Road to Roland-Garros 2018: the ball-kids selections (chapter 1)

©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

In 2009, Roger Federer reached his fourth consecutive Roland-Garros final. But for the first time, the Swiss is not facing his greatest rival Rafael Nadal. The world No.2 plays against the upset of this edition, Sweden's Robin Söderling, who beat the Majorcan in fourth round. At the end of a well-controlled match (6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4), he won his 14th Grand Slam tournament, becoming the 6th player in history to add his name to the list of winners at every Major.

©Cédric Lecocq / FFT

Take a look back at the breathtaking battle between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal during their 2021 Roland-Garros semi-final. Never beaten at this stage of the tournament, the defending champion finally cracked in the Parisian night, at the end of a magnificent and memorable 4h10 thriller (3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2). A triumph confirmed by the world No.1, who lifted his second Coupe des Mousquetaires two days later.

©Roland-Garros

Crowned in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, Justine Henin shares her best memories of Roland-Garros. A life changing tournament for the little Belgium girl she was when she first came to Paris.

©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

Incredible match, incredible outcome for this 2022 semi-final. Pushed to his limits by an impressive Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal had to save four first-set points against the German, who then served to win the second set before a cruel end to the match that you may remember!

Almost thirty years later, the Swiss Marc Rosset remembers his best memories at Roland-Garros. From watching Borg's matches and Yannick Noah's final on TV, he ended up playing on the court Philippe-Chatrier himself. On the clay, he managed to reach the semi-final in 1996. Beating Stefan Edberg in the fourth round, then Bernd Karbacher – thanks to a special fan in the crowd: Jean-Paul Belmondo -, he talks with honesty and humour about this adventure and has only one regret: not being able to face Yevgueni Kafelnikov in the final.