On Being Tenacious

“Victory belongs to the most tenacious.”

That quote is ubiquitous at Roland Garros, and as r the second week of the French Open begins today, it is a useful reminder of why the tournament is different. On red clay, the surface rewards patience, discipline, adaptation, and the ability to stay in the point longer than the person across the net.

Trial lawyers, does this sound familiar?

Contrary to popular culture, trials are rarely won because of a singular dramatic moment. A great cross-examination, a strong opening, or a memorable closing line moves the needle, but jurors usually reach their decisions by watching how the whole case holds together over time. They listen for exaggeration. They are comparing what was promised in the opening to what the evidence proves. They are deciding which side seems steady, fair, and anchored.

(Photo from our day at the French Open in 2023)

In my experience, the trial teams that execute best are not always the ones with the most clever theme or the most polished presentation. They are the ones who stay disciplined when the case gets hard, without becoming rigid. They continue to make tactical assessments, read the room, and adjust when the situation calls for it. They know what jurors are likely to struggle with, and they keep returning to those questions with clarity and patience. They do not chase every point.

They do not overreact to every bad moment. They do not mistake activity for progress.

Roland Garros, of course, was not a tennis player. He was a French aviator and World War I pilot, which gives the quote more significance than a typical sports slogan. It is not only about winning. It is about endurance under pressure and sustaining clear thinking when conditions are difficult.

That is as true at trial as it is on the red clay at Roland Garros.

Victory belongs to the most tenacious because difficult conditions expose who can maintain their form.