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3. Roland-Garros: Benjamin Hassan in the Main Draw, Lebanon Knocks on the Door of World Tennis

A Lebanese in Paris! Lebanon has claimed its spot in the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Benjamin Hassan, ranked 221^st in the world, pulled off a genuine feat by qualifying for the main draw of the prestigious Parisian tournament. A historic first for a Lebanese player on the ochre courts of Porte d’Auteuil.

Three Steps to Glory

It took three battles, three victories for the 29-year-old to secure his ticket to the round of 128 in the main draw. The final win, earned against Japanese player James Trotter (ATP 174), confirmed his sparkling form: 7-6, 6-2 in a perfectly executed match. Strong on serve and precise with his backhand, Hassan dominated his opponent in the second set, after winning a crucial tie-break in the first.

With this performance, he becomes the first Lebanese to reach the main draw at Roland-Garros, just months after his compatriot Hady Habib broke through at the Australian Open. Two Grand Slams, two Lebanese qualifiers: an entire tennis nation is rising.

Habib Out Early

As for Hady Habib, he was unable to repeat his recent successes in Melbourne or at the Olympic Games. He was eliminated in the second round of qualifying after a hard-fought match against Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo (4-6, 7-6, 4-6).

National Pride

As soon as the qualification was confirmed, the president of the Lebanese Tennis Federation, Alain Sayegh, personally congratulated the hero of the day in a call to honor a performance done “in the name of Lebanese tennis and all sports fans in Lebanon.”

Portrait of a Circuit Warrior

Born on November 4, 1995, in Merzig, Germany, Benjamin Hassan is a right-hander with a two-handed backhand, standing at 1.83 meters and weighing 85 kilograms. He holds dual German-Lebanese nationality, but it is under Lebanon’s red and white colors that he has chosen to pursue his ambitions.

Long an amateur, he only turned professional at age 22, in 2017. His early days on the ITF Futures circuit led to a first title in August 2018 at the F11 tournament in Germany. He climbed the ranks patiently until entering the ATP circuit.

In 2023, he made his first appearances on the main tour, notably in Stockholm and Basel, and reached the final of the Belem Open in Lisbon.

But his biggest breakthrough came at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He was the first Lebanese tennis player to compete in the Olympics, alongside Hady Habib. He claimed a resounding victory over American Christopher Eubanks (6-4, 6-2), marking Lebanon’s first Olympic tennis win.

Toward Another Achievement?

At Roland-Garros, Hassan now dreams of another milestone: winning a match in the main draw. Whatever happens next, the story is already beautiful.