Preview: What tennis events are happening in May 2024?
• 3 MINUTE READ
The clay court season is full motion as we’re fast approaching the second Grand Slam of the 2024 season.
While there’s plenty of tennis action on the dirt still to come in the lead up to Roland Garros, we’re here to highlight all the must-watch events across the WTA, ATP, Challenger and Wheelchair tennis tours.
Key events
- Roland Garros
- BNP Paribas World Team Cup
- Italian Open
- Internationaux de Strasbourg
29 April – 5 May: Madrid Open enters the final rounds
- Mutua Madrid Open (WTA 1000 & ATP 1000)
- W35 & M25 Nottingham
Mutua Madrid Open
The first week of May will welcome the conclusion of the two-week long tournament at the Madrid Open. With the main draw having kick-started on the 24 April, the combined WTA and ATP 1000 event will come to a close on the 5 May with the men’s singles final.
A host of British stars are still alive across the singles and doubles draws and you can keep up with all the latest British action below:
6-12 May: Brits head to the wheelchair tennis world cup
- BNP Paribas World Team Cup
- Internazionali BNL d'Italia (WTA 1000 & ATP 1000)
- Danube Upper Austria Open (ATP Challenger 100)
BNP Paribas World Team Cup
The BNP Paribas World Team Cup is back as the world’s best wheelchair tennis stars head to Antalya, Turkey in a bid to be crowned champions. The Lexus Great Britain World Team Cup team comprises of 15 players that will compete across the men’s, women’s, quad and junior events at what is the equivalent of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.
After winning titles in the men’s and juniors categories last year, the Brits will be hoping for more success when the tournament gets underway from 7-12 May.
Find out which players will be representing Great Britain
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Following on from Madrid, the world’s best head to Rome for the Italian Open. This is the final WTA and ATP 1000 event ahead of Roland Garros and the third clay court Masters event of the year.
Last season Elena Rybakina won her maiden WTA 1000 trophy on the clay, while Daniil Medvedev captured his first career title on the dirt having defeated Holger Rune in the final. Rafael Nadal boasts the most singles titles at the Italian Open with 10.
Brits have had success here in the past. Andy Murray is a former title-winner in Rome after he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets on his way to becoming world No.1 back in 2016. Meanwhile, Virginia Wade has won the women’s doubles title four times (1968, 1971, 1973 and 1983) and Ann Jones lifted it in 1969.
This year 49 of the WTA top 50 have entered the draw, including British No.1 Katie Boulter, with Harriet Dart and Emma Raducanu on the alternates list.
Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Nadal headline the men’s draw that also includes Cam Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans.
13-19 May: Champions crowned in Rome
- Parma Ladies Open (WTA 125)
- Trophee Clarins (WTA 125)
- International BNL D’Italia (ITF 1 Series)
- BNP Paribas Primrose (Challenger 175)
- Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo (Challenger 175)
International BNL D’Italia
As the men’s and women’s events draw to a close – wheelchair tennis will also take centre stage in the Italian capital.
This is the first year that the event will be classifed as an ITF 1 Series tournament and it's likely to attarct the world's biggest stars ahead of the French Open.
Britain's Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have already signed up to compete in this year's event.
20-26 May: WTA & ATP Tours head to France, Switzerland & Morocco
- Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA 500)
- Grand Prix de son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem (WTA 250)
- Gonet Geneva Open (ATP 250)
- Open Parc (ATP 250)
- Tram Barcelona Open (ITF 1 Series)
Internationaux de Strasbourg
First started in 1987, the Internationaux de Strabourg has been upgraded to a WTA 500 tournament for the 2024 season.
With a roll of honour that includes Stefi Graf, Linsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova, the event has long been a top destination for the world’s best women’s players ahead of the French Open.
Last season saw Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina lift the title for the second time in four years. Heather Watson was the last Brit to compete here, reaching the second round in 2022.
Grand Prix de son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem
The WTA action continues over in Rabat, Morocco for the 24th edition of the Grand Prix de son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem.
Started in 2001, the Moroccan Open has moved between four different venues over the years before settling in Rabat in 2016.
Former British No.1 Johanna Konta was a former runner-up in Morocco back in 2019 where she narrowly lost out to Greece’s Maria Sakkari 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The last two editions of the event have been won by Italians Martina Trevisan and Lucia Bronzetti – will they complete a hat-trick this season?
Open Parc
One of the newer tournaments on the ATP Tour, the Open Parc ATP 250 is a favourite amongst British fans after seeing Norrie lift his fourth career title there two years ago, while Joe Salisbury is the current doubles champion.
Norrie’s record in Lyon is very impressive, having reached the semi-finals in 2018 and 2023, and two finals in 2021 and 2022.
Salisbury and Ram won only their second clay court title there last season after they defeated Nicolas Mahut and Matwe Middelkoop 6-0, 6-3 in the final.
This season, France’s Ugo Humbert leads the entry list, alongside countryman and reigning champion Arthur Fils. Alexander Bublik, Frances Tiafoe and Francisco Cerundolo help make up a strong field in Lyon.
Gonet Geneva Open
Since it’s return to the ATP Tour in 2015, the Gonet Geneva Open has boasted an impressive array of title-winners, such as three-time Grand Slam Champion Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud.
Ruud is set to headline this year’s entries alongside Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton. Draper is also lined-up to finish his Roland Garros preparations in Switzerland as well.
On the doubles side, Britain’s Jamie Murray and New Zealand’s Michael Venus will be hoping to retain their title from 2023. Murray’s win last year marked the sixth clay court title of his career.
27 May-2 June: Roland Garros main draw gets underway
- Roland Garros (Grand Slam)
- Open international de Royan (ITF 1 Series)
Roland Garros
From 26 May to 9 June the world’s attention turns to Paris for the second Grand Slam of the season at Roland Garros – bringing together the best men’s, women’s, wheelchair and junior players for a fortnight of action in the French capital.
Currently there seven Brits in the women’s and men’s singles main draw, including Boulter, Dart, Jodie Burrage, Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans and two-time runner-up Murray. At the moment, Raducanu, Watson, Liam Broady and Jan Choinski are in qualifying.
Last year saw Djokovic win his record-breaking 23rd major title, while Iga Swiatek clinched her third title in Paris.
From a British perspective, Hewett and Reid will once again be looking to defend their title, while Andy Lapthorne aims for a third Roland Garros doubles trophy in four years.
