Roland-Garros: Steve Darcis previews Raphaël Collignon’s clash with Ben Shelton — “No one wants to play Raph”

Steve Darcis said Raphaël Collignon managed his first-round match at Roland Garros well, stressing that Grand Slam openings are never easy, especially for a player with limited experience. Darcis said the Belgian handled the atmosphere and expectations at Roland Garros reasonably well and that winning in three sets was important, particularly because Collignon had entered the match as the favorite.

Darcis explained that he keeps detailed notes during matches, recording what Collignon does well and what needs improvement. He said the match against Vukic was not a great performance, but the result mattered most. His notes also include observations about opponents and specific areas Collignon must work on so they can review them together later.

Looking ahead to Collignon’s next opponent, Ben Shelton, Darcis described the American as a top-five player with an already impressive career, but one Collignon can challenge. He said Collignon has the weapons to trouble Shelton and should focus on his own game rather than being overly concerned with the opponent. According to Darcis, Collignon has nothing to lose and must play boldly, using his strengths to put pressure on Shelton.

Darcis also addressed Collignon’s mental approach, saying the player is eager to do well and often needs reassurance. He said Collignon sometimes handles pressure effectively but sometimes struggles with it, and that emotional management remains a major area for improvement. Darcis highlighted the importance of working on stress control, breathing, and overall composure.

The coach said matches against elite players such as Shelton are not about fear or mystique, but about consistency and experience. He argued that top-10 players are simply more stable across the season and tend to raise their level in big tournaments. Darcis believes Collignon must gain more exposure to that level of competition, because facing high-ranked opponents regularly will help him become more comfortable in those intense settings. He also said that on a single match basis, the level of a player like Shelton is not necessarily far from that of players ranked around 25th to 30th.

Despite being ranked around ATP No. 62, Collignon continues to divide his time between Challenger events and ATP tournaments. Darcis said this is partly due to Collignon’s own choices and partly because the current schedule still helps him build confidence. He believes the player is gradually moving in the right direction and, now that he is close to the top 50, should start thinking bigger.

Darcis also suggested that the support structure around Collignon may change next year, including from the Belgian federation, which is expected to make fewer efforts than before. He said discussions will be needed to prepare for the next season, though he does not believe Collignon wants to change teams. Darcis added that he is willing to continue working with him, but only under the right conditions, making clear that the future of their partnership will depend on Collignon’s ambitions and plans.