Jack, Lois and Taylor: Roland Garros 2025

19 June

Real stories, real results and the power of visibility

There’s nothing quite like a Grand Slam.

For those of us in athlete publicity, tournaments like Roland Garros are about much more than match results. They’re one of the few times in the year when we get to connect face-to-face with the people we usually only work with online: athletes, agents, coaches, brand reps, and journalists. These people are our colleagues, collaborators, and friends—and they’re a big part of why we love what we do.

Ascend Sports Publicity at Roland Garros 2025

This year we:

Supported 18 professional athletes (juniors, qualifiers, and main draw) with PR and media
Assisted 9 coaches with branding, media strategy, and sponsorship advice
Provided 7 sports agencies with patch sponsorship and player visibility support
Met with 4 managers to develop strategic media plans
Worked with 11 global journalists to place stories, coordinate interviews, and share insights
Helped 5 brands with athlete partnerships and content creation
Plus, had dozens of meaningful conversations with content creators, photographers, families, and peers in the industry.

These events are where relationships are strengthened, visibility is built, and new opportunities begin.

Below are three stories we had the pleasure of being involved in that show the impact of the right support at the right time.

Loïs Boisson: from Wildcard to national sensation

Loïs Boisson came to us via her agency as a wildcard looking for patch sponsors ahead of Roland Garros 2025. Ranked world No. 361, she might not have looked like a headline name on paper—but we saw real opportunity:

She was returning from a long injury layoff (ACL) with something to prove
She was playing at home, guaranteeing local support and media interest
We had a trusted relationship with her agency and team, giving us room to act fast.

We began pitching her story to media and exploring brand opportunities before the tournament even started.

Then came one of the most remarkable runs in recent Slam history: Boisson defeated top seeds—world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Mirra Andreeva—to reach the semifinals, becoming the first female wildcard to do so at Roland Garros in the Open Era.

Her story became one of the most talked-about narratives of the tournament.

From a publicity perspective, this is why being proactive matters. Visibility isn’t just about reacting to success—it’s about being ready for it. When a breakthrough moment comes, having the media access and brand conversations already underway can carry momentum well beyond the Slam.

Jack Draper: Resilience, relatability and the rise to No. 4

Jack Draper is an absolute joy to work with: grounded, professional, and backed by a great team. Seeing him rise to a career-high ATP ranking of World No. 4 after setbacks has been a brilliant example of what consistency and character look like.

Though his Roland Garros campaign ended in the fourth round against Alexander Bublik, Jack’s performances, —especially wins over Gaël Monfils and João Fonseca, cemented his status as Britain’s top male player.

Off the court, Jack’s relatability continues to set him apart. He shares personal stories in interviews, speaks openly about mental health and online abuse, and always comes across as authentic. That’s exactly why fans (and sponsors) connect with him.

From a PR perspective, this is the power of authentic storytelling. Our role is to create media opportunities that reflect who an athlete truly is so fans, media, and brands can connect with more than just results.

Taylor Townsend: ownership on and off the court

One of the most striking stories from this year’s tournament was Taylor Townsend’s launch of her own fashion line.

Despite winning Grand Slam doubles titles at Wimbledon 2024 and the Australian Open 2025 and reaching a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 2, Taylor entered Roland Garros without a clothing sponsor. We first became aware of this at the Australian Open in January, where, over lunch with her coach, we were told she didn’t have an apparel sponsor.

But, instead of waiting for a deal, she built her own.

Working with creative director Alexander John (LA Gear, Puma, Roc Nation), Taylor designed and wore her own outfits on court—complete with her “TT” logo. Her designs weren’t just stylish. They made a statement: about ownership, confidence, and challenging expectations.

From a branding perspective, this was a standout example of proactive strategy. She turned a sponsorship gap into a personal brand platform—and sparked meaningful conversations about representation, ownership, and athlete empowerment.

What’s Next: on to Wimbledon

With Roland Garros behind us, we're already planning for what’s next:

finalising client reports
scoping new work
following up with media and brand partners
pitching patch sponsors for Wimbledon and the US hardcourt season

If you’re ready to build visibility for the second half of the season, now’s the time to connect.

Kasey Brunt