Axel May / Photo credits: AFP 06:22, May 25, 2023

This is a novelty this year at Roland-Garros: during the week of qualifying, the public can also go to the center court and attend the training of the cadors of the circuit, who prepare for the Tournament. Europe 1 went to the prestigious court of the Porte d'Auteuil to exchange with the spectators.

The speaker announces the arrival on Court Philippe-Chatrier of two names known to tennis fans. On one side, the Italian Jannik Sinner, world number 8, on the other the Austrian Dominic Thiem, former winner of the US Open. They come to rehearse their range in front of a fairly large audience. Tested last year, the opening of the central to spectators with tickets for the qualifications has been generalized this year.

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See players differently

Héloïse, a tennis fan, came with her dad. "I installed the app and watched. There are training schedules and I made a list of those I wanted to see play," says the teenager. "It's nice to see very good players training and dropping shots as they feel, it's very beautiful," adds the dad. In this central court open to all, the most popular places are those at the edge of the court, including boxes, which, during the tournament, are reserved for the privileged.

Louis-Henry is the steward of ball collectors at Roland-Garros. He settled in the stands with several young people. "This is the first time that collectors have been allowed to come. This also allows those who will not have the chance to practice on the center, as ball collectors, to come and see the players train." During these sessions open to the public, the best tricolor, Caroline Garcia, trained with the Tunisian Ons Jabeur. And a little surprise awaited the spectators: the distribution of balls autographed by the players.