Among the many intoxicating joys of Roland Garros is the roar that reverberates around the site when a French favourite is excelling and on Friday it reached a fever pitch.

As Ksenia Chasteau was closing in on becoming the first French player to reach the women’s wheelchair final since Florence Alix-Gravellier in 2010, the atmosphere was electric.

On defeating Li Xiaohui 6-3 6-1 on the court named after pioneering French champion Suzanne Lenglen, Chasteau’s emotions spilled over as fans celebrated the win.

“It's amazing for me. I'm a French player, and I will play my first final in a Grand Slam at home. It is amazing,” she said. 

“I thought it might happen maybe in Wimbledon or in Australia, but not at Roland Garros because there is more pressure, sometimes, for French players. 

“There are not enough words for the emotions I am feeling right now. It is amazing, incredible, everything, a whole lot of words for a lot of emotion.”

Asked to reflect on whether she could ever have imagined playing for a Roland Garros title five years ago when recovering from a motorcycle accident that resulted in Chasteau and her father both having their left legs amputated, the 20-year-old paused before answering.

Chasteau had been a promising tennis player in Marseille and was travelling to ballcrew training when the accident happened, but she loved the sport too much to not play again.

Within months Chasteau, who plays Dutch legend Diede de Groot in the final, had a tennis racquet back in hand and a couple of years later was winning junior wheelchair events.

“Five years ago, no, for sure, I could not imagine this, but last year I talked to my team and my team told me we can compete in one final this year, or two,” she said.

“This year my goal was to compete in a final of a grand slam, but I didn't know it would be at Roland Garros. Wimbledon, maybe, because I love the grass courts. But five years ago, for sure, no, when I was in hospital and I had just lost my left leg.

“I just started one year after my accident in wheelchair tennis. The idea for me was just to take pleasure in playing tennis again, playing again in a wheelchair, but no, I could not imagine playing a Grand Slam or Paralympic Games or something like that.”

Chasteau did not have to look far for inspiration this week, with Alix-Gravellier among the French legends inducted into the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Hall of Champions on Thursday.

The pair have been exchanging messages and Alix-Gravellier, who won two Grand Slam doubles titles, had a demand for Chasteau. Come join the Grand Slam winning club!

“We text sometimes and she's very happy for me, because she wants to have another woman win, to join the club. She's very behind me, and she wants the best for me,” he said.

The challenge ahead will not be easy. De Groot is a five-time Roland Garros champion who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and, after a lull, appears back to her best form.

The 29-year-old has been in superb form in Paris this year and defeated defending champion and No.1 seed Yui Kamiji 6-4 6-2 in 1hr 16min in the other semi-final.

“It will be difficult but everything is possible in the final,” Chasteau said.

“The most important thing will be the mentality. For sure the tennis is important, but the mentality, if I stay calm and believe, I can do everything. I can beat everyone in the top 10.”

A full list of results from the 2026 Roland Garros Wheelchair Championships is available here.