During Roland-Garros, the spirit of the terre battue can be felt throughout Paris. You don't need to be inside the tournament grounds to notice it; it's in the conversations, the crowded terraces at the end of the day, and on a rooftop made of raw clay at "Stella Artois Pure Gold" at Hotel SAX in Paris—one of the most aspirational and sought-after experiences in Paris, beyond the tournament itself.
Red clay covered much of the rooftop; several kilometers away from Philippe-Chatrier, there was a sense that the experience and spirit of Roland Garros carried well beyond the courts. No queues, no rush and none of the tension that naturally comes with competition—just an Eiffel Tower-dominated skyline and one very legendary attendee: Brazilian champion Gustavo Kuerten.
Guga's three Roland-Garros titles secured his place in the tournament's history, but beyond the results, he remains one of those rare figures who instantly brings a smile to people's faces. Less talkative—but just as delightful—was a clay sculpture of Aryna Sabalenka, a nod to the world No. 1 and to the surface that has defined Roland-Garros for generations.
As the afternoon went on, the event settled into its own rhythm. Groups mixed, conversations grew longer and the light slowly began to change over the city. From the rooftop, Paris offered one of those views that is difficult to ignore: the Eiffel Tower standing against the evening sky while the clay gave one of the city's most exclusive terraces an unmistakable Roland-Garros feel.
More than a celebration of the tournament itself, the Clay Bar felt like a celebration of everything that surrounds it: the people who gather in Paris each year, the stories that emerge away from the courts, and the way Roland-Garros manages to bring together people from very different worlds for a few weeks every spring.
For a few hours, the rooftop of Hotel SAX became one of those places that reminds you tennis does not end when the last match of the day is over.
Vital Villarrubia is a Spanish photographer, writer and Racquet contributor with a passion for tennis, travel and culture. His work explores the people, places and experiences that shape the sport beyond the court.
