Everything about Roland Garros, the tournament that starts on May 24. “Green” was given for the banned bracelet
At Roland Garros, a tournament organized on the Parisian clay, the prize money amounts to more than 61 million euros, increasing compared to the last edition. And Whoop devices get the green light. Carlos Alcaraz was denied the bracelet at the Australian Open.
The assault on the title won a year ago by Carlos Alcaraz after a long final against Jannik Sinner will begin on May 24. The winners of the men's and women's singles events will take home 2.8 million euros.
May 24, 2026 will be Sunday, when the 125th edition of Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the season, will start on clay. The reigning champion is Carlos Alcaraz (22 years old, 2 ATPs), who defeated Jannik Sinner (24 years old, 1 ATPs) in 2025 at the end of the longest final in the history of the tournament, saving three match points.
The countdown officially began with the traditional presentation press conference, which took place today in Paris. Speakers included the president of the French Federation, Gilles Moretton, and the tournament director, Amelie Mauresmo.
Free at Whoop
Many important announcements were made, starting with prize money. There will be a 10% increase from 2025, with a total of €61.723 million allocated, €2.8 million for the winners of the men's and women's singles and a percentage increase of between 6.8% and 9.8% for the various main draw rounds.
But above all, a 12% increase in prize money will be allocated to the draw in the qualifying rounds: €24,000 will be awarded to those who exit the first round of the tournament.
But what stole the spotlight more than anything else is the official announcement, for the first time at a Grand Slam tournament, of the use of wearable devices to collect biometric data. Among these devices is the Whoop bracelet, which measures data such as heart rate, calorie consumption and breathing rate.
Their use was banned during the last Australian Open, with the news causing a stir due to bans imposed on top players such as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka. And at Roland Garros, in a kind of initial test, there will be a program that will allow tennis players to collect data about their physical performance during matches via wearable devices. Other innovations, more relevant to fans, include the introduction of events during qualifying week, similar to the Australian Open and US Open.
Monfils and Wawrinka, honored
“We had the goal of organizing a three-week event and we achieved it“explains Mauresmo. For the 2026 edition, the organizers aim for 20,000 people per day. Between May 18 and 22, in addition to the qualifications, fans will be able to participate in interviews with players, in the training of the best players on Philippe Chatrier (the main court).
In the plans for the future there is also an extensive retrospective on the past. The tournament will say goodbye to Gaël Monfils, the last of France's “musketeers” still active. On May 21, there will be a charity event on Chatrier, with former teammates such as Tsonga and Gasquet in attendance.
A fitting tribute to his 20th and final appearance, as Mauresmo explains: “Every time Gael steps on the pitch, something happens, he is loved around the world. His last match here will be a thrilling one. On that day, we will pay him a more traditional tribute, worthy of our champions. We will do the same for Caroline Garcia and WawrinkaAfter Roland Garros, Monfils is expected in Cluj, accompanied by his wife Elina Svitolina.
For Wawrinka, champion in 2015, there will be a tribute at Porte d'Auteuil after his last match. There will be a tribute to the city of Paris through tennis, as well as the presence of a dedicated 3,800-seat venue in the Place de la Concorde. It will feature music, a bar, food stalls and giant screens that will broadcast the tournament's matches from the quarter-finals onwards. As Mauresmo points out: “We will bring the atmosphere of Roland Garros to a prestigious location like Place de la ConcordeIt is the place where, after each edition, all the winners go to pose with the trophy in their arms.
