French Open Qualifying Kicks Off on Challenging Clay

The men's and women's qualifying rounds of the French Open started Monday. The tournament is played on clay, a surface that is considered challenging by many players.

"Players at this level are phenomenal and learn to adapt." – Steve Johnson, retired pro with 10 French Opens

The Surface

Roland-Garros stadium features a five-layer court structure topped with red brick dust. Clay differs significantly from hard courts (which use a resin or acrylic top coat) and grass (which has a rougher texture and lower bounce).

Clay is highly sensitive to weather conditions. It becomes firmer on cool days and looser on hot days, according to Johnson. Players may need to adjust tactics accordingly—employing wrong-footing, more aggressive play, or shifting defensive strategies.

Player Perspectives

Steve Johnson on Adaptation

The retired American noted that U.S. green clay is finer and more slippery than European red clay. However, adaptation time decreased significantly with experience as players learned to handle the shifting conditions.

Marta Kostyuk's Flexibility

The Ukrainian player admitted that as a junior, she was rigid in her approach but learned to be flexible over time. The clay season is short (late March to early June), and each clay court differs—for example, Madrid's high altitude makes balls fly faster. Kostyuk described Roland-Garros clay as "very real," similar to the courts she grew up on.

"Roland-Garros clay is very real—like the courts I grew up on." – Marta Kostyuk

Her adaptability paid off: she won back-to-back clay tournaments in Madrid and Rouen, rising from 28th to 15th in the WTA rankings.

Hailey Baptiste's Edge

The American, currently ranked 24th in WTA singles, calls clay her favorite surface. Her strong quadriceps give her a notable advantage in sliding—a crucial skill on clay. Baptiste reached the fourth round in women's singles at the 2023 French Open.