Paris, France – May, 2026 – The Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault 2026 Finals took place this Saturday, May 23, at the Tenniseum auditorium in the heart of Roland-Garros, in front of a packed crowd gathered for Yannick Noah Day. After several hours of high-level competition on Tennis Clash, Samuel Sanin Ortiz “Sasmis” (COL) successfully defended his title by defeating Eugen Mosdir “AreidY” (GER) (10-6, 10-5, 10-6) at the end of a historic edition. With nearly 11.5 million matches played, the qualification phase brought together more than 561,000 players from 221 territories worldwide between March and April. The event, more than ever, confirms its status as the global benchmark for competitive eTennis.
Already crowned champion in 2025, the Colombian player made history this year by becoming only the second player ever to win back-to-back Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault titles. Consistent throughout the two-day competition, he handled the pressure of an exceptionally stacked field to ultimately triumph in front of the Parisian crowd.
“Coming back as defending champion changes everything mentally. The first time, I was inexperienced; this year, the level of competition was much higher, and winning the title again was a real challenge. But beyond the trophy, the experience we get to live here is simply incredible,” said Samuel Sanin Ortiz “Sasmis”.
The competition officially opened on Saturday, May 23, with words of support for the e-athletes from FFT President Gilles Moretton. Hosting the French broadcast, Laure Valée brought her energy and expertise from the biggest international esports stages. Joined by Quento and Benny “GP365”, former Tennis Clash world No.1, they immersed viewers in every rally while highlighting the tactical depth of the game.
“This final perfectly illustrated the meeting point between esports and tennis. The event brought together talents from all over the world and delivered an incredible show for the community. It’s a great reward for everyone helping Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault grow year after year. I hope to be back next year!” said Laure Valée.
Following the Swiss Stage played the previous day, the eight finalists were split into two teams based on their results and the captains’ selections: Gilles Simon, former world No.6 and winner of 14 ATP titles, and Benoît Paire, former Top 20 ATP player and three-time ATP title winner. Defending champion Samuel Sanin Ortiz “Sasmis” (COL), Anindya Lestari “Anindya” (IDN), Hizir Balkanci “Hizir” (TUR), and Stéphane Dubouloz “SJWFast” (FRA) joined Team Gilles Simon, while Team Benoît Paire featured 2024 champion Alessandro Bianco “ΔLEX” (ITA), Francisca Oisel “Kira” (CHI), Victor Ionescu “puNki” (ROU), and Eugen Mosdir “AreidY” (GER).
“This edition showed just how much eTennis continues to grow. I was impressed by the level of play and the commitment shown by the finalists. Seeing so much passion around Roland-Garros, both on court and behind a controller, is extremely encouraging for the future of the discipline,” said Gilles Simon.
“Honestly, I had an amazing time! There was intensity, entertainment, and a fantastic atmosphere. The players delivered incredible matches. I also really enjoyed facing Gilles!” added Benoît Paire.
The opening team phase lived up to expectations, with players showing incredible chemistry under the cheers of the crowd, their teammates, and their captains. Colombian star Sasmis ultimately secured Team Gilles Simon a spot in the Playoffs Winner Bracket, while Team Benoît Paire had no room for error starting their run in the Loser Bracket.
The individual stage then took center stage with a double-elimination bracket where every loss could prove decisive. The start of the Playoffs saw one of the tournament favorites, 2024 champion ΔLEX, eliminated by Romanian player PuNki in a dominant 2-0 victory. French hopeful SJWFast was unable to overcome the talented Indonesian player Anindya before falling to AreidY in the Loser Bracket.
The intensity inside the Roland-Garros auditorium reached new heights as the competition moved into the semifinals, now played in BO5 format (best-of-five). In the Winner Bracket, the first semifinal featured Sasmis against Anindya in one of the day’s most anticipated clashes, eventually won by the unshakable Colombian. The Loser Bracket semifinal saw AreidY qualify for the ultimate showdown, denying the Indonesian player a final shot at the podium. For the second consecutive year, the German competitor — known for competing on tablet — pulled off the remarkable feat of battling all the way through the Loser Bracket.
In a true rematch of the 2025 edition, the Grand Final once again featured AreidY versus Sasmis. An intense showdown driven by the energy of the crowd. Meeting for the second time that day, one player was determined to defend his crown while the other sought revenge. Sasmis immediately imposed his pace in the rallies, relying on his experience and exceptional composure to stay in control throughout the match. After a final hard-fought set (10-6, 10-5, 10-6), the Colombian star completed an extraordinary run to retain his Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault title without dropping a single set during the Playoffs.
Dropping his game face at last, Samuel Sanin Ortiz “Sasmis” lifted the trophy with the warm smile that defines him, becoming only the second player in history to win two consecutive editions of the competition.
2026 also marked a new milestone in the international development of Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault. For the first time ever, the competition was broadcast live on the France TV Sport digital platform, as well as in English on the official Roland-Garros YouTube channel, and in Brazil on Disney+ and ESPN’s YouTube channel. Brandon Smith handled the English commentary while content creator Tênis Além do Óbvio brought the action to Portuguese-speaking audiences.
With record-breaking participation, an even higher level of gameplay, and unprecedented international coverage, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault continues its expansion and further establishes its ability to unite the worlds of tennis and gaming in a unique immersive experience. Supported by Renault and Mastercard, the competition keeps writing its story and more than ever stands out as a major event on the global mobile esports calendar.
About Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault
Founded in 2018, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is the world’s most important and inclusive eTennis tournament. The competition features three open qualifying tournaments which are free to enter directly via the Tennis Clash app. The Final Stage brings together eight participants; the 5 players who made it through the Open Qualifiers will face the two best players from the Grand Tour and the defending champion. The initial team stage is returning in 2026, followed by a singles double-elimination bracket. It will take place on Friday, 22 and Saturday, 23 May 2026 in the Roland-Garros Tenniseum Auditorium. Since 2022, the competition has been held on the most popular mobile tennis game, Tennis Clash, developed by Wildlife Studios. With this new format, Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault is consolidating its leadership on the global eTennis scene.
About Tennis Clash
Tennis Clash is an online tennis game developed by Wildlife Studios where players compete in fast-paced, competitive and exciting games. With 180 million downloads and a community of 5 million players connecting every month, the game is a real success. Its eSports development continues to grow along with its recognition in the tennis world thanks to the creation of competitions in partnership with the four Grand Slam tournaments and through its inclusion in the 2023 Olympics Esports Series. Easy to grasp but tough to master, the game remains faithful to both the physical and tactical aspects of tennis.
Tennis Clash is available at the Google Play Store and the App Store.
