Key facts
| Address | Stade de Roland-Garros, 2 Avenue Gordon Bennett, 75016 Paris, France |
| Capacity | 15,166 seats |
| Build Date | 1928 |
Description
Court Philippe Chatrier is the main court for the French Open, the stadium was named after Philippe Chatrier in 2001 who was the head of French Tennis and was successful in his attempt to bring tennis back into the Olympic Games in 1988.
The stadium, originally built in 1928 now holds a total of 15,166 which was recently reduced to make way for more press boxes.
FAQ
Court Philippe-Chatrier is the main tennis stadium of the Stade Roland Garros complex in Paris, France. It serves as the centerpiece for the French Open tennis tournament, one of the four Grand Slam events in professional tennis.
The stadium was originally built in 1928 as part of the Stade Roland Garros complex. It has undergone several renovations since then, with the most recent major renovation completed in 2020.
The court was renamed in 2001 to honor Philippe Chatrier, a former president of the French Tennis Federation who played a crucial role in developing and promoting tennis in France and internationally. Before 2001, it was simply known as “Court Central” (Center Court).
After its recent renovation, the seating capacity of Court Philippe-Chatrier is approximately 15,000 spectators.
The seating in Court Philippe-Chatrier is arranged in a rectangular shape around the central tennis court. The stadium features:
Lower tier seating closest to the court;
Middle tier seating;
Upper tier seating.
Each tier is divided into sections, typically labeled with letters or numbers for easy navigation.
Yes, some notable features include:
Retractable roof: Installed in 2020, it allows play to continue during inclement weather.
Lighting system: Enables night matches, a recent addition to the French Open schedule.
Players’ boxes: Located in the lower tier, where players’ teams and guests sit during matches.
Royal box: A special seating area for VIPs and dignitaries.
The best seats depend on your preferences:
Lower tier seats offer the closest views but may have limited perspective for high balls.
Middle tier seats often provide a good balance between proximity and overall view of the court.
Upper tier seats offer a full view of the court but are furthest from the action.
Seats behind the baselines are popular for watching players’ movements and shot trajectories.
Seats along the sidelines provide a different perspective and are closer to the players during changeovers.
While primarily used for the French Open, Court Philippe-Chatrier has occasionally hosted other events, including Davis Cup ties and special exhibition matches. However, its main purpose remains as the central court for the French Open tournament.
