraints,” Mauresmo said. “But everyone pulled together, showed great solidarity, and delivered an edition that lived up to our expectations.”

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Sources: www.givemesport.com, www.perfect-tennis.com

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