This year, and for the first time, ten matches will be scheduled at 9 p.m. at Roland Garros. And, new here again, they will be broadcast by Amazon and not by France Télévisions. It remains to determine the choice of meetings. And it won't be easy. Explanations with Benjamin Badinter, publication director of "Tennis Magazine", guest of Philippe Vandel on Europe 1.
This year, the broadcast of Roland-Garros, which begins Monday with the qualifications, will experience a small revolution.
In addition to France Télévisions, and instead of Eurosport, it is indeed Amazon that will complete the offer for viewers.
The American giant has obtained the broadcast of the night sessions, ten matches scheduled from 9 p.m., from Monday May 31 to Wednesday June 9.
And theoretically, these will be the ten best posters of the day.
Theoretically, because the selection of matches does not look easy, as explained on Monday on Europe 1 Benjamin Badinter, publication director of
Tennis Magazine
, guest of Philippe Vandel in Culture Media.
"We will have to negotiate"
First, the night sessions, already in force in other Grand Slam tournaments, are usually high-tension matches, played in a boiling atmosphere.
However, there, Covid obliges, there will be no spectators.
"It will be behind closed doors," confirms Benjamin Badinter.
"We will see how Amazon will succeed, with the organizers, in spicing up this moment."
The journalist nevertheless recalls that the digital giant has experience in the world of the little yellow ball.
"Amazon has been a US Open broadcaster for many years. So they've already invested in tennis and they're not there for nothing."
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Matches behind closed doors, therefore, but above all, which matches?
"Officially, it is the French Tennis Federation that chooses. It is Guy Forget, tournament director, with his teams, who is in charge of the programming. It is up to them to arbitrate which match we will put forward. in the evening ", explains Benjamin Badinter.
"They will be influential on the issue, but it will take negotiation."
"What's the best game? Is it with Nadal, Federer, Djokovic?"
Because several parameters will have to be taken into account. "The night sessions are going to pose an interesting question: men's or women's match? I think the choice will not be easy for the organizers," explains the publishing director of
Tennis Magazine
. "And then what is the best match? Is it with Nadal, Federer, Djokovic?"
The question will in any case be decided on the eve of the matches. "It will be decided when we decide on the programming of the coming day, that is to say at the end of the day", explains Benjamin Badinter, who reports another factor to be taken into account. "It will also depend on the wishes of the players and the big stars. A player like Roger Federer, even if he does not admit it, or Rafael Nadal, also have their say."