Paris, FRANCE — Roland Garros, the second grand slam tournament of the season, begins in Paris on 26th May and Team Yonex is set to light up the courts. Leading the way is Madison Keys (USA), who made headlines with her triumphant run at the Australian Open in January. Now, in the city of art, Team Yonex athletes are ready to turn the red clay into their own canvas of creativity.
Madison’s Dream Run Inspires a Ripple Effect
Madison Keys’ long-awaited Grand Slam breakthrough at 29 years-old captivated fans around the globe and it was also a source of great motivation for her fellow players.
Perhaps no one was more inspired than Jessica Pegula (USA),her compatriot and close friend: “Madison is about my age. She is someone we all respect,” she said. “Her win gave so many of us a boost — myself included.” That surge of inspiration may well have fuelled Pegula’s own title run at the Credit One Charleston Open last month.
Another late-blooming star performing at an extremely high level is Jasmine Paolini (ITA). At 28, she enjoyed a transformative season last year as she broke into the top five and made her grand slam breakthrough at Roland Garros. Paolini’s energetic court coverage and radiant smile won hearts as she reached the finals in both singles and doubles.
With a game naturally suited to clay, Paolini has taken her game to new heights this season, winning both singles and doubles titles on home soil at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, her second WTA 1000 title. She will now set her sights on grand slam glory in Paris.
Ruud’s Eyes Are on an Even Bigger Prize
Casper Ruud (NOR) claimed the biggest title of his career on clay, his favorite surface, at the recent Mutua Madrid Open, which marked his first Masters 1000 title after reaching two other finals.
Having already twice finished runner-up at Roland Garros, Ruud’s breakthrough performance in Madrid perfectly positions him for another “third time's a charm” run in Paris this year.
Tommy Paul (USA) is also in top form. At the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, he enjoyed an excellent run to his second consecutive semi-final before making life extremely difficult for the world No.1 Jannik Sinner in an exciting battle.
Meanwhile, Ben Shelton (USA) Paul’s friend and compatriot, reached the BMW Open final in Munich. Along with Frances Tiafoe (USA) the American players continue to push each other forward and they will all be looking to make a big statement in Paris.
Youth on the Rise — Ready to Break Through?
Team Yonex’s rising stars are also making waves this year. Joao Fonseca (BRA), the 18-year-old Brazilian, has generated significant attention with his performances so early in his career, winning his first ATP Tour title in February on clay. Brazil has a rich history at Roland Garros, particularly through the three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten, and Fonseca is poised to inherit that legacy. With the crowd behind him, how far can he go?
On the women’s side, 17-year-old Iva Jovic (USA) enters the main draw as a wild card. The California native with Serbian roots recently won her biggest career title at the ITF W100 event in Charlottesville, Virginia. She arrives in Paris riding a wave of confidence and she could emerge as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.