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Strategy for 2025 French Open Seats

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 19:07:00 +0000

Planning ahead for 2025 French Open

I’m gearing up for my third pilgrimage to the French Open in 2025. Following the playbook from my 2023 trip, I’m skipping the chaotic Philippe-Chatrier lottery scramble and setting my sights squarely on Suzanne-Lenglen Court.

(Though if you just want to experience the ambiance from your couch, virtual tours exist for a reason—though let’s be honest, nothing beats the smell of clay and overpriced espresso.)

If you’re looking to lock down your own tickets and travel packages for the next tournament, you can browse and buy them right away. But if you’re trying to engineer the ultimate seat in Lenglen, here is the exact tactical blueprint.

The Prime Real Estate: Baseline Gold

When I open up that ticketing portal, my absolute first choice of seat is right of the chair umpire, directly behind the baseline (marked as the orange-shaded area on the seating chart).

In the official ticketing lingo, you’re hunting for:

Category Or (Or is French for gold—because nothing says romance like paying precious-metal prices for sports viewing)
Access 8 through 14

Just keep the layout in mind: there are three rows of seats tucked into either corner, and two rows right down the middle.

Plan B: The Fallback Access Zones

If the golden baseline seats vanish into thin air before I can click “buy,” my backup preference is locking down Access 17 or Access 4. They offer a solid view of the action without sending you scrambling into nosebleed territory.

The 4:30 AM Wake-Up Call

Securing prime Grand Slam seats isn’t for the sleep-deprived. My alarm is officially set for 4:30 AM ET on March 13, 2025, giving me just enough time to slam some coffee and stare intensely at a loading screen before tickets officially go on sale at 5:00 AM ET.

Wish me luck—may the Wi-Fi gods be ever in my favor!

Lenglen Court Category Gold, Access 8 seats top view

Lenglen Court Seat of Category Gold, Access 8

Lenglen Court Category Map

My Ticket from Jun 2, 2023 - Access 8, Row 3, Seat 5

View from the Lenglen seat (Access 8, Row 3, Seat 5)

Suzanne Lenglen Ticket Prices from 2024

First Friday third round ticket in 2023 was €305.
First Friday third round ticket in 202 was €370.

French Open 2025 Information

Date/ Time	Court/Seat/Match
Feb 7, 2025 (10AM Paris, 4AM New York)	FFT Member Sales
Feb 28, 2025 (10AM Paris, 4AM New York)	Premium Sales
Mar 6, 2025 (10AM Paris, 4AM New York)	Wheelchair Sales
Mar 13, 2025 (10AM Paris, 5AM New York)	Public Sales
Apr 30, 2025 (10AM Paris, 5AM New York)	Last Tickets *

* Resale tickets can be bought until the day before the match. Resale prices are the same as face value, unlike US Open.

Premium Offers are not on sales yet as of August, 2024.

For more information, go to French Open official ticketing website.

Provisional Schedule for 2025 French Open

Is French Open Premium Passion Offer worth it?

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 21:41:00 +0000

French Open 2024 Premium Passion Offer for Mens Final

If you want to experience Roland-Garros without fighting through the general admission crowds all day, the French Open offers a VIP package called the Premium Passion Offer.

Here is what you actually get, how the day flows, and whether it’s worth checking out.

What’s Included in the Package

Tour of Champions Wall and the grounds.
Exclusive access to Philippe-Chatrier Court, including the international broadcast booths and courtside seats (we even caught Coco Gauff practicing).
Meet-and-greet with a former French tennis player (we met Henri Leconte).
All-day hospitality access (Salon 102): Breakfast, lunch, and after-match snacks with open drinks flowing for over 10 hours.
Official Souvenir: A 2024 French Open tournament towel.

How the Day Unfolds

The morning starts around 8:30 AM at Gate 5 on Boulevard d’Auteuil. Our group of eight checked in and headed straight to Salon 102 inside Chatrier Stadium via Access Stair 13.

First up on the tour was the Champions Wall to meet Henri Leconte. He was fantastic—super friendly, took individual and group photos with everyone, and joked around while answering our random tennis questions.

Next, our guide took us behind the scenes into the broadcast booths overlooking Philippe-Chatrier before walking us right down to the courtside seats. Coco Gauff was out there practicing for her doubles final, so we hung out, snapped photos, and soaked in the empty-court atmosphere for about half an hour.

The tour wrapped up around 10:00 AM with a great tip from our guide: Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev were scheduled to practice on Courts 5 and 4 at 11:00 AM, so he suggested we grab breakfast quickly and head over early to beat the crowds.

The Food and Perks

The hospitality in Salon 102 was a major highlight. From breakfast right through to late-afternoon snacks, gourmet French food and drinks were served continuously for the 10+ hours we were there.

To top it all off, we walked away with an official 2024 French Open souvenir towel. Overall, it’s a remarkably smooth way to experience a Grand Slam without the usual logistical headaches.

Seat Location

If you’re wondering where your ticket actually lands you with this package, let’s talk logistics. My seat for the offer was Category 1, Access C13, Row 11, Seat 91.

Here is the honest breakdown of what that view is like, along with a few tips for future ticket hunting.

The View from C13

There are loge boxes and about 6 rows of “Category Gold” seating directly in front of this section, putting these seats roughly 20 rows back from the sideline.

To be completely honest, it’s not the absolute best view in the stadium—especially since I couldn’t snag anything closer during the regular public sales. If you’re chasing prime, close-up court views, my honest advice is to look into tickets for Suzanne-Lenglen Stadium during the earlier rounds (like the Round of 16) instead.

Access C13 sits right along the sideline, facing the chair umpire. The main catch? There is zero roof or shade on that side for most of the day. Luckily, it wasn’t a scorching day and there was a bit of cloud cover, so I survived without melting.

The Ultimate VIP Perk: Zero Lines

While the seat itself is a bit further back, the proximity to the hospitality lounge completely changes the game.

One of the biggest hidden benefits of this offer is that there is a designated door leading straight from the seating area into Salon 102.

If you’ve ever spent half a match waiting in brutal stadium queues for the restroom or a overpriced drink, you know the pain. Here? There were zero lines for the air-conditioned restrooms, the food and drink stations were fully stocked, and multiple big-screen TVs meant you didn’t miss a single point. Walking right back out to your seat in a matter of seconds is an absolute luxury.

Access C13, Row 11, Seat 91 is in the shaded area. Seat 91 happened to be an aisle seat and there was an empty row (walkway) between Row 10 and Row 11.

Is French Open Premium Passion Offer worth it?

For Mens’ final of 2024, it is a resounding YES.
It was totally worth it for €1670.00.

On the day of final, there is only one session and thus guests can stay well after trophy presentation.

I can’t say for certain if premium offer is worth it for a day with two sessions or a match that ends in a hurry. But that is sports which we can’t control.

But I can say for sure that the Premium Passion Offer from French Open is very generous and you will have a great time.

Photos from 2024 French Open Final Day

French Open 2024

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:54:00 +0000

Getting French Open tickets

After hitting up the Round of 16 and quarter-finals back in 2023, I headed back to Paris for my second French Open in 2024 with one clear goal: watch the men’s semi-finals and the final.

Of course, trying to grab those tickets during the standard public sale proved nearly impossible. When the normal routes fell through, I ended up going with the Premium Passion Offer package instead.

Honestly? It turned out to be a really good move.

Sure, the actual seats are just decent (Category 1, meaning you’re a bit back from the court), but the extra perks make up for it. Between getting a backstage tour of Chatrier, meeting a former French tennis pro, and having an air-conditioned lounge with endless food and drinks for ten hours straight, it takes away all the usual stadium hassles.

If you strike out on regular tickets for the big matches, it’s definitely a stress-free way to enjoy the day.

Going to Roland Garros from my AirBnb

Staying and Navigating Near Roland-Garros: A Practical Guide

(Image source: French Views Blog)

The French Open takes place at Stade Roland-Garros, a massive complex of courts and stadiums located in Paris’s 16th arrondissement in the southwest of the city.

For my trips, I prefer staying close by. I booked Airbnbs near the Michel-Ange Auteuil station in 2023 and the Porte de Saint-Cloud station in 2024. Both put me within a 15-minute walk of the tournament gates. Evening matches often run until midnight, and after a long day of tennis, the last thing you want is to fight the crowds on the Metro, catch an overpriced Uber, or wait for a packed bus.

Knowing your gate matters, too. The complex is huge, and if you end up on the wrong side of the grounds, you’re in for a very long walk around the perimeter.

When you want to head into the city, Metro lines 9 and 10 make it easy to get from the 16th arrondissement to major sights:

Arc de Triomphe: ~20 minutes
Eiffel Tower: ~30 minutes
Louvre Museum: ~30 minutes

As for getting around town, Citymapper was the clear winner back in 2023, but Google Maps caught right up by 2024. Public transit tech improved as well: in 2023 you still relied on paper tickets for the Metro, but by 2024 you could buy and reload tickets directly on your iPhone using the IDF Mobilités app. (The one exception: as of mid-2024, you still had to grab paper tickets at the machine for the regional train between CDG Airport and the central Metro network).

One important heads-up on lodging: there aren’t a ton of hotels within easy walking distance of Stade Roland-Garros. If you wait until February or March, you’ll likely struggle to find vacancies for all your dates. Book early.

That said, I did spend a few nights at a couple of local spots that are comfortably within walking distance of the grounds:

Holiday Inn Auteuil
Hotel Murat (A very small hotel, but very friendly staff.)

Court Philippe-Chatrier Seats and 2024 Prices

Court Chartier is the main court and sits 15,000 capacity. You can make an official virtual visit here.

Ticket prices of the matches that I attended in 2024

Date	Court/Seat/Match	Price
Jun 5, 2024, 8:00PM Thu	Chatrier, Access C19, Cat 1, Row 13, Seat 137, QF*	€ 615.00
Jun 7, 2024, 11:00AM Fri	Chatrier, Access C31, Cat 2, Row 1, Seat 138, SF1*	€ 920.00
Jun 7, 2024, 8:00PM Fri	Chatrier, Access C24, Cat 2, Row 3, Seat 20, SF2**	€ 169.00
Jun 9, 2024, 8:00AM Sun	Chatrier, Access C13, Cat 1, Row 11, Seat 91, MF***	€ 1670.00

* Premium Discovery Ticket (I personally don’t think it is as good deal as Premium Passion)
** Return ticket and bought the night before (Jun 5, 2024 at 6:01PM)
******* Premium Passion (worth the money)

2024 French Open Matches

French Open 2023

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 14:39:00 +0000

Getting French Open tickets

I attended my first French Open in 2023.
French Open and Australian Open are two major tournaments which provide easiest ways to buy tickets compare to Wimbledon and ticket prices are affordable compare to US Open.

French Open ticket sales to public (internationally) in mid -march at 10AM Paris time. I am in New York, which means I get up before 5AM to buy tickets.
Registering an email with FFT is very first step of buying French Open tickets. Name and birthday in the registration information was used to issue ticket and the tournament checked information when I went in to Roland Garros gates.

In 2023, I get my money worth from the ticket in Suzanne Lenglen stadium.
There were 2 Women Round of 16 and 2 Mens Round of 16 matches. The matches were not all great the match Lorenzo Sonego upset Andrey Rublev.
I also bought all 4 Quarter Final matches hoping I will see Rafael Nadal play on clay if he gets to Quarter Final (Rafa did not participate in 2023 Roland Garros).

In 2024, I wanted to watch mens semifinal match and mens final match.
I was not able to get them on public sales so I bought premium offers.
I think Premium Passion is a very good deal. The seat is ok (Category 1). But Chatrier Tour, meeting with a French Legend, all day food and drink in a private lounge - make the offer very enjoyable.

Going to Roland Garros from my AirBnb

Above image is copied from French Views Blog.

French Open is held in Stade Roland Garros, a complex of tennis courts and stadiums.
Paris has 20 different administrative districts (arrondissements) and French Open is in Arrondissement 16, South West of Paris. I stayed at AirBnBs near Michael-Ange Auteiul station (2023) and Porte de Saint-Cloud station (2024), both within 15 walk from Stade Roland Garros gates. Evening matches tend to run late (midnight) and I wanted to avoid commuting with Metro/Uber/Bus after the last match finsihes.

There are multiple gates and I needed to make sure where the gate that I will enter. It may be a long walk if I ended up at other side of the park.)

Metro 10 and 9 can take me from Arrondissement 16 to other famous parts of Paris such as Tour Eiffel (30 mins), Lourve (30 mins), Arc de Triomphe (20 mins) etc.

CityMapper app was better to get around Paris back in 2023, but Google map has caught up in 2024.

Paper tickets was needed to use metro back in 2023 but I can use iPhone to buy metro ticket and refill using IDF App.
(Exception : As of June 2024, I still needed to buy paper ticket at vending machine for travel between CDG airport and Paris metro area.)

There were not a lot of hotels within walking distance from Stade Roland Garros to choose from . Early booking is needed since I was not able to get rooms for the all dates that I needed by February/March of respective year.

Yet, I stayed at following hotels for a few nights and they are all walking distance from Stade Roland Garros.

Holiday Inn Auteuil
Hotel Murat (A very small hotel, but very friendly staff.)

Photos and Videos from 2023 French Open

Photo : Andrey vs. Lorenzo, RD16 (Jun 2, 2023 / Lenglen / Loge)

Photo : Stefanos vs. Diego, RD16 (Jun 2, 2023 / Lenglen / Loge)

Photo : Daria vs. Peyton, RD16 (Jun 2, 2023 / Lenglen / Loge)

Photo : Sloane vs. Yulia, RD16 (June 2, 2023 / Lenglen / Loge)

Photo : Novak vs. Karen, QF1 (Jun 6, 2023 Day session / Chatrier / Category Gold, Row 6, Seat 93)

Photo : Carlos vs. Stefanos, QF2 (Jun 6, 2023 Night session / Chatrier / Category 1, Row 8, Seat 162)

Court Philippe-Chatrier Seats and 2024 Prices

Court Chartier is the main court and sits 15,000 capacity. You can make an official virtual visit here.

Loges/Box seats are for corporate sponsor and I was not able to buy them during public sales.
I have tried Category 1, 2 and Gold. On the day of public sales, I had the chance to pick location of the seats if they are available. My favorite area during day session will be bottom of seating plan (right of the chair), category gold.

Ticket prices of the matches that I attended in 2023

Date	Court/Seat/Match	Price
Jun 2, 2023, 11:00AM Fri	Lenglen, Access L8, Loges, Row 3, Seat 5, 4th Round	€ 230.00
Jun 6, 2023, 11:00AM Tue	Chatrier, Access C21, Cat Gold, Row 6, Seat 93, QF1	€ 175.00
Jun 6, 2023, 8:00PM Tue	Chatrier, Access C17, Cat 1, Row 8, Seat 162, QF2.	€ 130.00
Jun 7, 2023, 11:00AM Wed	Chatrier, Access C21, Cat Gold, Row 6, Seat 91, QF3	€ 175.00
Jun 7, 2023, 8:00PM Wed	Chatrier, Access C17, Cat 1, Row 18, Seat 46, QF4	€ 130.00

2023 French Open Matches