Photo Source: Getty
We just got off our flight from Paris and back stateside dealing with jetlag and the bliss that comes with having been there to witness one of the greatest Paris fortnights in recent memory.
Grass season has kicked off, but it’s a little hard to handle right now. It always takes us a couple days to shake that clay court hangover – while we’re doing that let’s go through 25 thoughts on Roland Garros 2025.
1 The Magic of Carlitos
It’s real, y’all. The championship points saved, the comeback from two sets down, the overall five-set record (13-1 with 10 on the trot!!), the charisma under pressure and the ability to use the energy of the crowd to will his way back into that match. Sunday’s final was the stuff of dreams.
2 Coco queening on the dirt
Don’t think anybody in the women’s game loves to muddy it up more than Coco Gauff. And sometimes the biggest compliment a player can get is the absolute frustration of an opponent. Winning ugly is beautiful, folks! That’s what Coco did in Saturday’s final and that’s one of the biggest reasons why she is now a two-time major champion. Hats off.
3 Boisson Chaud
If I told you three weeks ago that a world number 361 was going to reach the Roland-Garros semifinals and have two Top-10 wins in just her second WTA event you would’ve told me I was crazy, and I would’ve said: ‘Yes I am crazy, I’m just kidding. it’s not possible.’
4 Novak Still There
As I watched Novak Djokovic, losing in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on the fabled clay of Chatrier, I kept thinking: Dang he looks good! And also: Dang, he could win Wimbledon playing like this.
Don’t close the book on the grand slam King just yet.
5 French fans are absolutely bonkers— in a good way
Have to hand it to them, they know how to support their own in a way that nobody else does — and it’s beautiful to watch. Sure, it can get annoying for the competition, but it so dramatically adds to the color and vibe of Roland-Garros. Wouldn’t want it any other way.
6 Sabalenka So Consistent
She has made the semifinals in nine of her last 10 majors. She played excellently in Paris. Just didn’t have a good day in the final. She’ll start Wimbledon as the deserving favorite, and she’ll have learned from her childish words after Saturday’s final.
7 Musetti Good Musetti Bad
Absolutely love the effort of Lorenzo Musetti making his first semifinal in Paris. He’s taking steps every month on tour, and he was nearly up two sets to love on Alcaraz in the semis. Hopefully a day will come when physical issues stop sabotaging him against the top players.
8 Iga’s Era Over?
So what happens next for Iga Swiatek? If she can’t win in Paris, where can she win? What, if anything, does she need to change to move back up the rankings?
9 American Men High-Stepping
No denying the fact that the American men put on a great show in Paris. Yes there is still a gap between them and the top-flight clay-court players on the clay but the performance players like Tiafoe, Shelton, Paul and Quinn put forth should give them a lot of confidence heading onto the grass.
10 Joao WOW
Incredible debut in Paris for Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, and unbelievable fan support from the Brazilians. It’s only gonna get better for him in Paris. Stay tuned.
We witnessed his first-round victory over Hubert Hurkacz on Court 7 and it was one of the highlights of the tournament.
11 Teary Farewells
Richard Gasquet got the moment he deserved, facing Jannik Sinner on Chatrier in the second round. Caroline Garcia took us all by surprise with her shock retirement announcement. Two great French talents that will forever be missed. Glad we had the chance to celebrate them.
12 Monfils Magic
This time next year, it might be Gael Monfils’ time to say goodbye. But this year the 38-year-old looked incredibly fit for his age as he captivated fans with two brilliant night session matches. It took all Jack Draper had to end his tournament in the second round.
13 Hailey Baptiste Breaks Out
Awesome to see Hailey Baptiste have her moment at the Slams. She reached the round of 16 at a major for the first time and we got to know her story a little bit better. Just how close she has been to Frances Tiafoe and how their careers are inextricably linked. How Franklin Tiafoe, Frances’ twin, plays a key role. It’s all so warm and fuzzy.
14 Errani Winning Machine
Another top-notch doubles performance from 38-year-old Italian Sara Errani, who won the mixed title and the doubles title. She’s amazing to watch on the doubles court: she has all the tools (except for the serve, of course) and never seems to make a mistake.
15 Cheeseburger in Paradise?
Did you know you can get a cheeseburger for under €12 over by court Court Suzanne-Lenglen? A quality burger at a very nice price. Check it out next year. The food in Paris is top-notch overall, and not crazy overpriced like the US Open.
16 Granollers and Zeballos Win Doubles
It was awesome to see this team finally breakthrough and win a Grand Slam title. go back and watch their post match celebration if you wanna cry a little bit. Beautiful moment. It was the pair’s fourth major title together, and the win MEANT EVERYTHING.
17 Mboko Debuts In Style
18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko looks like she has a very bright future ahead of her. She qualified and reached the third round in Paris before losing to China’s Zheng Qinwen. Tons of pop, an aggressive game, athletic movement — there’s a lot to like.
18 Bublik’s Balance
Gotta hand it to the enormously talented Alexander Bublik. He’s not willing to lay his body on the line as much as many of his peers, and yet he has tons more personality and tons more athletic ability than many of them. He’s a huge value-add to the sport, and when he plays like he did in Paris, it’s pretty phenomenal.
19 Give Women The Night Session
Roland-Garros really has to do something about the night sessions. Ons Jabeur makes a point when she calls attention to the fact that if women aren’t ever given the chance to shine in that high-profile spot, how are we ever going to properly showcase the value of women’s tennis? It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that will ultimately make opportunities less available for women in the sport across the board.
Just find a way, Roland-Garros.
20 TNT Shines
American players were raving about TNT’s coverage of Roland-Garros, saying that they were hearing from friends back home who were also excited about it. The numbers were great as well, along with engagement. The network is more committed to bringing unique coverage, and it is available to more people in the U.S. Total win.
21 Sabalenka v Swiatek
Another thought on Sabalenka and what it must have taken to be the one to end Iga Swiatek’s 26-match Roland-Garros winning streak. No, Sabalenka didn’t get the title, but this victory was one of the most important of her career. More proof that she is, for the moment, the true No.1.
22 Ben Shelton Showtime
Gotta hand it to Shelton. He shows up at the big events, and against the biggest names. He took a set off of Carlos Alcaraz and nearly had the first set as well (two set points). In the end he didn’t get over the hurdle, but his performance leaves many believing that he could be the American man that finally comes through and wins a major.
23 Electronic or Human?
Is it worth a few mistakes to have real human beings officiating lines at a Grand Slam event? It sure felt warmer, watching the linespeople do their things and having umpires pop out of their chairs to take closer looks at disputed calls. And not hearing that repetitive AI-generated out call for three weeks straight, whether in person or watching on TV, does wonders for the soul.
I hope we see them back next year…
24 Best Wheelchair Rivalry?
Have to love Tokita Oda vs Alfie Hewett. The 18-year-old Japanese won again, defeating Hewit for his third RG title. Also of note in the wheelchairs was the end of Diede De Groot’s Grand Slam winning streak – she has claimed the title at the last 15 majors she had contested, but fell to China’s Xaoihui Liu in the first round. Yui Kamiji won the title.
25 MERCI RAFA
We come full circle to close our thoughts at the beginning. Day 1, Court Philippe-Chatrier, not a dry eye in the place as Rafael Nadal was feted like the King of Clay that he is. Everything about this tribute was perfect, all the way down to the plaque that will forever live, embedded in the very clay that Nadal conducted his clay-court symphony on. Perfect.