Paris, FRANCE — Since its start on May 24, Roland-Garros has once again brought tennis back to one of the sport’s most glamorous yet grueling stages as the long days of spring settle over the city. The scenic contrast of red clay and blue skies frames one of tennis’s most iconic spectacles, while long rallies push players to their physical and emotional limits. At one of the sport’s greatest tests of endurance, patience, and mental resilience, Team Yonex players are ready to leave their mark on the red courts of Paris.
The Prince of Clay Returns
Clay doesn’t forgive mistakes—and Casper Ruud (NOR) rarely gives any away. The two-time Roland-Garros finalist has already reached the quarterfinals in Madrid and finished runner-up in Rome this season, showcasing his mastery on the surface. Armed with heavy topspin and relentless consistency, Ruud embodies the classic clay-court specialist. His game, forged through a tireless work ethic, makes him one of the most formidable contenders on the Paris clay—and his sights are set only on the ultimate prize: the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
Big Servers Ready to Storm the Clay
A booming serve is one of tennis’s greatest spectacles; Team Yonex’s powerful players are poised to unleash theirs against the grand backdrop of Paris.
Ben Shelton (USA), with a blistering 150 mph serve, recently captured his biggest clay-court title at the ATP 500 BMW Open in Munich. The explosive left-handed kick serve could prove especially dangerous on the Roland-Garros clay.
Another big server is Valentin Vacherot (MCO). Last October, Vacherot made a stunning breakthrough at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, surging from qualifying all the way to the title. The remarkable run lifted his ranking from No.204 to No.40, and he has continued to establish himself on tour ever since, climbing to a career-high No.16 this May.
The rapidly rising 27-year-old combines a 130+ mph serve with a devastatingly heavy forehand—weapons that have already proved effective on clay with a semifinal run at his home tournament in Monte Carlo.
Ice Queens Heating Up Paris
No matter the stage or weight of expectation, Elena Rybakina (KAZ) moves with striking calmness. Beneath bright lights and roaring crowds, she has become one of the Tour’s most formidable players—and one of the Tour’s most in-form players this season.
After lifting the Australian Open trophy in January, she carried her momentum onto clay by capturing the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Now sitting at a career-high world No. 2, Rybakina arrives in Paris as one of the tournament’s leading contenders. The Roland-Garros title is firmly within her sights.
The American Jessica Pegula (USA) is also distinguished for her cool composure.
She has built one of the most consistent campaigns on tour, reaching at least the quarterfinals in seven of her first eight tournaments this year—including a title at the Credit One Charleston Open on clay.
Her intelligent counterpunching game adapts beautifully to different conditions, becoming more effective with every match. As the tour turns to Paris, Pegula arrives carrying strong momentum on clay.
Among the top 100 female singles players, 34 currently use Yonex racquets—tying for the highest share among all brands. On the men’s side, 20 of the top 100 players use Yonex, giving the brand the highest combined share across both tours.
