The Kazakh star fell to Yuliia Starodubtseva in a second-round shock on Court Philippe-Chatrier. This defeat marks the tournament's biggest upset to date. The match began with a dominant set for Rybakina before her rhythm completely vanished. The heavy clay surface appeared to dismantle the favourite's game as the match progressed. Starodubtseva's aggressive baseline play disrupted the top seed's power. As the momentum shifted, the stadium fell into a stunned silence. The loss removes a major title contender from the draw and leaves the path to the final wide open.
The shock on Court Philippe-Chatrier
World number two Elena Rybakina was eliminated[1] from the French Open in the second round. The Kazakh star fell to Yuliia Starodubtseva[2] in a match that stands as the tournament's biggest upset so far.
Starodubtseva secured the best career win of her life[2]. The victory stunned the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the May 2026 session.
Ryabkina initially held control. She took the first set before the momentum shifted entirely.
Silence fell over the stadium as the final point was played. The scoreline ended 2-1 in sets.
At the net, Rybakina stood still for several moments. She watched Starodubtseva celebrate on the clay. The defeat removes a major favourite from the draw, leaving the path to the final wide open for remaining contenders.
How the match unraveled
Elena Rybakina won the opening set before her game collapsed. The Kazakh player struggled to maintain her rhythm on the clay court surface[2] as the match progressed.
Starodubtseva neutralized the heavy hitter with aggressive baseline play. She used a powerful serve[3] to disrupt the rhythm of the world number two.
Everything changed in the second set.
Rybakina sat on the bench during a critical changeover, staring blankly at her racket. Her body language shifted from dominance to visible frustration as the momentum swung.
Starodubtseva's strategy relied on high-intensity pressure. The underdog hit winners that forced Rybakina into deep defensive positions.
Physical fatigue appeared to take a toll on the top seed. Rybakina wiped sweat from her forehead frequently and moved more slowly between points.
Her first-serve accuracy dropped as the match went on. This vulnerability allowed Starodubtseva to step inside the baseline and dictate play.
Loss of focus followed an early break in the second set. The Kazakh star could not recover her mental composure after the initial setback.
Starodubtseva stayed relentless. She chased down every ball to keep the pressure on her opponent.
The draw has lost a major favourite
Elena Rybakina's exit leaves a massive gap in the women's singles bracket. The removal of the world number two seed[4] clears a path for several remaining contenders to reach the final. Without her power game to contend with, the competition for the title has shifted overnight.
This defeat marks the biggest French Open upset[1] of the tournament so far. It follows a pattern of early exits that has left the Roland Garros draw looking more open than in previous years. The loss of such a high-ranking player often creates a vacuum that lower-ranked players are eager to fill.
Starodubtseva's victory changes the landscape for her upcoming opponents. The win provides a significant boost to her ranking and confidence as she moves into the third round. She now faces a much more unpredictable bracket.
A season in decline
This loss will likely impact Rybakina's ability to defend her ranking points. The points she earned during her previous successful runs at major tournaments are now at risk. For a player of her calibre, a second-round exit is a setback that requires a strong recovery in the next few months.
Her season was already facing pressure before this match in May. The inability to navigate the heavy clay courts in Paris suggests a period of transition. She must now decide how to adjust her training and match preparation for the summer swing.
No one knows the full extent of the damage yet.
Looking ahead to the next round
The tournament continues with the third round scheduled to begin later this week. Fans will be watching to see if the momentum from this upset carries through the rest of the field. The next major clash is expected to feature a clash of styles that could define the tournament's direction.
Starodubtseva advances to face her next opponent in the third round on Friday. The winner of that match will move into the second week of the competition.
Starodubtseva advances to face her next opponent in the third round on Friday. The winner of that match will move into the second week of the competition.
