Upsets Dominate French Open Qualifiers and Early Rounds

The 2026 French Open has already delivered several surprises during its qualifying rounds and early stages, with notable upsets involving Russian and Ukrainian players. Russian qualifiers Elena Pridankina and Yulia Avdeeva made strong showings before being eliminated, while world No. 2 Elena Rybakina suffered a shocking second-round defeat to Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. RIA Novosti+2

🎾 Russian Qualifiers' Journey

Elena Pridankina and Yulia Avdeeva showcased Russian talent during the qualifiers, with Pridankina defeating Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and Avdeeva before ultimately losing to compatriot Pridankina. The 18-year-old Alina Korneeva also advanced past Japan's Nao Hibino before the main draw. However, Pridankina's run ended against Ukraine's Alexandra Oleynikova in the first round (6-1, 6-2). RIA Novosti+2

🌟 Starodubtseva's Major Upset

Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva created the tournament's biggest shock by eliminating second seed Elena Rybakina in a thrilling three-set match (6-3, 1-6, 6-7). The victory on Court Suzanne-Lenglen marked one of Starodubtseva's career highlights and sent ripples through the tournament. She now advances to face either Haley Baptiste or Wang Xiyu. RIA Novosti+2

🇺🇦 Ukrainian Breakthroughs

Ukrainian players made significant impacts beyond Starodubtseva's win. Alexandra Oleynikova's dominant performance against Pridankina demonstrated the growing strength of Ukrainian tennis. These results come amid continued geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia, adding extra significance to their on-court matchups. RIA Novosti+2

📉 Top Seed Elimination

Elena Rybakina's early exit (6-3, 1-6, 6-7) represents the most significant upset of the tournament so far. The Kazakhstani player, considered a title contender, struggled against Starodubtseva's aggressive play. This opens up the draw for other contenders in what is proving to be an unpredictable French Open. RIA Novosti+2