The tour’s chief women's rivals of recent seasons practise together in Paris
Rarely do preeminent champions put a chief rivalry on tour aside to share a practice court days out from the start of a major.
While yet to square off for Grand Slam spoils, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have claimed seven of the past 12 major trophies between them over three years and while the Pole has suffered a dip in form this season, they remain arguably the pair to beat at this year’s Roland-Garros.
A contrast in style and personality, pundits relish when their hyped showdowns eventuate.
So it was that their one-hour practice session was closed to the public on Tuesday, tucked away within the sunken confines of the site’s third arena, Court Simonne-Mathieu – a chance for both to iron out kinks without the distraction of fans filling the stands.
Admittedly, it was not the first time the two helped fine-tune each other’s form, but at a major this was a marked difference to the two previous hit-outs – at the WTA Finals in Riyadh last November and in the off-season in Abu Dhabi ahead of this year’s Australian Open when the duo posted footage being put through their paces in agility drills and trading blows on court.
Some of their most absorbing tussles – namely the Madrid finals of 2023 and 2024 - have played out on clay and this year they could, in theory, meet as early as the quarterfinals after Swiatek’s slip to world No.5.
Still in search of her first title of the season, the Pole is a four-time champion in Paris, however, and the opponent of which Sabalenka is most wary on this surface.
While the two high-profile names opted to keep their practice session away from the hustle and bustle of an open Court Philippe-Chatrier, Zheng Qinwen – Sabalenka’s recent Rome conqueror – and later the new world No.2, Coco Gauff – Swiatek’s Madrid vanquisher – faced the fans in their respective training sessions with their hitting partners.
Two of the most exciting Grand Slam prospects in the men’s draw, Denmark’s world No.10 Holger Rune and France’s world No.14 Arthur Fils stood toe-to-toe in a heavy training session on Chatrier.
It continued a welcome return for Rune, who struggled with illness following a standout dash to the Barcelona title on clay over Carlos Alcaraz, while it was a chance for Fils to soak up the big stage before he carries the nation’s hopes of ending the wait for the next home Grand Slam champion.
The Roland-Garros 2025 Opening Week is shaping up nicely! Tickets are still available to come and support the future stars and watch training sessions with the biggest names on the WTA and ATP tours.
Click HERE to buy your tickets on the official Roland-Garros 2025 ticketing website
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
