American 18-year-old is looking to make the move from the junior to the pro tour this summer.
American Keaton Hance had a near miss at the Australian Open in January, falling 6-4 in the third set of the boys’ final to Ziga Sesko of Slovenia.
The 18-year-old hopes to take the next step on the terre battue of Paris this year and he's off to a sterling start. Hance eased past Brazil’s Pedro Henrique Chabalgoity, 6-4, 6-2 on Court 2 to reach the third round in Paris for the first time.
“Coming into this week, I of course have my eyes set on winning the tournament,” he said after his match, which was played in two parts, with covers coming on after a heavy shower hit Paris after the first set. “Especially after doing so well in Australia. It gave me a lot of confidence and really showed me that I'm able to do it.”
Hance will face Turkish qualifier Kaan Isik Kosaner in the third round.
The Torrance, California, native is one of the rare Americans who prefers to play on clay.
When one observes the brand of physicality that he deploys, as well as his groundstrokes, which are laced with scorching topspin, it’s easy to see why he prefers the terre battue.
“I enjoy clay more than any other surface,” he said. “A lot of people are surprised by that because I'm American. But I have spent a lot of time in Orlando, training on the red clay. I'm one of the lucky few Americans who have gotten to play on red clay a lot.”
To be able to take his talents to the red clay of Roland-Garros is a privilege.
“It’s unbelievable – the best clay in the world,” Hance says.
When it comes to navigating the transition from juniors to pros, which he plans to make this summer, Hance can lean on childhood friend and fellow Torrance native Iva Jovic for advice.
“We grew up together,” he told rolandgarros.com of the rising star, who reached the third round of the women's main draw at RG this year and lived five minutes away when they were kids. “I grew up hitting with her because there weren’t many kids that were actually taking tennis very seriously around our neighbourhood," Hance said. "We became good friends and hit a lot from when we were like seven or eight, up until age 15 or 16.
"Then we both started travelling a lot more, but whenever we're both home we'll hop on the court together.
Keaton Hance on Iva Jovic
Hance said that from a very young age he had a feeling that his friend was ticketed for success.
“I'm not gonna lie, I called it,” he said of the current world No.17's rise. “When I was younger I told my mom. I was like, ‘I can tell.’ It wasn't how good she was, it was just her determination. Even as a young person, I could really see how much she wanted to be great.”
Hance hopes to follow in Jovic’s footsteps and make his way into the top 20 someday. For now he’s watching young talents such as Rafael Jodar, Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik rise on the men’s side and is saying, ‘Why not me?’
“I think it’s a really good opportunity for the guys who are still in,” he said. “So much can change in such a short amount of time, and I think that's a possibility for me, and all these guys at this tournament as well,” he said. “I think any of us can do it. It just takes a lot of hard work and determination. It definitely motivates me.”
A Chinese girl has never won the Roland-Garros junior title, but second-seeded Sun Xinran is hoping to change that this week. She has powered into the round of 16 without dropping a set, but the competition will be fierce as another three of the top five seeds have also progressed.
No.3-seeded Brazilian Victoria Luiza Barros has yet to drop a set either. Fifth seed Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva, also from Brazil, advanced in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-2) over China’s Shao Yushan.
Brazil has never produced a Roland-Garros junior champion.
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
