My First Grand Slam Experience

I attended my very first Grand Slam tournament in 2017 — the Australian Open. I traveled to Melbourne with my daughter, who was competing in the junior event. For me, it was a double experience: on one hand, I was there as a father, offering support, and on the other, as a professional, curious observer. At that time, I was editor-in-chief of Tennis magazine and the Junior Tennis website, which was quite popular in Russia. I carefully watched the accredited photographers at work — how they framed their shots, how they moved around the court, what moments they managed to capture in the heat of play. I was also shooting tennis, but not yet at their level.

US Open 2018

Later came Roland Garros and Wimbledon — still mostly as a companion. Those trips were like a true school: watching colleagues up close, noticing subtle details you’d never catch on TV, added just as much to my growth as my own practice.

The real turning point came in 2019, when I received my first photo accreditation for Roland Garros on behalf of Tennis magazine. Since I was still relatively unknown internationally, the access was limited: only the qualifying rounds and the first week of the main draw. On top of that, the old press center was overcrowded, and I wasn’t given a desk. I had to improvise — finding a corner in the media café or any small table where I could quickly transfer my shots, do a basic edit, and send them off to the newsroom.

Things have since changed at Roland Garros. After renovations, a modern media center was built, offering over 500 workspaces for journalists and photographers. But accreditation is still strict: top priority goes to major international agencies, leading newspapers, and long-standing outlets. For photographers, the rotation system is tough — access to prime photo pits at court level is tightly controlled, and in the final rounds only the biggest global media get those coveted spots by the net.

For me, 2019 was a milestone. It was the first time I truly felt the backstage atmosphere of a Grand Slam as an accredited sports photographer. Despite the limitations and challenges, it was an invaluable experience — both for my professional growth and for understanding how the backstage world of global tennis really works.