French Open 2026: 4 WTA Grand Slam champions ousted on Day 1

Four Grand Slam tennis champions played on the opening day of the 2026 French Open. None of them won.

The European clay was not a welcome surface for Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova, Emma Raducanu, and Sloane Stephens on Sunday.

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Kenin dealt with an outstanding Stearns performance

Peyton Stearns dominated 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin 6-3, 6-3.

Kenin is still alive in the doubles draw with American compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.

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Krejcikova is rusty

Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, was rusty. She barely played this year on any surface so it was a tall order for her to defeat an in form Hailey Baptiste. Krejcikova won the first set before Baptiste saved two match points and ran away with it.

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Raducanu has been dealing with aftereffects of viral illness

2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu has been ill for most of the spring. She withdrew from several tournaments suffering the aftereffects of a viral illness. That limited her clay court preparation.

She was emotional after the loss at her press conference.

Stephens suffered a disappointing loss

Everyone was cheering for 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens after her brilliant qualifying run.

The only silver lining is that tennis fans will still see her on TNT Sports in her media role.