AP PHOTOS: Tattoos, clay and bouncing hair bring the French Open to life
The ball smashes the strings of the racket of France’s Quentin Halysas as he serves against Denmark’s Holger Rune during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
PARIS (AP) — It’s the small details that bring the French Open to life — a ball smashing into the strings of Quentin Halys’ racket as he serves, red clay staining a ball boy’s hand, or the burst of dust as Andrey Rublev knocks clay from his shoes.
The tournament pulses with quiet moments: Cameron Norrie carefully changing the tape on his racket, players gripping balls smudged with red, sweat flicking from a wristband during a serve, and the Suzanne-Lenglen court mirrored in a spectator’s sunglasses.
Body art and jewelry stand out — Aryna Sabalenka’s fierce tiger tattoo, Alexander Bublik’s reminder to “Always be a leader, not a follower” — while a tiny bug briefly lands on Alexander Zverev’s shirt near his ram necklace.
Ball boys run on the court during the second round match of the French Tennis Open between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Hungary’s Fabian Maroszan, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Ball boys run on the court during the second round match of the French Tennis Open between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Hungary’s Fabian Maroszan, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Britain’s Jack Draper tosses a ball away while preparing to serve against France’s Gael Monfils during a second-round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Britain’s Jack Draper tosses a ball away while preparing to serve against France’s Gael Monfils during a second-round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina’s hair bounces as she practices against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini at the Roland Garros stadium ahead of the French Open tennis tournament, Saturday May 24, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina’s hair bounces as she practices against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini at the Roland Garros stadium ahead of the French Open tennis tournament, Saturday May 24, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Britain’s Cameron Norrie changes his racket’s overgrip as he plays Argentina’s Federico Gomez during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Britain’s Cameron Norrie changes his racket’s overgrip as he plays Argentina’s Federico Gomez during their second round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Suzanne-Lenglen court is reflected in the glasses of a spectators as Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti plays Argentina’s Mariano Navone during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Suzanne-Lenglen court is reflected in the glasses of a spectators as Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti plays Argentina’s Mariano Navone during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clay lies on the hands of ball boy standing by a court during a first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Clay lies on the hands of ball boy standing by a court during a first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Russia’s Andrey Rublev hits the clay away from his shoes as he plays against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Russia’s Andrey Rublev hits the clay away from his shoes as he plays against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
A bug lands on the shirt of Germany’s Alexander Zverev as he wears a necklace with a ram during a quarterfinal match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A bug lands on the shirt of Germany’s Alexander Zverev as he wears a necklace with a ram during a quarterfinal match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva prepares to serve against Australia’s Daria Kasatkina during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva prepares to serve against Australia’s Daria Kasatkina during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The clay stuck to the back of Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka after a fall during the semifinal match of the French Tennis Open against Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The clay stuck to the back of Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka after a fall during the semifinal match of the French Tennis Open against Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
An arm tattoo on Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik is seen as he prepares to serve against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during a quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
An arm tattoo on Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik is seen as he prepares to serve against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during a quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus prepares to serve against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova during their first round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus prepares to serve against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova during their first round match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Sweat flies from the wristband of Britain’s Cameron Norrie as he serves against Argentina’s Federico Gomez during a second-round match in the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Sweat flies from the wristband of Britain’s Cameron Norrie as he serves against Argentina’s Federico Gomez during a second-round match in the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik kicks the clay as he serves against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik kicks the clay as he serves against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts winning a point to United States’ Sebastian Korda during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts winning a point to United States’ Sebastian Korda during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Even in a still image, Elina Svitolina’s bouncing hair carries a rhythm unique to the Parisian clay.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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