Roland-Garros 2023: the 14 things to know before diving into the event

Tennis lovers will have their eyes riveted on the clay courts of Roland-Garros. This Monday begins the qualifications for the French Grand Slam. Before diving into the event (May 22-June 11), Europe 1, the tournament’s official radio, takes stock of the main information from the 122nd edition in the history of the tournament. From Rafael Nadal’s absence to Yannick Noah’s 1983 victory celebration, to players to watch and what’s new, here are 14 essential facts you need to know.

“Rafa” absent from his favorite tournament, a first since 2005

The eternal Rafael Nadal will not be at the rendezvous of his favorite Grand Slam. The Spaniard, true legend of the tournament with his 14 titles, withdrew on Thursday May 18 for the first time since his debut in 2005. The Majorcan is indeed experiencing a very delicate period: since his injury contracted at the Open Australia, he no longer turned back the slightest tennis court on the ATP circuit, and missed all the clay preparation before the Parisian meeting. At almost 37 years old, “Rafa”, holder of the trophy, indicated that he would stop “probably” in 2024.

A tribute edition to Yannick Noah

The 2023 edition of Roland-Garros marks the 40th anniversary of Yannick Noah’s victory at Porte d’Auteuil (June 5, 1983), to date the last victory for a Frenchman in the men’s singles draw. To celebrate this anniversary, the organization of the tournament has reserved a multitude of events for spectators. Thus, the charity day organized on Saturday, on the eve of the first day of the tournament, is renamed “Journée Yannick Noah”.

Also, a fresco in his image recalling the player but also the person will be unveiled the next day inside the stadium. In addition, other surprises are planned but have not yet been revealed, the president of the French Tennis Federation, Gilles Moretton, having kept the suspense in the show Europe 1 Sport last March 30.

Alcaraz, Swiatek, Djokovic… The favorites of the tournament

If the return of Rafael Nadal will ultimately not take place, another Spaniard will steal the show: Carlos Alcaraz. The phenomenon of just 20 years stands out as the successor of his elder. He has already won four tournaments, including the Madrid Masters 1000 which is played on clay. The one who is now world number one is the big favorite of this edition, ahead of the Serbian Novak Djokovic. The winner of the 2021 edition will try to glean a 23rd trophy in Major, an absolute record, and overtake his rival Rafael Nadal in the number of Grand Slam titles.

Among the ladies, the Polish Iga Swiatek, world number one, and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who unlocked her counter in the Grand Slam at the Australian Open, took the reins of the women’s ranking. The two rivals start with a head start, but will have to be wary of the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, winner of Wimbledon last year and who has just won the WTA 1000 in Rome.

Garcia, Gasquet, Van Assche… The French to follow

And the French in all this? This year again, it will be very complicated for the Habs to win. If Caroline Garcia made a strong impression last year, notably winning the Masters, the 2023 season for the Lyonnaise is a whole different story: the 4th in the world could not do better than a round of 16 at the Open Australia, and seems lacking in confidence. Second highest ranked Tricolor with her 64th world rank, Alizé Cornet also hopes to shine in front of her audience in a tournament that she particularly appreciates.

Among the gentlemen, in addition to confirmed headliners such as Richard Gasquet and Gaël Monfils, the eye of the experts will be on the next generation, who have particularly distinguished themselves lately. First and foremost Luca Van Assche, 18, who joined the top 100 of the ATP ranking. An unprecedented performance in France for a certain… Gaël Monfils. Another young shoot, Arthur Fils, also 18, has had some good results this season (semi-final in Marseille in particular) which can allow him to shine in Paris.

Russian and Belarusian players admitted under neutral banner

Like last year, in the context of the war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to compete, but under a neutral banner. This means that their nationality will not appear on the scoreboards. Different tennis stars are concerned, like the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka or the Russian Daniil Medvedev. In 2022, only the Wimbledon tournament had refused entry to professionals from these two countries.

Singles, doubles, wheelchair… The different competitions

Roland-Garros is not limited to single tournaments for ladies and gentlemen. In reality, other competitions are organized in parallel, like the doubles ladies, gentlemen, and also mixed. There are also junior singles and doubles tournaments, open to players under the age of 18. Last year, it was a Frenchman, Gabriel Debru, who won the singles final.

Wheelchair tennis events are also offered in the last week. Frenchman Stéphane Houdet is also a great specialist. Finally, note that there is a much friendlier competition, the Legends trophy, which brings together former tennis glories for matches that are above all focused on good humor and spectacle.

Europe 1, official radio station of Roland-Garros

So as not to miss anything of the world tennis event, Europe 1, official radio station of Roland-Garros, offers a special device to its listeners. The on-air tennis consultant, Cédric Pioline, former Davis Cup winner, will notably share his expertise every evening, between 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. The show Europe 1 Sport will also be relocated to the Europe 1 studio, located opposite the Philippe-Chatrier court.

A tournament broadcast all over the world

In France, the Roland-Garros tournament is broadcast on the channels of the France Télévisions group and on the Amazon Prime Video platform. But it is also on more than 170 television channels and platforms around the world. Enough to make the Parisian Grand Slam the international sporting event of the moment.

The poster for the 2023 edition

Since 1980, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) has asked an artist to design the poster for the next edition of Roland-Garros. For 2023, it is the French Maxime Verdier who has been invited to carry it out. We can imagine a tennis player on a court, observing the two main stadiums of the site (Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen) under a starry night of small yellow balls.

Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo alongside the poster for the 2023 edition of Roland-Garros.
Credits: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

Public admitted to training

Among the novelties of the 2023 edition, the organizers are giving spectators the opportunity to attend the training sessions of the greatest players on the Philippe-Chatrier court during Opening Week, from May 22 to 26. The doors of the center will be open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the entire stadium will be accessible to the public from qualifying.

It should also be noted that all ticket holders, even in the annex court category, will be able to attend the main draw matches on the Simonne-Mathieu court, the third largest court in the tournament, in the upper stand.

Advanced night sessions

For the third edition with night sessions, the tournament has tried to solve a number of problems, particularly related to the late end time of the matches, for the players as well as for the public. This is why as of this year, the evening matches will start at 8:30 p.m. and no longer at 9 p.m. Also, at 8 p.m., a show will warm up the audience on the central court.

Fight against cyberbullying

As its director Amélie Mauresmo announced last April, the Roland-Garros tournament will offer players tools to fight against cyberbullying. As Franceinfo reports, the FFT has linked up with an expert company in the field, Bodyguard, which will be responsible for erasing hateful messages on the various social networks.

More than 610,000 spectators last year

During the 2022 edition, the first without Covid restrictions since 2019, some 613,586 spectators went to the aisles of Roland-Garros to attend the matches according to the site press release. A record, says the tournament. Four years ago, they were 520,000 to have savored the exchanges on clay. An increase in the number of spectators made possible thanks to the redevelopment of the site.

An overall increase in funding

The tournament organizers have unveiled the overall prize pool for the 2023 edition, which will be 49.6 million euros. An endowment up 12.3% compared to 2022. The winner will win 2.3 million euros, for both men and women. Note also that an elimination in the first round will bring in 69,000 euros.