The French Open courts are clay, a tricky surface for some. Here's how the pros do it
The French Open features clay courts, which present unique challenges for professional tennis players. Athletes must adapt their techniques to navigate the variable surface, which can shift underfoot and reacts differently to weather conditions. Players like Marta Kostyuk and Steve Johnson share insights on how they have adjusted their gameplay to succeed on clay.
- ▪The French Open's clay courts are known for being challenging due to their unstable surface.
- ▪Players must adapt their techniques as clay slows down the ball and can change with weather conditions.
- ▪Marta Kostyuk improved her adaptability on clay, leading to a significant rise in her world ranking after winning back-to-back tournaments.
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| Original publisher | NPR — News |
| Canonical URL | https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5822888/french-open-clay-hailey-baptiste |
| Publication time | Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-19T09:09:57.431Z |
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Sports The French Open courts are clay, a tricky surface for some. Here's how the pros do it May 19, 20265:00 AM ET By Ayana Archie Hailey Baptiste of United States plays a forehand against Madison Keys of United States during the Women's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 02, 2025 in Paris, France. Adam Pretty/Getty Images Europe hide caption toggle caption Adam Pretty/Getty Images Europe The men's and women's qualifying rounds of the French Open started Monday, culminating a season of professional tennis on a surface that's notoriously challenging to compete on: clay.
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