Kimberly Birrell Shocks Fifth Seed Jessica Pegula at French Open

Pegula stunned by Birrell in Roland Garros first-round upset  

The world No. 83 claimed her first win over a top-five player. Birrell advances after Pegula’s collapse in the final two sets.

Pegula had reached the semi-finals at the last two majors. The 83rd-ranked Australian ended that streak with a 3-set comeback win...

Jessica Pegula was knocked out in a surprise first-round loss at Roland Garros. Kimberly Birrell pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far, beating the fifth seed 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Pegula had reached the semi-finals at the last two majors, but this is her earliest exit in Paris since 2020. It is also only the second time in six years that she has lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam. Her previous early exit came against Elisabetta Cocciaretto at Wimbledon last year.

The American started her clay season strongly by winning the title in Charleston. She followed that with a third-round run in Madrid and a quarter-final in Rome. Despite that form, Pegula has never advanced past the quarter-finals at the French Open.

For Birrell, this is only the third Grand Slam win of her career. It is also the first time she has beaten a top-five player.

GRIT AND DETERMINATION 😤

Kimberly Birrell upsets the No.5 seed Pegula in a three set match!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Cqk4jdvVEr

— wta (@WTA) May 26, 2026

The world No. 83 had not won a main-draw match at a major since 2023. She will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the next round.