The French Open continues to captivate fans, proving to be tennis’s toughest challenge on clay. Rafael Nadal once dominated here, but now new champions shine: Iga Swiatek, with four titles, and Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed his first in 2024. You wouldn’t want to miss a moment. Yet for American fans, some of the captivation factor is dulled because of recurring broadcast issues.

Currently, the French Open is in Day Two, with first-round matches still underway. This year, the tournament airs on TNT and truTV, a shift from NBC’s long-time coverage. U.S. viewers could stream every match live on Max during the event to catch all the action!

However, there have been complaints about the broadcast. One fan lamented, “Really @TNT? A bazillion French Open matches going on and every time I look up, you’re showing talking heads. You ever going to show tennis on your tennis program?” So far, it was announced that over 900 matches would be broadcast. But it hasn’t been done right, as another fan added, “It’s horrible and comical at the same time. Smh.”

On May 26, defending champion Alcaraz advanced easily, while American No.1 Taylor Fritz was upset early. Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas also moved on. On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa won key matches, with Badosa beating Naomi Osaka. Emma Navarro was defeated while Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys progressed. Top seed Jannik Sinner is currently battling for a spot in round two. Yet, many U.S. fans feel they are missing the action.

This year marks the first time U.S. TV coverage of the French Open has moved from NBC’s broadcast to cable. TNT secured a $650 million deal last year for the next 10 years starting in 2025. But it hasn’t lived up to expectations. One fan wrote, “Okay I’ve seen enough, TNT’s coverage of the French Open is the wooooorrrst.” Another replied, “Agreed! It’s as though the person in charge of programming has ADHD. It’s all over the place! Horrible!”

Despite promises that all 16 match court feeds, press conferences, and extra cameras would be available, plus innovative features like timeline markers to jump to key moments, the American audience feels let down. One fan called out, “What’s the point of having the French Open on 2 channels in the US if both channels are covering the same match? #tnt #trutv.” It’s tough knowing so much action is being missed.

This isn’t a new problem. Last year, during the Charleston Open, fans also complained about Tennis Channel’s broadcast, citing multiple mid-point ads disrupting WTA matches. The frustration with tennis coverage in the U.S. continues. Even Rennae Stubbs found another issue!

Stubbs calls out the lack of subtitles during Rafael Nadal’s farewell speech at the French Open

On May 25, Roland Garros hosted a touching farewell ceremony for the King of Clay on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Fans showed up in orange t-shirts with “Merci Rafa” printed on the left side, creating a sea of gratitude. When Rafa entered, cheers exploded from every corner. The atmosphere was electric as even his old rivals—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray—joined to bring back the legendary ‘Big 4’ vibe after years apart.

Rafa’s speech, delivered in Spanish, English, and French, was heartfelt. But here’s the catch—online viewers were left frustrated because there were no subtitles. Rennae Stubbs jumped on X with a quick fix: “Thank god for google translate!” But seriously, for such a massive moment, shouldn’t subtitles have been ready? Tennis is a global sport, and many fans and players speak English as a second or third language.

Stubbs wasn’t alone. International fans echoed her frustration, feeling the language barrier cut the emotional impact short. She had raised the same issue after Rafa’s speech at the Davis Cup, his final match after a 23-year career. She wrote, “Hey TC some people can understand Spanish. So let’s hear it, no matter what! I mean no offense to the commentators, but get some Spanish interpretation on the screen. I’m livid.”

It’s clear some things need fixing fast. But it’s only Day Two of the French Open! Let’s hope broadcasters hear these calls loud and clear and get it right for the rest of the tournament. What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments below!