Roland-Garros will welcome “50 to 60% of its usual spectator gauge”

• Roland-Garros will take place this year from September 21 to October 11, qualifications included. 
• As hoped, the Parisian tournament will be able to welcome the public. 
• FFT president Bernard Giudicelli announced Thursday that there will ultimately be 50 to 60% of the usual spectator tonnage. 

Roland-Garros takes shape. And with the public. The Grand Slam tournament, which will take place this year from September 21 to October 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be able to accommodate "50 to 60% of its usual spectator gauge", announced this Thursday the president of the French Federation de tennis (FFT), Bernard Giudicelli. This represents around 20,000 spectators per day at the start of the fortnight at the Porte d'Auteuil, and nearly 10,000 at the time of the finals.

The ticket office will open on July 9 for FFT licensees, on July 16 for the general public. "If the situation improves, we will put on sale more tickets in September," said Giudicelli. Conversely, if it deteriorates, we will be obliged to reduce the number of tickets and therefore to make refunds. "Which would then be done by lot," unfortunately the only fair system, "said Jean-François Vilotte, the director general of the federation.

Roland-Garros will take place from September 21 to October 11, qualif 'included via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/X7owGmqDvB

From what we understood during this telephone press conference, the two leaders, who worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and a college of scientists, are rather counting on the first option. But a rebound in contamination at the end of the summer is not entirely excluded. A new progress report will be made at the end of August, after the next government announcements.

Possibility of being side by side in groups of four

Regarding the prices, they are the same as those originally planned. The cheapest ticket to access the short courts is always set at 20 euros, that to enter the Philippe-Chatrier at 50 euros. In the high range, it will take 260 euros to be excellently placed on the day of the men's and women's finals.

The placement in the stands inside the courts has obviously turned into a puzzle. It was finally decided that on the three main courts (Philippe-Chatrier, Suzanne-Lenglen and Simonne-Mathieu), spectators will have to respect a gap seat, unless tickets are purchased for several, within a limit of four people. In other words, you can come and sit side by side with your friends or your family, but not more than four. “The tickets will be valid for one day, one short and one seat category. The final location will be communicated to the buyer in mid-September, ”explained Bernard Giudicelli.

"The rules can change during the tournament if the public behaves badly"

On the short annexes, the deal is simpler. One seat out of two will be condemned, the placement being free on those remaining available. Note that the wearing of the mask will be compulsory throughout the tournament site, but only recommended when seated in the stands. There will be no traffic flow in the aisles, "unless the sanitary situation requires it at that time," said Jean-François Villote.

“We appeal to everyone's responsibility. The rules can change during the tournament if the public behaves badly, "added the director general of the FFT. As for the players, the protocol which will surround their coming will be announced later.

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