Tips for Attending the French Open

The iconic orange clay pops on your TV screen, but nothing beats watching a professional in person. Here are some tips for attending the French Open.

Roland Garros has some of the strictest ticketing rules of all the Grand Slams, with sales only allowed on authorized websites. These tickets are pre-assigned to a name that cannot be changed once the day before the match arrives, so sell or buy your scalped tickets before then. You can also try to get an evening visitor’s pass which gets you access to vacated seats on the outer courts, perfect for budget tennis fans who appreciate the first week of competition.

The grounds are located in the 16^th arrondissement, the westernmost part of Paris, which will probably be out of the way for travelers. The best way to get to Roland Garros will be the metro, located just more than 20 minutes away from the city center at Porte d’Auteuil on the 10 line, or Michel-Ange Auteuil on the 9. You will most likely be disembarking with a large crowd, so finding the grounds from the station will not be difficult.

Despite being held in late May/early June, the weather is very much day to day. All the courts are open-air, and the temperatures can fluctuate from the 40s to 70s, so it’s best to be prepared and pack a few layers. Rain is always a possibility, so bring an umbrella. If less than 90 minutes of play happens due to weather, your ticket will be refunded. Less than two hours will get you half a refund.

Unlike American sporting events, visitors can bring their own food and drinks to the French Open, just no glass containers. Much of the vendors on the grounds will be overpriced and lacking in quality, so best pack a lunch from outside. While you’re eating, try and check out some of the action on the outer courts used for practice, where its not uncommon to hang out on the edge of a fence to watch your favorite tennis stars warm up.