The Roland Garros main draw is set to begin this weekend, and preparations are now complete for the start of play.
The clay-court event in Paris has a history of early surprises, and this year’s qualifying rounds have already delivered some unexpected results.
Advertisement
Grigor Dimitrov didn’t make it past his first match, falling short of reaching the main draw. Dan Evans had similar luck, also missing out in the early stages.
Turnout has been strong even before the tournament officially kicks off, with fans eager to catch the action. The crowd is only expected to grow as things move forward.
For those heading to Paris or tuning in from elsewhere, there’s been a new addition at this year’s event that should improve their experience.
Following the lead of the US Open, Roland Garros has introduced live court occupancy updates to help fans navigate the grounds more easily.
Advertisement
This gives spectators a clear sense of how full each stadium is during matches, helping them plan where to go next.
The information is being displayed on large screens positioned between Court Suzanne Lenglen and Philippe-Chatrier, two of the tournament’s most recognisable venues.
This should help reduce some of the congestion issues that often crop up around the outer courts, especially in the early rounds when multiple big names are playing at once.
Prize money at Roland Garros has already been set, with equal pay for both the men’s and women’s singles draws.
Advertisement
Both champions will receive €2.8 million ($3.3 million), while the total prize pool stands at €61.7 million.
This year’s winner’s payout is up 9.8% from 2025, but most of the increases are focused on players exiting in the earlier rounds.
The men’s and women’s doubles champions will each earn €600,000, while mixed doubles winners will collect €122,000.
Read more:
