Royer: "I'm Working Hard to Break Into the Top 100 as Soon as Possible"

Valentin Royer is off to a strong start in the 2025 season, with two Challenger titles in Kigali and a runner-up finish in Zadar, where he lost to Borna Coric.

He is currently at his career-high ranking of 115th and aims to break into the Top 100.

In an interview with Tennis Actu, he said: "It proves that the work put in beforehand and at the start of the year is paying off, so it's all positive.

Now, I think we need to work even harder to get past that Top 100 barrier. My team and I—my coach, my mental trainer, my physio—are doing our best to go as far as possible this year.

We’re really happy with how the season has started. I turned pro at the end of 2019, after finishing my junior career.

It’s 2025 now, so that’s about three or four good years, not counting the Covid year in 2020. Many Top 10 players didn’t spend more than three years in Challengers either, so everyone has their own pace.

I’m not there yet, and I could drop back quickly. That’s why I’m working as hard as possible to reach the Top 100 as soon as I can.

I think there’s no need to rush—you have to stay focused on your goals, in your bubble with your team, because forcing things doesn’t necessarily make them happen faster."

After losing to Remy Bertola in Oeiras, Royer will now compete in the qualifying rounds for the Madrid and Rome Masters 1000 events, hoping for a wild card into Roland-Garros.