2024 edition: Three intense and emotionally charged weeks

What are you taking away from the 2024 tournament?

Gilles Moretton: We’re coming to the end of three intense and emotionally charged weeks. It’s a long tournament, but it has gone very smoothly and I would like to thank all the teams for their brilliant work. I would also like to thank Amelie, our partners, and the City of Paris.

Opening Week was a real hit; the players put on an incredible and very exciting show, which explains why tennis is so successful in France. This week of qualifications shines the spotlight on club presidents, teachers, volunteers – everyone working to develop the sport and make people want to play. The first few days were also an opportunity to make use of the new roof at Suzanne‑Lenglen court, symbolically marking the end of our cycle of transformation. Not everything went perfectly, of course, but we will learn everything we can from this year’s tournament to make changes for the future.

Amelie Mauresmo: The weather conditions were difficult this year and all of our teams faced challenges. We really must give them huge thanks for all their work. Suzanne-Lenglen court was crucial in the first two weeks – it was definitely the right year to inaugurate the roof! Ten thousand people watched the qualifying matches. There was greater interest than ever before, and an amazing atmosphere on all courts. Although there are, naturally, things that could be improved, I would like to touch on the success of this Opening Week (75,000 people attended the qualifications over five days) and the mobile ticketing system, because 670,000 people had no issues entering the stadium this year.

What would you like to say to the people asking why none of the night sessions featured women’s matches?

Amelie Mauresmo: What people need to understand about the night sessions is that we do not schedule any of the matches in advance. Of course, we have considered taking these sessions to two matches, but this would involve major logistical limitations. Naturally, every day we look at the headline matches to know which is compatible with the night session, with a view to ensuring that spectators with a night ticket get to see enough play. Nothing’s set in stone, of course, but putting on just one match obviously forces us to make certain choices. These are difficult decisions to make but, again, we just weren’t able to do it differently this year.

Can you explain why Philippe-Chatrier court wasn’t full for the second men’s semi-final at the end of the day on Friday?

Gilles Moretton: I feel the same way as the fans, who were saddened to see an empty stadium, particularly when the players make their entrances. It’s disappointing and obviously unacceptable. We’re going to think about it and find solutions – but our spectators know their tennis, and sometimes they prefer to head to the outside courts to watch the juniors or an undecided match.

Amelie Mauresmo: There are operational limitations. I don’t have a miracle solution, but we’re thinking hard about how to make sure that both sports and operations-related aspects are respected. I can’t read the ticketholders’ minds, but on Philippe-Chatrier court, outside of the boxes, only 10 per cent of them attended both semi-finals. We thought we would be shielded from this sort of situation, because a lot of spectators were expected to come just for this second semi-final. I can’t explain why they didn’t. But again, we will do our utmost to improve certain things.