Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, suffered an early exit at the 2026 French Open, falling in the second round to unseeded Ukrainian player Yuliia Starodubtseva. The match, held on May 28, saw Rybakina initially take a one-set lead but fail to maintain her advantage, ultimately losing 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4).
Rybakina's Unexpected Defeat
The world No.2 started strong, claiming the first set 6-3. However, Starodubtseva fought back aggressively, leveling the match with a dominant 6-1 second set. The deciding set went to a tiebreak, where Starodubtseva prevailed 7-6(4). This marks Rybakina's first second-round exit at a Grand Slam since the 2024 Australian Open, a surprising result for the Kazakh star who was considered a top contender.
Starodubtseva Advances to Round of 16
With this victory, Starodubtseva advances to the Round of 16, where she will face Chinese star Wang Xiyu. The unseeded Ukrainian has now made a significant impact at Roland Garros, building on her earlier wins. Rybakina, meanwhile, will look to regroup ahead of the upcoming grass-court season.
