From Mobile to "terre battue" - eSports on the rise, featuring Tennis Clash at Roland Garros

• We attended the Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault 2025 final on 24th May
• Fans come out in force for a supercharged atmosphere at a historic venue
• Tennis Clash showcases once again the tremendous potential of mobile eSports

What was once the domain of dimly lit gaming rooms and niche online communities has now taken center stage at iconic venues like Roland Garros. Whoever thought eSports was a fleeting trend was dead wrong. It's quite the opposite, in reality. Tennis Clash has proved and solidified that for everyone when it held its Finals and crowned its 2025 champion, Samuel 'Sasmis' Sanin Ortiz, at Roland Garros.

Back in 2019 when Tennis Clash was released, nobody foresaw what was to come - with over 170 million downloads to date, the game has proven it belongs up there on the center stage, alongside other giants. 

Photo provided courtesy of Amélie Laurin FFT

The Tennis Clash 2025 Finals atmosphere

It's quite obvious - one of the things that stood out the most was the location. Held in the Auditorium of Roland-Garros Tenniseum, the Tennis Clash 2025 Finals were a hit. The decision to make the event freely accessible was meaningful, especially since similar experiences often come with a hefty price tag (think LoL World Championship). Of course, entering the venue had its own cost, but the organisers have thought it through and planned the event on a special day, making it a lot more convenient for the public. 

The ability to watch the matches freely throughout the day made the event even more appealing, and a rare opportunity at such a prestigious venue. It sparked the public’s interest, and even those who were not familiar with Tennis Clash attended, many getting their first glimpse of the growing mobile eSports scene. The venue was beautifully organized as well, just like you would expect from an eSeries. 

Photo provided courtesy of Amélie Laurin FFT

The event was hosted by none other than Samuel Étienne, a renowned French journalist, TV presenter, and eSports enthusiast, alongside former professional tennis stars Gilles Simon and Marion Bartoli. The result? A Roland-Garros eSeries that was nothing short of a blast.

One thing's certain - the public never disappoints!

Regardless of age, the public that attended the Finals was on fire. That's pretty common for a French audience, who are already accustomed to big names in the eSports scene (like Karmine Corp, for instance). The atmosphere and cheers chanted by the public engulfed the stage, and with it, the support for the players was evident.

The roar of the crowd echoed through the Tenniseum, making it seem more like a football match than a quiet rally. That’s enough proof that mobile eSports commands passion as intense as any Grand Slam final, even more so to mobile gaming enthusiasts.

The evolution of mobile eSports 

As Samuel Étienne briefly mentioned in the interview we had with him, "When you don't know eSports, you think it's different from sports - and the more you know eSports, the more you understand it's the same sport; it requires the same skills and work to get to higher levels," and that couldn't be further from the truth.

Photo provided courtesy of Amélie Laurin FFT

Titles like Tennis Clash are proving that you don’t need a high-end rig or a console to compete at the highest level. With just a smartphone and skill, players from all over the world can train, qualify, and shine on a world stage. This transformation of competitive gaming is what makes the mobile eSports scene so exciting, and events like the Tennis Clash Finals at Roland Garros are a testament to that momentum.

To become good at one game takes hours of practice, and even more hours to keep up with the meta. Many Tennis Clash players mentioned playing between 7 to 12 hours per week (at least), and that’s after reaching an already high level of play. It's wonderful to see a collaboration between professional tennis and eSports. This event marked a rare convergence of professional tennis and mobile eSports, and perhaps, the first time it’s been staged in such a prestigious venue, alongside actual tennis matches between the pros.

Photo provided courtesy of Amélie Laurin FFT

What does the future look like?

While the future is uncertain, one thing feels likely: the next Tennis Clash championship will reach an even broader audience. People who love traditional tennis, but don’t have the means of playing the actual sport, can pick up their mobile devices and give it a try. And who knows? With enough practice, a new champion may rise through the ranks and challenge Sasmis’ reign! 

As someone who grew up watching traditional sports, witnessing a mobile game command this kind of stage was both thrilling and inspiring. Tennis Clash may live in our pockets, but at Roland Garros, it lived in the hearts of everyone watching. It’s a reminder that sport is evolving, and at its core, it’s still about passion, competition, and ultimately, connection.