Roland-Garros: unique moments, late hours... What results for the night sessions?

Axel May, edited by Laura Laplaud 11:34 a.m., June 02, 2022

In the Parisian night, the sound of bullets is punctuated by applause and the public has the feeling of living a unique moment, as if out of time.

But these night sessions which appeared last year thanks to the lighting of the courts and the installation of a roof on the central are debated.

When a game like the quarter-final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on Tuesday ends at 1:15 a.m., and the spectators are wrapped in their blankets, a question arises: what is the point of having the athletes play so late?

Allow fans to follow matches on weekdays

"The evening match schedule can raise questions. I believe that the balance sheet, we will do it at the end", admits Amélie Mauresmo, the director of Roland-Garros, at the microphone of Europe 1. But "I have had a number of feedback from people saying 'It's great because I work and Roland-Garros, I watch the weekend but on weekdays, usually in the evening it's over'. to defend at all costs this evening session but in my opinion, there is a real interest both on the spot and in front of his TV for a large number of people to be able to follow tennis after work, "she continues.

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The exclusive broadcaster of these night sessions, Amazon, represents a financial windfall for the French Tennis Federation.

The 10th and last night session of Roland-Garros 2022 was held on Wednesday evening with the ultimate men's quarter-final won by the Norwegian Casper Ruud.

As for the spectators who attend these matches live, in a central court with 15,000 seats, they can quickly find themselves faced with the problem of transport when it comes to leaving Porte d'Auteuil in the middle of the night.