Day 1 preview: the dream that never dies

David's last dance

Good grief, it’s David Goffin on Court Suzanne-Lenglen (third match on, if you want to take a look). But we all remember Goffin as the starstruck 21-year-old hope playing Roger Federer here in the fourth round.

He looked about 14 at the time (he doesn’t look that much older now) and admitted that when he was a boy he idolised Federer and had posters of the mighty Swiss on his bedroom wall. He won the first set of that match, too, before losing in four.

That was back in 2012. Now, a career later and at the age of 35, this will be his final visit to Roland-Garros. This is his farewell season and even if he said that it was the hardest decision of his life to retire, he knows the time is right.

Once he was the world No.7; now he is ranked No.249. Injuries and the passing years have knocked him back but still he has fought on. Now, though, enough is enough. That said, he is still looking for one last hurrah and he hopes to start that search against Tseng Chun-Hsin, the 24-year-old No.169 from Chinese Taipei.

Next on court is Sloane Stephens. Yes, that Sloane Stephens: the US Open champion of 2017 and the Roland Garros finalist of 2018. She is slowly making her way back from a stress fracture in her right foot that cost her six months of last year.

She only managed to play six matches in 2025, and when she won her opening qualifying match at the Australian Open this January, it was her first at any level since 2024.

With a ranking of No.362 she is a lifetime away from her best (No.3 when she was in her pomp) but she will not give up the dream. Her ambitions for this season? Simply to play tennis. Lots and lots of tennis.

"I don't know where that's going to take me, but to be pain-free, healthy and win a lot of matches,” she said in Australia. On Monday she will attempt to win against Carol Young Suh Lee of the United States first up. 

Three to watch

Court 3, fourth match

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Moez Echargui (TUN)

There was a time, and it doesn’t seem that long ago, when Bernie Tomic was Australia’s young superstar. Aged 18 and as a qualifier, he marched into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon only to be brought back down to earth by Novak Djokovic.

Fast forward 15 years and the 33-year-old has had his share of injuries and fallen in and out of love with the game a dozen times. As the end of his career draws nigh, he seems to be back on speaking terms with his sport and even if clay is not his favoured surface, he is willing to battle it out in qualifying for another shot at glory.

Court 4, third match

Mona Barthel (GER) v Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)

Sometimes, life doesn’t work out the way you planned. Like so many young girls of her generation in Germany, Mona wanted to be like Steffi Graf when she grew up (she even wore the same kit and used the same racket as her idol).

But not everyone can be the world No.1 and win 22 Grand Slam titles, not that it stopped Mona from trying. Now aged 35, she has won four career titles and was once ranked No.23 in the world (she is now No.186). And even at this stage in her life her goals are the same as they ever were: “To keep improving and be the best I can be.”

Court 14, second match

Dan Evans (GBR) v Daniel Jade (FRA)

Two men staring at each other from opposite ends of their career paths: Dan is 35, an Olympian, a Davis Cup winner and has earned more than $9 million. Just three years ago, he was the world No.21 (he is currently No.206). Daniel the Frenchman is only 17, has earned the princely sum of $10,709 and is ranked No.1857.

The more experienced Dan’s talent has never been in doubt and had he been four or five inches taller, his career might have been very different.

He also took his time to make the most of his gifts and is now wringing every last drop from them. He knows that retirement is approaching, but he won’t make a fuss. There will be no big announcement; he will just quietly go home and do something else. Catch him now while you still have the chance.