Roland Garros, or informally the French Open, is the most prestigious event on the professional clay season that many players are currently competing on. This storied tournament, which takes place every spring in Paris, is the only Grand Slam played on red clay courts. It attracts the best talent from around the world. They need to figure out how to deal with the unique challenges that this slower surface brings. The tournament is well known for its high-stakes match-ups. The spectacular vibe supercharges the experience, the audience electrifying the game. Fly in, and one simply walks into the bask of passion and delight.
The clay courts at Roland Garros are a surface of 1-2 mm crushed red bricks. This fabric provides the courts their trademark scarlet color. That’s because this surface has considerably more friction than grass or hard courts. Thus, the ball really digs into the dry sandpaper-like dust and bounces twice as high. As a result, players often endure much longer rallies on clay. As mentioned before, this surface happens to be the slowest of the three main ones utilized in professional tennis. Beyond the intense physical demand of the sport, it often tests athletes at or beyond their breaking point, where athletes must show immense tenacity and tactical acumen.
Matches on clay play out like battle scenes and chess matches combined. Every meticulously crafted shot creates scoring chances that can materialize two or three shots down the line. As Novak Djokovic aptly noted, “We all know how tricky it is to play on clay. Compared to the other surfaces, you always have to expect an extra one or two shots, balls coming back.” Much like the patience and tactical awareness that are necessary to compete here on this very unique surface, that’s what makes it so special.
That’s why the French Open has developed a reputation for its electrifying night session atmosphere. The crowd at Roland Garros is known for being among the most boisterous on the tennis calendar, often engaging in spirited chants throughout matches. Chants that start with Olééé! and the fast tempo Popopopopopopoooo pololoooo! reverberate throughout the stadium. Players and fans alike are drawn to them, and together they forge an electric atmosphere.
Over the past few years, Roland Garros has transformed into an opportunity for players to make fashion statements on the court. Players have introduced stunning fashion statements that turn heads among fans. Perhaps most famously, Serena Williams turned heads at 2018’s U.S. Open while wearing her ‘catsuit,’ a striking mix of style and athleticism on display.
Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay,” has made the tourney his own lifetime playground. Along the way, he’s won a staggering 11 major titles and made an indelible mark on the event’s history. In November 2024, Nadal played his final match, concluding a remarkable career that highlighted his profound connection to this unique surface.
The WTA tour has made tremendous strides in achieving equality in tennis over the years. Since 2006, it has set the standard for equal prize money for men and women competitors. Members of the tennis community have welcomed and praised this pledge towards equity. Indeed, as a result, Roland Garros has become a bastion of progressivism within the sport.
In 2025, the ATP Tour will have 18 total stops on clay. This surface, as this lineup underscores once again, continues to be of great import on the professional tennis landscape. Next year the women’s tour will have 11 clay court tournaments. But even with all these changes, hard court is still by far the most common surface on both tours, as it seems players still love it.
Clay courts allow players to open up their arsenal with dangerous topspin shots. Despite this being a great tactic, it can be very physically strenuous. As athletes face even greater uncertainty and adversity, they will need to lean on more than just technical ability to make it through challenges. Mental strength will be crucial.
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