Competitors at the French Open are tackling unusually blistering heat at the start of this year’s event along with navigating the red clay and the pressure of performing at one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world.
Temperatures scaled 33C in Boulogne-Billancourt on Monday, with players forced to adjust their games while trying to find their best level through obvious discomfort. This hot weather is expected to endure throughout the first week. “I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros,” said Daria Kasatkina. “Maybe one day, but we’re going to have it for the whole week or something.”
The tennis tours chase the sun around the world, with warmer conditions naturally favoured to ensure as few stoppages as possible. A requirement of being a successful tennis player is building a level of tolerance to hot conditions and finding a way to still perform at a high level.
Few players were badly affected by the heat on Monday, which was not accompanied by high humidity, but the players still had their challenges on court. “When you see the conditions for your next match, you are mentally preparing for that,” said Kasatkina. “Then physically it still can be very, very tough. During even our match you could see that both of us were going up and down, you know? You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped. That’s part of the game.”
Clay courts are notorious for possessing completely different properties depending on the conditions. That contrast is felt as strongly at Roland Garros as anywhere else. Players have often complained about how slow the conditions can be here in damp, cold or night-time conditions, partially because of the heavier Wilson balls used by the tournament. Hotter conditions at the French Open can make for fast conditions that aid serving, aggression and faster points. However, it is also favourable to many clay court players, with the ball bouncing higher and further boosting heavy topspin.
“When we came here, it was like 16 degrees and the ball was super heavy,” Iga Swiatek said. “You literally could put your whole body and whole power into the ball, and you would still feel like you control it. Now you need much more, like, touch, and you can’t go too much. Also, it’s a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball is bouncing off the court faster, so that gives you more advantage, I would say. But first you need to, yeah, have control over the ball, because it is playing faster in the air, and it’s easier to put it out.”
After his 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over British qualifier Toby Samuel, Alex de Minaur noted the conditions at Roland Garros are suited to his style of play. “I’ve always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface,” he said. “It’s easier to be a little bit more aggressive. The ball is jumping. I don’t necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And, also, it’s quite physical, right? I don’t mind the heat.”
Samuel’s defeat by De Minaur marked his first appearance in the main draw of a grand slam and his first match against a player ranked inside the top 150. He competed in college at the University of South Carolina before beginning his journey on the professional circuit in 2024 and he has been a revelation on the lower levels of the ATP circuit over the past year. Having been ranked 1,785 at the beginning of last season, he has flitted up the rankings. Samuel has won four ATP Challenger events since November and after his three wins in qualifying, he currently sits at No 149 in the ATP rankings, which would be a new career high ranking.
“For my career, it’s a huge step forward,” he said. “It’s definitely a big jump going from challenges to then playing major on the grand slam. It was a big leap, and I think taking a lot of confidence from this week and knowing that I can try and compete at this level. And then financially, it’s huge. This pays for the year on tour. Being major or slam and then coming through the qualities, usually you’re scraping the bar a little bit, but this will definitely help from the year going forward.”
