French Open
 

Has anyone been to the French Open while in Paris? The website is confusing. I wanted to know what times the matches are? At least when they begin? I've been to tennis tournaments and there is usually a morning session and separate tickets for the evening session. Does anyone know how it is set up at Roland-Garros? It looks as though there is just one ticket for the entire day. But, do they play in the evenings?

We can only go the first week, May31.Thank you for any advice.

During the open there are matches all day long. As I recall, you buy a ticket for a specific court on a specific day, and you can watch whatever matches take place on that court on that day. Normally matches are scheduled in advance, but weather can change things. The most popular matches are of course the finals, particularly the men's and women's singles (especially the former). They play all day but not in the evenings. It's fun to watch.

Hi, also once you are in the Open, you can't leave and re-enter. You can see who is playing with times in the morning Paris papers...we had tickets in advance, went early in the day and had to stick it out to see Serena Williams at 6pm.

Hi Emily. We've been lucky enough to see some great matches at Roland Garros. The best was the 2001 final when Capriati beat Clijsters 12-10 in the 3rd. Going to the French Open has become part of our Paris itinerary. The U.S. is mostly hardcourts, but the red clay adds a color element that is so cool - sort of like the green monster at Fenway Park.

The first matches this year are Sunday, May 28th at 11:00. Your ticket will be for the entire day for one of the 3 main courts - Phillipe-Chatrier, Suzanne Lenglen and court #1. There are also cozy outer courts where you are right on top of the action.

There is NOT a separate ticket for the evening session. However, last year for the first time during the first week they sold an "evening ticket" for the last match of the day, of seats vacated by fans who had left the stadium early. The tickets go on sale after 5:00 pm and are sold at a great discount (1/2 price maybe?). We had a great seat to see Serena beat Kiralenko in a classic. Warning: The queue for the tickets was mankind behaving very badly. Be prepared to get close with your neighbor.

I try to figure out the draw and future matchups as much as possible. Alas, all of my figuring and we never got around to seeing Andre Agassi. You can check the schedule every morning on the web at your hotel or cybercafe. It is important to know each courts matchups for the day to determine which ticket you should buy.

If Martina Hingis can make it to the finals, we may have to change our plans for the weekend. :-)

Oh 39 Steps, I envy you and thanks for the info. I took my YS (a high school tennis player) to Roland Garros in June two years ago and his favorite shirt is the one he bought there.

I think we may have to return before he goes to college to see the French Open.

we could not get tickets one year. Has it been easirt in the last five?

Merci amwosu. Let me also clarify the reference to "last year" for the Serena-Kirilenko match - that was played in 2004.

Hi tondalaya. I think it's still a very tough ticket. The 'evening ticket' concept does provide another limited option, so in that sense it's easier. Depending on your budget (and risk aversion) tickets are always available - with street vendors a definite option. ;-)

Thank you for all the info! Timing is a bit of a problem. The only day we would be able to go is the Wednesday during the first week, but that is our last day in Paris. I'm not sure we want to spend it at the French Open, just in case there is something else we didn't have a chance to see. This is something I would like to do alot more than my husband is interested in.

We will try to decide this week, and as you said, maybe we will try to get tickets there, if everything else has worked out well.

Have a great week & thank you for your time.