French Open 2026 Day 2 Results: Wawrinka and Monfils Exit, Shelton Advances Monday marked the final chapter for Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils at Roland-Garros, with both players set to retire at the end of 2026. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion who won the 2015 French Open, reached the final in 2017 before his retirement. The 39-year-old Swiss star faced a four-set defeat to Jesper de Jong, ending his storied career at the tournament. After the match, Wawrinka remained on the court for an emotional tribute to his legacy. Monfils, 39, also preparing to retire, delivered a dramatic farewell on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Frenchman, known for his flair and resilience, fell in a five-set thriller against compatriot Hugo Gaston. Despite trailing two sets to none, Monfils clawed back to force a fifth set, showcasing his vintage play. However, his momentum waned as the clock neared midnight, allowing Gaston to secure the victory. In the men’s draw, top-ranked American Ben Shelton made a strong start to his French Open campaign with a straight-set win over Daniel Merida. The 23-year-old American dominated with a heavy first serve, winning 50 of 58 points and hitting 35 winners in just one hour and 46 minutes. Other notable victories included No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur, No. 10 Flavio Cobolli, and No. 11 Andrey Rublev, all advancing past their opponents in three-set matches. The women’s draw saw No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek cruise past their respective opponents. Rybakina, the 2022 champion, overwhelmed Veronika Erjavec with her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, dropping just four games. Swiatek, the four-time French Open winner, defeated Emerson Jones in under an hour, combining consistency with precision.#hugo_gaston #ben_shelton #stan_wawrinka #gael_monfils #french_open_2026
Hugo Gaston advances to the quarterfinals of the Thionville Challenger after defeating Keegan Smith The second round of the Thionville Challenger concluded on Thursday, with Hugo Gaston securing his place in the quarterfinals. The Toulousain, currently ranked 96th in the world, aims to reclaim his Top 100 status by the end of the tournament. With a live ranking of 107th, Gaston faces a critical opportunity to climb the rankings. If he performs strongly this week, he could potentially move into the Top 80, a significant achievement. Gaston’s path to the quarterfinals included a three-set victory over Keegan Smith, the 306th-ranked player. Despite being surprised early in the match, Gaston recovered to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, he will face Moïse Kouame, a fellow French player who has also advanced to the next round. Kouame’s progress sets the stage for a potential French showdown in the tournament. Other notable results from the second round include Ugo Blanchet’s dominant performance against Clément Chidekh, which ended in a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Blanchet remains the last French player in the draw, with a chance to earn points ahead of his defense of the Cherbourg Challenger title. Pierre-Hugues Herbert also advanced, defeating Otto Virtanen 7-5, 6-4. The Thionville Challenger continues to attract attention as players vie for ranking points and prize money. With the tournament progressing, the focus shifts to the quarterfinals, where key matches will determine the next round’s participants. The event highlights the competitive nature of Challenger tournaments, offering players a chance to climb the rankings and secure valuable opportunities for future Grand Slam qualifications.#hugo_gaston #keegan_smith #thionville_challenger #moise_kouame #ugo_blanchet
