French Open 2026: Katie Boulter calls for sponsorship boards to be removed after Janet Sonmage injured

Sonmage isn’t the first player to suffer an injury due to tight spaces behind the baseline at Roland Garros.

Paris Heatwave created firmer, bouncier courts, meaning players wanted to stand further back from the baseline to receive serves.

Belgium’s Alexandre Bloquex was forced to withdraw from the men’s singles earlier this week after spraining his right ankle while landing on a tarpaulin rain cover at the Jean Bouin practice facility, a short walk from Roland Garros.

BlockX said on social media that he “heard a snap” in his ankle and sarcastically blamed the “really needed” covers.

The world number 37 later edited his post to remove the reference to the cover.

Besides sponsorship boards and covers, Roland Garros has another obstacle on its small outdoor court – the line judges.

The French Open is the only major tournament that still has line judges.

Both the ATP and WTA tours use electronic line calling, and Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo said it was “very difficult” for players to adjust.

Cerundolo defeated Britain’s Jacob Fearnley on a smaller court, where the line judges had to quickly move out of his way, before knocking out top seed Jannik Sinner on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“It’s strange playing with line judges – especially on a smaller court,” Cerundolo told BBC Sport.

“I’ve played with line judges all my life but now for the last year we’ve played without them so it’s very different.

“You have to be prepared not to hit them and say ‘please go back and step aside’. You have to adapt again.”