The European clay-court season reaches its climax as the tennis world converges on Roland-Garros from Sunday, May 25 to Sunday, June 8. Following a series of high-stakes tournaments including the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Madrid, and Rome, players have finely tuned their movement and strategy to master the slow, demanding surface of red clay. Among the top contenders vying for clay-court supremacy in Paris are reigning singles champions and Rolex Testimonees Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz.
Swiatek’s path to last year’s title remains one of her most gripping career moments. The Polish star overcame a match point down at 5–2 in the final set of the second round, sparking a dramatic comeback that propelled her all the way to lifting the Suzanne-Lenglen Trophy for a fourth time. Reflecting on that pivotal match, Swiatek shared, “Even though I won that match, afterwards I cried for 15 minutes. I really thought I was out of the tournament and it kind of broke my heart. This was the most meaningful title of my career because of how close I came to losing.”
Now 23, Swiatek returns to Paris determined to replicate the commanding form she has consistently displayed on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier. “The sound of the ball on Philippe-Chatrier is just different for me,” she explains. “It feels more like I’m inside a church of tennis and it’s just special. When I think about the emotions I feel when the crowd is cheering and I’m lifting the trophy, it’s amazing, and it’s something every athlete works hard for. It’s our biggest motivation.”
Swiatek’s style of play is perfectly suited to the red clay, drawing comparisons to tennis legend Chris Evert, who secured seven of her 18 Grand Slam singles titles at Roland-Garros—a record that still stands. In a touching moment last June, Evert presented Swiatek with the trophy on the very court where she herself won her first Grand Slam title in 1974. Reflecting on the occasion, Evert said, “There’s no doubt in my mind that Iga can pass me. She is the perfect clay-court player. I was very excited to present this trophy to her because I felt like I had always related to her quietly, her style of game, her mentality and her love of clay.”
Evert also expressed pride in sharing the Rolex Testimonee distinction with Swiatek. “I feel very honoured seeing myself alongside top names like Iga’s and part of a group of people that also includes sporting icons like Rod Laver, Arnold Palmer and Roger Federer. Rolex is choosing athletes who have longevity, who are reliable and consistent. I love that we still see the clocks at tournaments like Wimbledon and Roland-Garros today.”
Rolex’s role as Official Timekeeper of Roland-Garros, established in 2019, reflects its enduring partnership with tennis spanning nearly fifty years, supporting players who have etched their names in the sport’s history. Among the men’s singles contenders this year is Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion and Rolex Testimonee, joined by the 2025 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and several hopefuls chasing their first Roland-Garros crown, including Holger Rune, Stéfanos Tsitsipás, Ben Shelton, and João Fonseca.
Alcaraz acknowledged the vital support behind his success: “I’m really grateful to have the team I have and the people I have around me. I know everyone is giving their heart just to make me improve as a player and as a person. It means a lot to represent my country, at every tournament and in every part of the world where I compete.”
On the women’s side, 2024 doubles champion Coco Gauff and rising star Mirra Andreeva look to build on their impressive runs to last year’s singles semi-finals. They will be joined by Caroline Garcia and Qinwen Zheng, both of whom cherish their memories at Stade Roland-Garros, where they have celebrated some of the most significant milestones of their careers.
As the clay settles and the battles begin, the eyes of the tennis world will be firmly fixed on Paris, where champions are made and legends live on.
