Geneva, 20 May 2025 – Weeks of intense competition on the clay reaches a crescendo, as the tennis world descends on Roland-Garros from Sunday 25 May to Sunday 8 June. Throughout the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Madrid, Rome, and beyond, the European clay-court season has encouraged players to adapt their movement and tactics to this demanding, slow-paced surface. Among those striving for clay-court supremacy in Paris over the next fortnight will be the reigning singles champions and Rolex Testimonees Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz.

Last year’s journey to the crown was perhaps Świątek’s most challenging to date. The Pole staged a spectacular comeback in the second round, saving a match point at 5–2 down in the third set, before triumphing and going on to lift the Suzanne-Lenglen Trophy for a fourth time. Świątek says:

The 23-year-old arrives in the French capital aiming to reproduce the impressive form that has made her look so at home on the tournament’s main arena, Court Philippe-Chatrier. Reflecting on what this court means to her, Świątek adds:

Few styles of play have suited the red clay more than Świątek’s and that of her fellow Rolex Testimonee, Chris Evert. The latter won seven of her 18 women’s Grand Slam® singles titles at Roland-Garros – a record that stands today. Fittingly, the American tennis legend presented Świątek with the trophy last June on the same court where she first tasted Grand Slam® glory in 1974. Reflecting on this memorable moment, Evert says:

On being part of the Rolex family together, Evert adds:

Rolex became Official Timekeeper of Roland-Garros in 2019, reinforcing its long-standing association with tennis dating back almost half a century. During this time, many players have made their mark in sporting history with Rolex by their side. Alcaraz will be joined in the men’s singles draw by the 2025 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, along with a quartet seeking a maiden Roland-Garros title, namely Holger Rune, Stéfanos Tsitsipás, Ben Shelton and João Fonseca. Alcaraz, a Rolex Testimonee with four Grand Slam® titles to his name, says:

On the women’s side, 2024 doubles champion Coco Gauff and the teen sensation Mirra Andreeva will be looking to improve on their runs to the singles semi-finals last year. Competing alongside them are Caroline Garcia and Qinwen Zheng, both of whom have fond memories of Paris, having achieved some of the greatest moments of their careers at Stade Roland-Garros.