Anna 
Although Valentin Royer was born just outside Paris, his earliest memories aren’t of French cafés or cobbled streets. Instead, they come from years spent in countries like Czechia, Poland, and Serbia — places that deeply shaped his view of the world and his work ethic.
Now 23 years old and climbing the ATP Challenger Tour rankings, Royer remembers picking up a tennis racquet for the first time while living in Czechia. Over 15 years, he moved between several Eastern European countries, experiences that taught him lessons he still applies today.
“What really stood out to me in Eastern Europe is the work ethic,” Royer told ATPTour.com. “Over there, tennis isn’t just a game. It’s a way to survive. They work hard because they have to. That mindset gave me a kind of discipline we don’t always have in Western Europe.”
At 14, Royer was living in Belgrade, Serbia, where he trained at the Tipsarevic Tennis Academy. The academy was founded by former world No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic. Royer trained there for two years while his father, Quentin, worked for a supermarket chain.
Royer later returned to Paris to finish high school, but his time in Belgrade made a lasting impression — especially training under Tipsarevic.
“He sets the bar high,” Royer said. “If you come to him and say you want to be in the Top 100, or even Top 10, he expects your discipline and work ethic to match that ambition.”
As a child, Royer was more interested in golf than tennis. He also enjoyed wakeboarding and surfing. But as he got older, his goals changed. He started dreaming of playing in Grand Slams and breaking into the world’s Top 10.
That dream now feels closer than ever. Last month, Royer won two back-to-back Challenger titles in Rwanda and reached the final in Zadar, riding a 14-match win streak before falling to Borna Coric. He is currently ranked a career-high No. 115 in the PIF ATP Rankings and has made at least the semi-finals in his past six tournaments.
“What changed for me was breaking the mental limits I had,” Royer explained. “In the past, if I won one tournament, I’d tell myself it was time to go home and train. But seeing players like Benjamin Bonzi win multiple tournaments in a row helped me believe I could do it too.”
This newfound belief, paired with his strong work ethic, has been key to his recent success.
“I’m not afraid to spend hours and hours on the court,” Royer said. “That mindset has brought out the best in me, and that’s exactly what you need at the top level of tennis.”
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