| The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is pleased to announce the latest edition of Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault 2025, the Final Stage of which will be held on 24 May, in public, in the Roland-Garros Tenniseum auditorium. |
| · For the fourth consecutive year, the competition will be played on Tennis Clash – the mobile game developed by Wildlife Studios which has been downloaded 170 million times. |
| · Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is introducing a new format for its Final Stage which will see the participants compete as a team. They will be led by two prominent figures in French tennis including one Grand Slam winner – to be announced soon. Gilles Simon, the former ATP world number 6 and ambassador for previous editions, will bring all his experience to the second team. |
| · As part of offering an even more competitive experience, the final draw will go through a double elimination and will include winner’s and loser’s brackets. |
| · Renault and Mastercard have renewed their support for the competition as title partner and official partner, respectively. |
| · The €5,000 prize pool for Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault will be shared between the winner and the runner-up. |
| Paris, France – 24 February 2025 – Since selecting Tennis Clash as the official game for the 2022 competition, featuring 238,000 qualifiers, this unmissable global eTennis event has grown and improved impressively and this year’s edition sees plenty of new features and excitement. With more than 548,000 participants in the Open Qualifiers across 215 territories in 2024, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is now enjoying resounding success in France and internationally! Last year, it achieved an important milestone by being held in the Roland-Garros Tenniseum auditorium in front of over 200 spectators in attendance and more than 200,000 watching live via Samuel Etienne’s Twitch. The venue will once again welcome the world’s biggest eTennis tournament for its 8th edition, with Renault as title partner and Mastercard as official partner. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) reaffirms its aim to elevate eTennis to the next level by offering a more competitive and immersive experience. A fully updated format therefore awaits participants and spectators, involving the most talented players and iconic personalities from French tennis. |
| Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is being played again this year on Wildlife Studios‘ highly popular mobile game Tennis Clash, having been selected in 2023 for the Olympics Esport Series. The game is recognised worldwide for its advanced technical features and the talent shown by its players at the highest level. With a community of 5 million players connected every month, it is now established as the standard for online tennis games. The synergy between the Parisian Grand Slam and the game is the fruit of four years of close collaboration resulting in an increasingly immersive experience. For example, participants can compete on a faithful reproduction of the Philippe-Chatrier Court and can access exclusive outfits for the event for their favourite characters. The tournament’s 2025 edition promises to be outstanding – with numerous improvements, starting with the integration of official Roland-Garros soundtracks. To enhance the immersive experience and capture the true essence of a tennis match, scores will be announced by Aurélie Tourte – the internationally renowned French referee who officiated at the Roland-Garros men’s finals in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2024. |
| “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the continued growth of our competition and the evolution of Tennis Clash as the premier platform for competitive eTennis. This year, I’m particularly excited about the new Final Stage structure, which introduces a team-based dynamic and adds strategic depth by encouraging players to utilize different characters and playstyles throughout the competition”, says Giovanni Piffer, Business Development Lead for Tennis Clash. |
| In partnership with Renault, a new level of in-game integration will showcase the launch of the special Renault 5 Roland-Garros Series during loading screens. Strings in the colors of this special series will also be available. |
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| Three qualifying stages will be held in March and April, will give players from all over the world the chance to secure a spot among the eight finalists. The best female players in the first two Open Qualifiers will advance to the Final Stage along with the winners. This is a true demonstration of the FFT’s social commitment to diversity and inclusion, following the €8,115 donation to the Handigamers Association at the end of the 2024 edition. The five qualified participants will be joined by the two Grand Tour finalists, the circuit at the highest level of Tennis Clash, along with the reigning champion, the Italian Alessandro “ΔLEX” Bianco. |
| The competition will reach its pinnacle on Saturday 24 May 2025, with the Final Stage taking place in the prestigious Roland-Garros Tenniseum Auditorium, before a live audience and streamed on Twitch. This year marks the introduction of a new team-based format, with each squad supervised by a French tennis legend. Gilles Simon has been a commentator since 2023 and was invited into the Top 8 in 2024; he will face a formidable opponent whose identity is still under wraps. Each captain will lead a team of four, offering them the benefit of their expertise as tennis professionals. As a fervent supporter of tennis in all its forms and an eSports enthusiast, the former ATP world No. 6 and Davis Cup winner is eager to bring his expertise to virtual tennis. At the end of this first phase, the winning team will advance to the double elimination draw in the Winner Bracket, while the members of the losing team will start in the Loser Bracket. This is a difference that could prove crucial for the eight contenders in this Final Stage as they head towards the championship title! The two finalists will share the €5,000 prize pool. |
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This new format will delight players and spectators alike, by offering an exceptional show and face-offs! |
| “Being part of this Final Stage – whether as a consultant, player or now as a team captain – is always a huge honour for me. I am very excited about this new competition format and determined to prove to the other captain that my years of experience in the game will give my team a real advantage”, says Gilles Simon. |
| “Joining the biggest eTennis tournament as a team captain is very exciting. Helping these players perform on the biggest competitive stages is part of a mission that is particularly close to my heart. This tournament is the ideal setting to pass on my experience as a Grand Slam winner and support my team members in their quest for victory”, says the mystery captain of the second team. |
| As in every year, the eight finalists will have the opportunity to be part of a real eSports experience ahead of the Final Stage, with a full day spent at GameWard‘s premises – the official resident club of Boulogne-Billancourt led by current captain of the French Billie Jean King Cup team, Julien Benneteau, as sports director. Throughout the day, which is aimed at helping them improve, they will also be offered sessions on physical exercise and mental preparation, so that each participant is ready to give their best performance the following day. |
| For the second consecutive year, the French Tennis Federation is once again welcoming Renault as a title partner and Mastercard as an official partner. Their continued support helps enhance the global appeal of eTennis and reinforces Roland-Garros’ position as a leading player in this field, inspiring the other three Grand Slam tournaments. This dynamic collaboration, which includes Wildlife Studios with their Tennis Clash game, is behind the ongoing improvement and growth of the competition. This year, it will improve further with the integration of a special Renault 5 Roland-Garros series. The brand’s new flagship model was voted car of the year 2025 at the prestigious L’Argus Awards. |
| Already an official partner of Roland-Garros and a regular player in eSporting events for a number of years across a range of initiatives, Mastercard is once again demonstrating its investment in the Roland-Garros eSeries and is featured in the game – notably with its logo on the virtual Philippe-Chatrier Court. |
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| Join us to follow the competition on Twitch or experience it in person at the Roland-Garros Tenniseum for a one-of-a kind experience where tennis and eSports collide! |
| The Open Qualifiers will be held on: |
| · OQ #1: 6-11 March 2025 |
| · OQ #2: 20-25 March 2025 |
| · OQ #3: 3-8 April 2025 |
| · Grand Tour: 24 February to 23 March 2025 |
| Anyone wishing to register for one of the Open Qualifiers can do so free of charge on their smartphone or tablet via the Tennis Clash app, meaning that tennis fans around the world have the opportunity to take part. |
Tennis
Sixth seed Elena Rybakina is looking forward to taking to the Australian Open court again on Monday in her first-round clash against home hope Emerson Jones, after a mixed 2024 season that has seen her draft in fellow former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic as her coach – who helped Novak Djokovic to a period of title dominance from 2019 to 2024.
There is always magic in the air when the first Grand Slam of the year gets underway, not just the sunnier weather but also the surfing trips that often accompany it or, in the case of Rybakina, taking viral selfies with quokkas – cute marsupials from the kangaroo family – on an island near Perth.
Back on the court, the 25-year-old Kazakh has a fresh outlook and wants to attack again in 2025 starting with the Jones match which could open up a possible run to another final like 2023 thanks to a kind draw for her.
Rybakina is an ‘all around’ player who feels at home on all surfaces and comfortable playing all strokes, but she also knows that she can improve to take on the players above her in the rankings such as world number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus who beat her in the 2023 final.
At the United Cup in Perth, the dress rehearsal for the Australian Open, Rybakina and her teammates reached the semi-finals and she put up a great fight in two hard-fought sets against world number two Iga Świątek of Poland – precisely the type of match that she needed to regain competitive toughness.
Here is what the 2022 Wimbledon champion had to say ahead of her 2025 Melbourne title tilt:
Have you done anything differently than usual ahead of the Australian Open?
“For me, the break was longer than usual. I didn’t play for nearly two months. It was a positive experience. I didn’t do this for the last five, six years, where I only had a maximum of two weeks off. Also, after many injuries, I had the chance to fully recharge my batteries. It helped a lot.
“I didn’t miss the traveling at all. Instead, I had time to see family and friends, and also spend time with my dogs. I did some wakeboarding too and I finally took some driving lessons. I will hopefully get my license by the end of this year.”
What have you worked on specifically to get yourself in the best shape possible?
“We were working a little bit on everything on the court. During the off season, it’s important to regain physical strength. I tried to get back in shape physically and I’m feeling really good now. I know how to play kind of everything on court, but some strokes I don’t use that often.
“For example, the backhand slice when in a defending position. I practiced a lot on this. This is something I will definitely use more often during my matches.”
How has Goran helped put you in the right mindset for your 2025 season?
“We are working with Goran for a month now. We went to the United Cup together and we did a good job. One thing is clear: we are still getting used to each other. We will see how it is going to go but, for now, it’s been quite good.”
Rybakina is set to compete against Australian Emerson Jones in the Australian Open on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Listen to Rybakina’s winning mindset on ‘Mind Set Win’ podcast HERE.
Words and Images courtesy of Red Bull Media
Simona Halep Has ‘Gut Feeling’ She Will Miss The US Open, Says Coach – Adam Addicott
The reigning Wimbledon champion is currently the only top 10 player on the WTA Tour who is yet to formally announce her plans for the Grand Slam, which will begin in only two weeks time. This year’s tournament is taking place behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic with players being kept inside a bubble. America has recorded more than 166,000 deaths related to the virus. Upon attending, those playing will have to sign a waiver saying that they will not sue if they contract the virus. Furthermore, players who opt to stay in private accommodation are expected to pay for 24-hour security.
Shedding some light on the situation, coach Darren Cahill told Nine’s World Wide of Sports that he is yet to be given a definite decision from Halep concerning the US Open but it is doubtful. The Romanian returned to action this week at the Prague Open where she has reached the final. It is her first professional tournament since February.
“I did ask her before Prague started and her gut feeling that she wasn’t going to play (the US Open) but she wanted to play this tournament,” Cahill said on Sunday.
“It was the first one coming back from COVID restrictions and she wanted to see how she felt. It’s a short flight from Romania to Prague, but there is a big difference flying to New York.”
Full story & Image – https://www.ubitennis.net/2020/08/simona-halep-has-gut-feeling-she-will-miss-the-us-open-says-coach/
LiveScore Announced as Title Sponsor of LiveScore Cup, as Elite Women’s Tennis Returns to the Court
LiveScore, one of the world’s leading real-time sports updates and results providers, has announced its title sponsorship of the ‘LiveScore Cup’, with WTA World Number 3 Karolina Pliskova headlining a number of European stars as live women’s tennis returns.
Staged on clay-courts and held at the Stvanice Stadium in Prague from Wednesday 3rd until Saturday 6th June, the LiveScore Cup will follow a special round-robin format featuring former World Number 1 Pliskova alongside five leading European players, including 2019 Roland-Garros Finalist and current World Number 18 Marketa Vondrousova.
The creation of the LiveScore Cup, organised and marketed by SARAN Media Group and PR Stars and sanctioned by the Czech Tennis Federation, comes as a significant boost to tennis fans across the world who have been without live tennis since the elite season was put on hold by the COVID-19 outbreak in mid-March.
Featuring best-of-three set matches and culminating in a hotly-contested final on Saturday 6th June, the LiveScore Cup will be broadcast live on a number of European TV networks including Premier Sports in UK and Republic of Ireland, S Sport in Turkey, Setanta Sports in CIS, Sport Klub in the Balkan territories and Max Sport in Bulgaria.
Tennis fans will also be able to follow the on-court scores and statistics in real-time by using either LiveScore’s world-leading iOS and Android application or at LiveScore.com. With a global audience of more than 56 million monthly active users, which generates a monthly average of 30 million tennis related page views, LiveScore provides unparalleled coverage, content and statistics on men’s and women’s tennis, as well as for hundreds of different sporting leagues and competitions around the world.
This is LiveScore’s second sports sponsorship following the successful launch of its partnership with LaLiga Santander as ‘Official Global Scoring Partner’, and further shows its ambition to be at the forefront of sport consumption.
Ric Leask, Marketing Director at LiveScore, said;
“LiveScore is synonymous with live sports, so we are delighted to be playing a small part in the return of competitive action as title sponsor of the LiveScore Cup. This comes at a time when we are generating significant momentum across the business, and LiveScore Cup is another marker in the sand as sports fans become more familiar with our expanded offering.
Our app and LiveScore.com are already the go-to destinations for fast and reliable second-screen sports coverage to over 56 million users, but we are thrilled to be putting our head above the parapet once again and introducing LiveScore to new users as we continue to grow.”
Will Thomas, Head of Sponsorship at LiveScore,said;
“It’s been a long few months without live sport and, whilst circumstances dictate that spectators can’t be present, we are delighted that fans can watch the LiveScore Cup on TV and follow the action on LiveScore’s channels. We can’t wait for the LiveScore Cup to begin in Prague, and the chance to celebrate the skill of some of the world’s best tennis players!”
Karolina Pliskova, WTA World Number 3, said;
“I am really looking forward to the start of the LiveScore Cup, and the chance to once again compete in my country alongside some of the best players in Europe. After our enforced season break, it’s brilliant that we will have this chance to again showcase women’s tennis to fans around the world, especially on clay at a time when the French Open would have normally been taking place. I’d like to thank SARAN Media Group and PR Stars for organising such a great tournament.”
“Whilst for now we must wait for fans to return to the courtside, I and all the players are looking forward to putting on a show for all the fans following the action on TV and the LiveScore app!”
LiveScore’s title sponsorship was agreed in partnership with Saran Media Group. Two round-robin groups of three players will yield two finalists to compete in The LiveScore Cup Final on Saturday 6th June. The full line-up for The LiveScore Cup includes:
- Karolina Pliskova (WTA Rank 3)
- Marketa Vondrousova (WTA Rank 18)
- Karolina Muchova (WTA Rank 26)
- Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA Rank 27)
- Barbora Strycova (WTA Rank 31)
- Kristyna Pliskova (WTA Rank 69)






