Out of step: How Roland Garros’ reluctance could leave it behind

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images French Open chief accuses players of ‘refusing’ to help the tournament improve The French Open is now only a month away, and while it might be hard to top last year’s excitement, there’s still plenty to look forward to. Many fans will remember what a thrilling final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard saved three match points before fighting back to win in five sets, giving him his fifth Grand Slam title.

The 2025 women’s final was just as exciting, with Coco Gauff coming from behind to beat Aryna Sabalenka, winning her second major at just 21 years old. Trying to match the quality of those finals will be tough this year. Even so, the tournament can still improve in other areas – though not everyone seems on board with how things are going.

Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images Amelie Mauresmo raises concerns over Roland Garros direction Amelie Mauresmo has shared her opinion on why she believes the future of Roland Garros should lean more towards tradition than innovation. The 2026 season began with a unique new concept at the Australian Open called The One Point Slam. The event, held at Rod Laver Arena just before the main draw, featured both pros and amateurs competing in a knockout tournament where each match was decided by a single point.

The winner walked away with A$1 million. What started out as something that looked like a gimmick turned into an interesting event, with Sydney amateur Jordan Smith defeating Sinner and Amanda Anisimova on his way to winning the title and the prize money. The idea seemed to click with fans on social media, generating plenty of buzz.