Generational Rivalry: Jannik Sinner wins first 2026 clash with Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo for biggest career clay title

Of all the tournaments on the tennis calendar, the four Grand Slams have the most ranking points on offer—and because of that, the No. 1 ranking is most often up for grabs during the Slams.

And that’s going to be the case again at Roland Garros this year, as six different players—four men and two women—all have a shot at leaving the clay-court major at the top of the ATP or WTA rankings.

Below is a breakdown of both battles for No. 1.

Tsitsipas is one of two players, along with Sabalenka, who can rise to No. 1 for the first time in Paris this year.

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Four men can leave Roland Garros as No. 1: Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who are currently ranked No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5, respectively (No. 4 Casper Ruud, who’s defending final points in Paris, will be out of range no matter how he does on the terre battue this year).

Alcaraz is the frontrunner to keep No. 1. He goes in with 6,815 points and is defending 360 for reaching the quarterfinals last year, so would have 6,455 points even if he withdraws—Medvedev needs the semifinals to pass that, Djokovic the final and Tsitsipas the title.

And those minimum requirements for the three challengers will increase the more Alcaraz wins. If he reaches the fourth round, he eliminates Tsitsipas—and if he reaches the quarterfinals or semifinals, Medvedev needs the final and Djokovic needs the title.

It’s also worth noting that while Alcaraz and Djokovic are only defending quarterfinal points from Roland Garros last year, Medvedev and Tsitsipas are defending fourth round points from Roland Garros and points from grass-court events that were held the week after Paris last year—the Russian reached the final in ’s-Hertogenbosch, while the Greek reached the quarters in Stuttgart.

This is the first tournament since Swiatek became No. 1 last April that her top ranking is on the line.

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Two women can leave Roland Garros as No. 1: Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, who are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

But Sabalenka is actually the frontrunner to leave Paris as No. 1.

Sabalenka currently has 7,541 points, and with third-round points from Roland Garros and final points from ’s-Hertogenbosch coming off her ranking, she starts the tournament with 7,232 points.

Meanwhile, Swiatek starts with 6,940 points—her current total of 8,940 minus the 2,000 she’s defending for winning here last year.

That means Swiatek needs to at least reach the quarterfinals just to have a chance at keeping No. 1. If Sabalenka reaches the fourth round or quarterfinals, Swiatek’s minimum requirement becomes the semifinals. If Sabalenka reaches the semifinals, Swiatek needs the final. And if Sabalenka reaches the final, Swiatek needs the title.

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