Laura Siegemund won't care what people may think as she is determined to take her doughnut-shaped cushion on court for a French Open first round match against Naomi Osaka on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old German veteran has said that sitting on the cushion has helped her with back problems and that she won't do without it againmst the four-time grand slam winner Osaka either.
“I will definitely take it with me onto the court. After all, the wooden benches we sit on are often really hard. And the harder they are, the more of a problem it becomes,” Siegemund said.
“Everyone’s laughing and the doughnut’s become a running joke. But I’ve reached a point in my career where I say: let them laugh; if you’re happy with it, it doesn’t matter what other people think.”
World number 47 Siegemund had to end the 2025 season prematurely owing to the back problems, telling Eurosport it got so bad that she could not even put a pair of socks on.
She said the back problems have more or less been solved "but I simply have problems sitting - and then I bought this doughnut."
Siegemund has two quarter-finals from grand slams in singles but is more successful with a partner at the majors with one women's doubles and two mixed doubles trophies.