Roland-Garros: what's new in 2024?

New developments on the court!

Suzanne-Lenglen court will feature a new retractable roof. After Philippe-Chatrier court, Suzanne-Lenglen court has now been fitted with a retractable roof as well. The lightweight retractable cover, made of canvas and inspired by the pleated skirt created by Jean Patou for Suzanne Lenglen, can be closed in 15 minutes. This design pays a fitting tribute to the champion, a pioneer of women’s tennis, who so perfectly embodied French elegance. The roof will be officially inaugurated on Sunday 26 May. Suzanne-Lenglen court will also be outfitted with LED panels along the court for the 2024 edition of the tournament.

"It will allow us to keep playing if the weather is bad and welcome 25,000 people", said Amélie Mauresmo during the pre-tournament press conference.

"We will host two games instead of one which will give us a little bit more flexibility in our schedule".

This year’s tournament will feature a night session on the first Sunday, 26 May. In total, 11 night sessions will be scheduled from Sunday 26 May to Wednesday 5 June. The matches will begin at 8.30pm.

One of the major new changes to the sporting event concerns the wheelchair tennis competition sponsored by Adecco. The tournament will feature eight additional matches, with the creation of four junior events: Junior Girls’ Singles, Junior Boys’ Singles, Junior Girls’ Doubles and Junior Boys’ Doubles. Four girls and four boys will participate in this new competition (six singles matches and two doubles matches) that will take place on 6 and 7 June.

Brand new furniture for the main courts

Players’ benches, chairs for umpires and line judges, as well as the various boxes, will be getting an upgrade on the four largest courts. Special attention was paid to their ergonomic design and to ensure they fit perfectly into their surroundings. Both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, the new furniture features a refined design and optimally meets the expectations of players and umpires, truly becoming one with the clay court.

The players’ benches almost look like they have sprouted from the ground. The seats are wide and decorated with wooden slats that are reminiscent of the benches in Parisian parks. In a similar vein, the umpire’s chairs feature gentle lines with ochre steps that match the clay surface. What is more, this 100% French-made furniture was designed in an eco-responsible way.

Player well-being at the top of the tournament's priority

The Roland-Garros organisers want to provide perfect conditions so that the players can focus fully on the competition and bring their best game to the courts. In collaboration with the ATP and the WTA, the tournament will be offering help to any players who are struggling or need support, by providing a staff of experts and ambassadors such as Amélie Mauresmo and the Player Relation’s team. Last year, Roland-Garros became the first Grand Slam tournament to introduce a system to tackle online bullying, which is one of the main challenges of the tournament. This initiative will be relaunched for this year’s event.

Continuing this effort to ensure that players are happy and relaxed in a busy, highly sociable environment, a Self-Care Centre was introduced in 2023 near the player bar at Philippe-Chatrier court. Offering a rest room and a recovery room, this space will also be hosting breathing workshops for the first time this year.

Roland-Garros opening week keeps getting bigger

Acclaimed by the visiting fans last year, Roland-Garros Opening Week is set to increase its capacity this year. After a record attendance of 50,000 in 2023, this year it will grow to 75,000. Furthermore, this year for the first time, Suzanne-Lenglen court will host the best matches of the qualifiers. From Monday 20 to Friday 24 May, tennis fans will be able to cheer on the players as they vie to secure their places in 2024’s main draw. However, Opening Week is about so much more... Visitors will also be able to attend the practice sessions of a host of top players on Philippe-Chatrier court and experience the many activities on offer.

"The Opening Week was important to me. We really wanted this event to be a three-week tournament. People can come, watch the qualifications, players practicing, for a very reasonnable price. It was our priority so they can live the experience fully", said Amélie Mauresmo, director of the tournament.

Many other activities will be on the 2024 programme as well: fanfare, urban tennis, jugglers, tattoo stands, Spinbooth (360° photobooth), photo shoots... And, for the first time, Meet and Greet with the players will also be held in the new Tenniseum area, to the delight of tennis fans who will be able to take advantage of this unique opportunity to mingle with players.

The French tennis walk of fame honours its champions

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is celebrating those French players who have excelled globally from 1891 to the present day with the inauguration this year of the French Tennis Walk of Fame in the heart of the Roland-Garros stadium. This pathway, located between the Village and Philippe-Chatrier court, will allow the public to walk in the footsteps of the champions who have marked the history of French tennis and to learn about or rediscover their glorious exploits detailed on fifteen arches. This permanent heritage exhibit is an extension of the immersive museum experience created by the FFT several years ago.

You will also be able to visit the new Tenniseum! After almost two years of extensive renovations to the building, the Tenniseum reopens its doors for the tournament’s 2024 edition. This new cultural and event venue, located in the heart of the Roland-Garros stadium on the site of the former FFT Museum, consists of several spaces: a museum gallery, exhibition rooms and an auditorium. At the entrance to the Tenniseum, you can find the first permanent space, which will offer an immersive film projected on a 180° screen as well as an interactive game.

Roland-Garros welcomes pickleball

Spectators at Roland-Garros will be able to discover and get a taste of Pickleball, a racquet sport from the United States that is becoming increasingly popular in France and Europe. This discipline, which has recently been incorporated into the FFT's regulations, is not just fun to play but very accessible. From Sunday 26 May to Saturday 1 June, a court will be set up on the north forecourt of Philippe-Chatrier court, while on the last four days of the tournament, from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 June, three Pickleball courts will be set up on Court 5.

Beach tennis and urban tennis will also be back.

Digital innovations

This year for the first time, all spectators will have to present their tickets via the Roland-Garros mobile app to access the stadium. This system has several advantages: one single ticket from start to finish; a dynamic and secure ticket; an easy-to-read ticket that reduces check-in time; total immersion for spectators and access to the whole Roland-Garros experience via a single platform.

The 2024 version of the Roland-Garros mobile app promises to provide an even better experience for all tennis fans as well as spectators attending the Grand Slam tournament in Paris

The app also contains live scores, results, schedules, statistics, articles and exclusive content. All essential tournament information will be accessible via the app so you don't miss anything from the 2024 edition!

Roland-Garros, a responsible tournament

The Paris Grand Slam is committed to social and environmental responsibility. For the 2024 edition of the tournament, initiatives will be carried out within the framework of two programmes, the first focusing on inclusion and solidarity - “Roland-Garros for All” -, and the second on preserving the environment - “Roland-Garros for the Planet”.

In accordance with our efforts to show unanimity in ticket sales the FFT and BNP Paribas will this year take part in “La Tribune Solidaire” movement offering seats on court Philippe-Chatrier to charities. In all some 500 seats will be offered to charitable organisations.

For the second year running, Roland-Garros will celebrate Pride Day on 7 June. The Roland-Garros grounds will be decked out in LGBTQI+ colours for the occasion. Various activities will take place on the Philippe-Chatrier court and in the alleys, as well as social media activations.

To reduce its environmental footprint, the FFT, in partnership with the GoodPlanet Foundation, has been working since 2016 with all the Roland-Garros restaurants and caterers to develop a sustainable food plan.

To find out more about what is new in the tournament, click HERE and read the entire Roland-Garros 2024 press kit.