Andy Rublev Exposes Concerning Reality of Courts in Paris Ahead of Roland Garros

Sabadell Spain - ZUMAu50_ 20260419_zsp_u50_076 Copyright: xXavixUrgelesx ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire The courts at the French Open remain unlike any other surface in tennis, something players have warned about for years. Back in 2007, Maria Sharapova famously admitted she felt like a “cow on ice” while battling the slippery clay in Paris. Now, Andrey Rublev has added his voice to those growing concerns, exposing an unsettling reality surrounding the Roland Garros courts ahead of this year’s tournament.

Speaking in an interview with Championat , the Russian was asked whether the courts in Italy reminded him of the conditions at Roland Garros. “No, I don’t see any similarities at all,” the Russian admitted while discussing the modern conditions on the Paris clay courts. Rublev then went further and delivered a blunt assessment of how the French Open courts have changed in recent years.

According to him, many of the outside courts no longer even feel like true clay surfaces. “I don’t know, now in recent years in Paris, especially if you don’t play at the stadium, then it’s like you’re not playing on clay at all – it’s slippery, concrete, and there is not much sand itself. I don’t even know what it looks like… Nothing.

” Mutua Madrid Open 2026 – Day 5 Andrey Rublev of Russia competes against Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic during their Men s Singles match on Day Five of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 24, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. Madrid Madrid Spain PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMiguelxReisx originalFilename:reis-notitle260424_npTkY. jpg The world No.