Stefanos Tsitsipas has a certain “Je ne sais quoi” on a clay court. Once you study his match metrics on the terre battue, you begin to uncover what it is.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Stefanos Tsitsipas assembling 10 match victories in Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome last season identifies the subtleties of clay-court dominance, where power and winners take a back seat to getting the ball out of your opponents’ strike zone to extract errors.

The following five areas of Tsitsipas’ 10 match victories shine a light on the intricate layers of clay-court dominance. The Greek will surely be looking replicate this winning formula at Roland Garros over the following fortnight.

1) Rally Winners & Errors

The first thing to identify is that Tsitsipas won all 10 of his matches in this data set. Surprisingly, he hit fewer rally winners than his opponents.

Rally Winners

• Tsitsipas = 149
• Opponents = 169
• Total = 318
• Difference = -20

Rally Unforced Errors

• Tsitsipas = 193
• Opponents = 231
• Total = 424
• Difference = +38

Tsitsipas dominated the larger data set of unforced errors. The only match in which he hit more winners than his opponent was a 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 victory over Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals of Monte Carlo. Tsitsipas clubbed 26 winners to the Argentine’s 21. The biggest deficit was hitting only 15 winners to Alexander Zverev’s 24 when he defeated the German 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.

2) Forehand & Backhand Average Speed

Hitting the ball harder does not always equate to better. Power is just one of the qualities that will force errors or produce winners. You also have consistency, direction, depth, height, spin, court position and taking time away from your opponent to correctly prepare for the shot. As we see below, Tsitsipas was not trying to blow his opponents off the court with raw power.

Average Forehand Speed

• Tsitsipas = 119 km/h
• Opponents = 126 km/h

Average Backhand Speed

• Tsitsipas = 104 km/h
• Opponents = 116 km/h

Combined Groundstroke Speed

• Tsitsipas = 112 km/h
• Opponents = 119 km/h

The data suggests Tsitsipas uses many tools in his bag to claim his clay-court victories.

3) Average Net Clearance

Height is a weapon that takes on more importance on a clay court, as you are able to spin the ball up above your opponent’s strike zone. Tsitsipas is definitely a proponent of using height as one of his many strategic assets.

Average Net Clearance

• Tsitsipas = 89 cm
• Opponents = 75 cm

Tsitsipas averaged playing higher than his opponent in all 10 matches in the data set. The highest average was 1.01 metres against Alexander Zverev in Monte-Carlo. Zverev averaged 80 cm above the net. Tsitsipas won 6-4, 6-2 in their semi-final encounter.

4) Backhand Hit Point

Tsitsipas prefers to stay deep in the court to lift his one-handed backhand high over the net to make it land deep on the other side. Some players prefer to step in and rip backhands. That’s not how the Greek goes about his business. He uses his backhand more to push opponents back and get the ball out of their strike zone. Another benefit is that he has now has more time to hit run-around forehands in the Ad court.

Tsitsipas Average Backhand Hit Point

• Inside The Baseline = 10%
• Within 2 Metres Of The Baseline = 47%
• Past 2 Metres = 43%

Opponents Average Backhand Hit Point

• Inside The Baseline = 17%
• Within 2 Metres Of The Baseline = 54%
• Past 2 Metres = 29%

5) Rally Length / Points Won

Tsitsipas shows versatility in his game by dominating both short and long rallies on clay. This helps when playing different game styles that either demand more aggression or patience to get ahead in the point.

Points Won Under Nine Shots

• Tsitsipas = 686 (55%)
• Opponents = 562 (45%)
• Total = 1248

Points Won In Nine Shots Or More

• Tsitsipas = 102 (56%)
• Opponents = 79 (44%)
• Total = 181

Tsitsipas looks at home on a clay court. It offers him the time and space he enjoys to craft an advantage. Harder is not necessarily better. He is a master tactician when using height and depth.

Nicolas Jarry is an ATP Tour titlist once again.

The Chilean overcame fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(1), 6-1 on Saturday at the Gonet Geneva Open to clinch his third tour-level trophy and second of the season.

In a dominant performance, Jarry’s power proved too much for Dimitrov, who was competing in his first final since Rotterdam in 2018. The 27-year-old hammered eight aces and won 89 per cent (33/37) of his first-serve points to earn his 17th win of the season after one hour and 36 minutes.

“I feel amazing,” Jarry said. “It has been a great year. After all the work with my team and family we are having a great year and I am very happy for that. It is very special. Two finals, one title here. I am very happy.”

Jarry, who lifted the trophy in Santiago in March, upset former Geneva champions Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev en route to his second final in Geneva. Jarry lost against Zverev in the 2019 title match at the ATP 250 clay-court event, but ensured history would not repeat against Dimitrov.

Jarry is up 19 spots to No. 35 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. He reached a previous career-high No. 38 in July 2019.

Dimitrov was aiming to win his ninth tour-level title and first since 2017 when he triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Arthur Fils has arrived on the biggest stage.

The #NextGenATP Frenchman captured his first tour-level title on Saturday at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon, where he defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-5 to become the youngest champion in tournament history.

“I will remember this forever,” Fils said. “It has been a great week. It has been amazing. I am happy with the win and now I want more. It was a tough semi-final match. Today I came onto court with not lots of energy, but I was focused on my game and trying my best.

“I was feeling that I was playing well earlier [this week] but I didn’t maybe expect that I would win the tournament.”

The 18-year-old, who overcame Brandon Nakashima in three sets in the semi-finals, played aggressively throughout the one-hour, 36-minute final. He showed great agility and opened his shoulders to overpower the fourth-seeded Argentine in their first ATP Head2Head meeting. Fils dropped to the floor after sealing victory on his first championship point, with the vocal home crowd roaring in support of the Frenchman.

With his 10th tour-level win of the season, Fils has become the youngest champion on the ATP Tour this year. He is also the third teenager to win a trophy in 2023, joining Carlos Alcaraz (Indian Wells, Barcelona, Buenos Aires) and Holger Rune (Munich).

Fils reached semi-finals on home soil in Montpellier and Marseille earlier this season. He found another level in Lyon, though. With his title victory, he climbed to third in the Pepperstone ATP Live Next Gen Race.

The Frenchman is also set to crack the Top 100 for the first time, rising 49 places to No. 63 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. Fils and countryman Luca Van Assche, 19, are the only teenagers inside the Top 100 heading into Roland Garros.

In an entertaining final, Fils was urged on by vocal home support, with a live band producing an electric atmosphere between points. After soaring to the first set, Fils twice let slip a break advantage in the second set. The 18-year-old eventually earned the third and what proved to be decisive break in the 11th game of the set, before he held his nerve on serve to earn the biggest win of his career.

Cerundolo was aiming to capture his second tour-level trophy, having triumphed in Bastad last season. The 24-year-old will arrive at Roland Garros holding a 13-9 record on clay in 2023, after reaching quarter-finals in Rome and Barcelona.

Did You Know?
Starting the week No. 112 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Fils is the lowest-ranked champion this season. The 18-year-old is also the third first-time winner in 2023, joining Wu Yibing and Tallon Griekspoor.

A host of top players seek a fast start to their 2023 Roland Garros campaign Sunday as main draw play begins at the clay-court major. Top 10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev are in first-round action, while fast-rising American Ben Shelton makes his debut at the second Grand Slam of the season.

ATPTour.com previews some of the standout matches on the Day 1 schedule in Paris.

[7] Andrey Rublev vs. Laslo Djere (SRB)

Having made his breakthrough into the ATP Masters 1000 winners’ circle at Monte-Carlo in April, has the time come for Rublev to make his mark on the major stage?

The 25-year-old is 12-3 for the season on clay, having also reached a championship match in Banja Luka. He is a seven-time quarter-finalist at Grand Slams, including twice at Roland Garros, and Rublev will bid to advance past the last eight at a major for the first time.

The seventh seed begins his Roland Garros run chasing a fourth win in four ATP Head2Head meetings against Serbian Laslo Djere. All three of the pair’s previous clashes took place last season, including a five-set thriller at the US Open. Djere’s ability to absorb and redirect Rublev’s powerful groundstrokes will be key if he is going to spring an early upset in Paris. The 27-year-old has proven himself on clay before, winning an ATP 500 event on the surface in 2019 in Rio de Janeiro.

[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Jiri Vesely (CZE)

The World No. 5 Tsitsipas has strong pedigree at Roland Garros. He has reached at least the fourth round every year since 2019 and led Novak Djokovic by two-sets-to-love in the 2021 final before falling in a thrilling five-setter on Court Philippe Chatrier. Having reached his second major championship match in January at the Australian Open, the Greek will enter Sunday’s clash against Jiri Vesely full of confidence about his ability to compete across five sets.

The pair’s maiden ATP Head2Head meeting will be Vesely’s first tour-level match since the US Open last September. The Czech has proven himself capable of upsetting top players before — he defeated then-World No. 1 Djokovic in the Dubai quarter-finals in 2022.

[30] Ben Shelton (USA) vs. Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

#NextGenATP star Shelton had never competed on red clay prior to the ATP 250 event in Estoril in April. The American has made a solid start on the surface, notching two tour-level wins in the European spring so far.

The 20-year-old Shelton’s big-kicking lefty serve will be key to his chances as he takes to court at Roland Garros for the first time. Lorenzo Sonego will be out to avenge his defeat to Shelton in Cincinnati last year. The outcome of the match may depend on whether the Italian finds his rhythm behind his ultra-aggressive groundstrokes and is able to take advantage of his familiarity with the surface.

Also In Action…

Karen Khachanov has reached the semi-finals at the past two majors and the 11th seed begins his bid for another deep run against Frenchman Constant Lestienne. Thirteenth seed Hubert Hurkacz takes on David Goffin for the second year in a row at Roland Garros: The Pole prevailed in straight sets against the Belgian in last year’s third round in Paris.

Seventeenth seed Lorenzo Musetti plays Mikael Ymer, while an intriguing clash of gamestyles pitches the guile of 20th seed Daniel Evans against the free-hitting power of Thanasi Kokkinakis. Sebastian Korda, seeded 24th, is the other seeded player in action. The American will face countryman Mackenzie McDonald.

A pair of all-French affairs will be sure to draw the attention of local fans in Paris. French No. 1 Ugo Humbert plays Adrian Mannarino, while Corentin Moutet meets #NextGenATP talent Arthur Cazaux.

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury delivered a dominant championship-match performance Saturday at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon, where the American-British pairing downed Nicolas Mahut and Matwe Middelkoop 6-0, 6-3 at the clay-court ATP 250.

The top seeds converted four of five break points they earned to ease to a 60-minute triumph and lift the trophy on event debut in France. After racing through the first set, Ram and Salisbury held their nerve to clinch victory on a deciding deuce point at 5-3, 40/40 after Mahut and Middelkoop threatened a second-set comeback.

Ram and Salisbury lifted four tour-level titles together in 2022, including the Nitto ATP Finals crown in Turin, but had reached only one semi-final on Tour this year prior to Lyon. They now own 10 tour-level trophies as a team, with their Lyon victory providing a big confidence boost before they head to Paris to compete as the second seeds at Roland Garros.

ATPTour.com looks at five Challenger Tour players to keep your eyes on during Roland Garros.

Luca Van Assche
The Frenchman is a three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion and notched his maiden tour-level victory at last month’s ATP 250 event in Estoril. Van Assche then defeated Stan Wawrinka in Banja Luka before taking a set off Novak Djokovic.

The #NextGenATP star will look to build upon his momentum to collect his first Grand Slam main draw victory against Marco Cecchinato, who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals in 2018.

Van Assche graduated to the Challenger Tour following a standout junior career. In 2021, he claimed the Roland Garros boys’ singles title. Having just turned 17 when he lifted the trophy, Van Assche became the fifth home favourite to triumph in the event since the start of the millennium, joining Paul-Henri Mathieu, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Geoffrey Blancaneaux. One year ago, Frenchman Gabriel Debru joined them.

Alexander Shevchenko
At a career-high No. 84 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Shevchenko collected titles at the Tenerife and Madrid Challengers this year. In March, the 22-year-old went on a dream run at the Challenger 175 event in Phoenix, where he defeated Gael Monfils and Matteo Berrettini en route to a finalist finish.

At the Mutua Madrid Open, Shevchenko displayed his heavy forehand and all-court coverage en route to a third-round appearance (l. Medvedev). Making his Grand Slam debut, Shevchenko opens against German Oscar Otte.

Hamad Medjedovic
The 19-year-old has tallied a 17-9 record this year in Challengers and this month became the third Serbian teenager to win a trio of ATP Challenger Tour titles, joining Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.

Ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Next Gen Race, Medjedovic advanced through Roland Garros qualifying, where he defeated Ivan Gakhov, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and Jesper de Jong. In the final round against De Jong, the Serbian rallied after dropping the opening set 0-6.

Medjedovic, who is making his first Grand Slam appearance, will meet American Marcos Giron in the opening round.

Juan Pablo Varillas
The Peruvian will be hungry for a first Grand Slam main-draw victory after letting slip a two-sets-to-love lead last year in Paris against Felix Auger-Aliassime. The 27-year-old found himself locked in another battle against an ATP Tour star in January, when he pushed Alexander Zverev to five sets at the Australian Open.

The World No. 97, who is a five-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, will face Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng in the first round.

Thiago Seyboth Wild
The 23-year-old has won 21 of his past 24 Challenger-level matches, with titles in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires. After advancing through qualifying, the World No. 172 will aim for the biggest win of his career in the first round when he clashes against second seed Daniil Medvedev. Should Seyboth Wild pull the upset, it would be his first Grand Slam main-draw win.

Seyboth Wild’s four titles across all levels have each come on clay. In 2021, the Brazilian went on a breakthrough title run at the ATP 250 event in Santiago.

Carlos Alcaraz’s historic rise on the ATP Tour has often put him under bright lights and on the biggest stages of the sport. Now the 20-year-old will face a new spotlight, being the top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time, at Roland Garros. While Alcaraz has made his breakthrough look easy, the Spaniard admitted that it has come with challenges.

The World No. 1 stated that being on the ‘big stage’ is something he needed to grow accustomed to.

“At the beginning when I played against the best [players], in the best stadiums, it was tough for me to get used to that and to stay calm,” Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference. “But I learned from those moments. I remember against Rafa for my first time in Madrid, it was really, really tough. I can name a lot of matches that I didn’t feel comfortable playing on that. 

“But as I said, I learned from that, and I always wanted to play in those stadiums, in those tournaments, and I tried to feel comfortable playing on that. Right now I feel great playing in the great stadiums.”

Alcaraz has shown nerves of steel rather than fear on the big stages, such as last year’s US Open, where he claimed his maiden Grand Slam title in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. He later became the youngest year-end No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

In 2022, Alcaraz was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros. When asked how his game today compares to a year ago, the World No. 1 stated his improvements have been more in the mental side of the game.

“I would say I’m the same player as last year, only change that I would say is that I’m more mature. Mentally I’m better,” Alcaraz said. “I can read what happened on court better than last year. For me, it’s really, really important, and I would say it’s the most different than last year.”

Boasting a 30-3 season record, Alcaraz has claimed four titles this year: Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid. After a disappointing third-round exit at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome, Alcaraz enjoyed some downtime before preparing for his quest for a second Grand Slam title.

“I played golf one day, of course had time with friends, family. Quality time at home is really helpful for me,” Alcaraz said. “I took some days off. Doing nothing, just chilling.

“I had like five days practising in the academy at home. That is really helpful for me, to be away from tournaments a little bit, have more intensity practice. [This year] I didn’t have more than four days to practise, just to play matches and matches, and for me [it was good to] have this time to prepare for Roland Garros as good as I did these past days.”

In the Roland Garros opening round, Alcaraz will face Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli. Alcaraz won their lone meeting at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Todi, Italy in 2020.