The pinnacle of the claycourt season is upon us with the 2026 edition of the French Open currently underway.
Last year’s runners-up Aryna Sabelenka and Jannik Sinner are this year’s favourites to reign supreme at Roland Garros in the women’s and men’s singles events.
The claycourt swing is the toughest surface of the surfaces, with a greater emphasis on stamina required to last the gruelling rallies that often come as a result when playing on here.
Last year, Daily Mail Sport experienced first-hand what it is like to play on clay with a rare one-on-one coaching session with world-renowned tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Almost 12 months on, we found ourselves back on the clay – this time in Rome and in tandem with the Italian Open, courtesy of ASICS.
There was no formal entry to the tournament, to save any personal embarrassment, but there was another learning curve in to how play on clay from some local coaches, while also rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best players.
Daily Mail Sport’s Luke Augustus was back on clay, this time learning his craft in Rome in May
The session began by pairing up to play doubles as Augustus reacclimatised to playing on clay
Situated nearby the Foro Italico, where the Italian Open is held, is the Casina Poste Parco Fluvial – the location for my latest claycourt foray.
Dressed in the appropriate tennis attire, ASICS also provided me with the footwear needed to aid me on the red stuff. The footwear I was given was the Solution Speed FF 4 Clay which is engineered to enhance performance by focusing on fast and dynamic motions. Speed is one attribute I do possess and this was a benefit in moving across the baseline while also trying to return any attempted drop shots that were to come.
Looking the part and being the part are two different things and the nerves were definitely felt as the session began.
Travelling solo, the drills were initially geared up for doubles – meaning I had to find a partner. With many here Italian, of course, there was a language barrier but a few ‘scusa’ (sorry) broke the ice when a shot was mishit.
Once the nerves had subsided, and reacclimatising to the surface, I was trying to remember what Mouratoglou had taught me last year about hitting through the ball – allowing me to play with more pace against my opponent.
After multiple rallies at a level I adapted to, the level went up infinitely when I then began to have a hit with Jasmine Paolini.
The Italian is ranked No 13 in the world and was a runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024. The 30-year-old is also the defending doubles Olympic Games champion, played at Roland Garros in 2024, and reigning doubles French Open champion – emphasising her ability on clay especially.
Augustus wore ASICS’ Solution Speed FF 4 Clay as he enjoyed a hit with Jasmine Paolini later
World No 13 Paolini enjoyed herself as she moved Augustus across the court with ease in Rome
And come our rally, the gulf in class was evident as Paolini moved me about the court with ease and a big smile on her face. Trying to get in position for the shots wasn’t even necessarily the hardest thing, it was trying to deal with the kick that came off her shots as they hit the clay.
It was a fun and surreal experience though and we did manage to have some rallies before an unforced error would arise from yours truly.
After came the physical side, came the mental as I sat down with world No 73 Mattia Bellucci trying to ascertain what does it take to succeed.
The 24-year-old also wears ASICS’ Solution Speed FF 4 Clay and gave some good advice to Daily Mail Sport about being a novice on clay.
‘Sliding is definitely important. Clay is a surface where you have a little bit more time, especially with ASICS shoes.
World No 73 Mattia Bellucci sat down with Daily Mail Sport to give tips about playing on clay
‘If you have the possibility to place yourself in the right position, do it as it means you’ll have time to set yourself better for the next shot. This is important because you’ll likely hit more shots on clay than on hardcourts so the quality of each shot is more important.
‘Also with spin and everything, the ball changes a little bit [with each shot]. So, if you don’t know about hitting a flat shot or a kick shot, just go with the kick.’
That advice will be heeded going into my future claycourt game, and hopefully the whole experiences will pay off next time I play on that surface.
