Welcome back to Crosscourt Slice – where the bounce is sharp and the commentary is sharper. We’ve been off the court for a minute, but with Roland Garros wrapped, we’re back with a recap full of fire. The 2025 French Open delivered on drama, surprises, and a whole lot of grit – especially from some of our favorite contenders in the Black tennis community.

This is Part One of our French Open recap series. Let’s dig into the dirt – and the performances that made it matter.

Tiafoe Finds His Footing on Clay

Frances Tiafoe showed up to Roland Garros like a man on a mission. A player not typically known for his clay-court prowess, Tiafoe blitzed through the draw, reaching the quarterfinals without dropping a set. That’s right – Frances went four matches deep, clean as a whistle, knocking out opponents with smart movement, heavy topspin, and unwavering confidence. After his R4 win, Tiafoe said:

“Just give them what the game gives me and try to play the right way, the way I know how, at my best, and living and dying with the results.“

In the quarterfinals, he faced off against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, one of the most creative and composed clay-court players on tour. Though Tiafoe ultimately fell in four sets, it was a fight from start to finish. He left it all out there, and if there was any lingering doubt about his clay chops, they’ve been thoroughly answered. This marked his first time reaching the second week at Roland Garros – and his fifth career Slam quarterfinal. Call it a coming-of-age moment in the dirt.

Felix Auger-Aliassime Stumbles Again from the Lead

For Felix Auger-Aliassime, it was heartbreak in Paris – again. The 24-year-old Canadian raced out to a two-sets-to-love lead against Matteo Arnaldi but couldn’t seal the deal, eventually losing in five sets. It was the fifth time in his career that FAA has lost a Grand Slam match after being two sets up – a stat that’s becoming alarmingly familiar.

Felix struggled with consistency on serve, facing 20 break points and winning only 44% of points behind his second serve. Confidence dips when pressure mounts, and it showed. The talent is there, but mentally, he’s still searching for that anchor – especially on slower surfaces like clay. Another learning experience? Sure. But it’s one that fans are hoping turns into growth sooner rather than later.

Ben Shelton Gains Ground – and Respect – on Clay

Ben Shelton may not have walked away with the trophy, but he left Paris with something arguably more valuable: belief in self. Long considered a hard-court threat thanks to his booming serve and aggressive playstyle, Shelton entered Roland Garros on a mission to prove he’s more than a one-surface wonder. And he did just that. Said Shelton after making the fourth round:

“It’s my first time being in the second week here at the French, the only Slam where I hadn’t been in the second week yet. I couldn’t be more happy with doing that today.

After surviving a gritty five-setter in the first round against Lorenzo Sonego – where he came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit – Shelton cruised into the Round of 16. There, he ran into Carlos Alcaraz, the eventual champion. Even in the loss, Shelton held his own, showing sharper footwork, improved point construction, and the kind of endurance clay demands. That performance, coupled with his finals run in Munich, marked a major step forward in his all-surface development.

Final Word: Dirt Don’t Lie

From Frances’ fire run to Shelton’s clay awakening – and Felix’s frustrating fall – it’s clear that this year’s French Open wasn’t short on stories. Each of these players showed us a different chapter of where they are in their careers: rising, rebuilding, or redefining. And with Wimbledon around the corner, the shift from dirt to grass will bring even more twists.

Stay tuned for Part Two of our Roland Garros breakdown, and with that I’ll see you across the net!