The Mystery of the Empty Seats

It is a scene that plays out every year at the French Open. The camera pans across the iconic terracotta-toned seats of Philippe Chatrier, the centerpiece court of Roland Garros, and there they are: blocks of empty seats, sometimes entire rows, conspicuously vacant while two of the world's best tennis players battle it out on the clay.

Commentators occasionally remark on it. Social media buzzes about it. Tennis fans around the world wonder: how can seats be empty at one of the four Grand Slams, especially when tickets are so difficult to obtain?

The answer is not simple. It is a combination of several factors unique to French culture, the Roland Garros experience, and the way premium tickets are distributed. Understanding these factors reveals that the empty seats are not a sign of disinterest—they are a feature of how the French Open works.

Corporate Ticket Holders and Sponsor Allocations

The single biggest contributor to empty seats at Philippe Chatrier is corporate and sponsor ticket allocation. Like all major sporting events, Roland Garros reserves a significant number of premium seats for sponsors, partners, and corporate hospitality guests.

These seats are often part of hospitality packages that include catering, lounge access, and networking events in dedicated areas of the grounds. The tennis match itself is sometimes secondary to the business entertainment happening in the hospitality suites.

The result is predictable:

• Late arrivals: Corporate guests often do not arrive at the start of play. Business lunches, meetings, and hospitality lounge events run on their own schedule.
• Early departures: Many corporate attendees leave before the final match of the day concludes, especially on weekdays when evening commitments call.
• No-shows: Some allocated tickets simply go unused. A corporate block of 20 seats might see only 12 occupied on any given day.

This is not unique to Roland Garros—Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open all face similar dynamics. But at the French Open, the relatively intimate size of Philippe Chatrier (approximately 15,000 seats) makes empty blocks more visually noticeable than in larger stadiums.

The Court-Hopping Culture

Roland Garros is not just Philippe Chatrier. The grounds feature Suzanne Lenglen (approximately 10,000 seats), Simonne Mathieu (approximately 5,000 seats), and a dozen outside courts where some of the most exciting and intimate tennis unfolds.

French Open attendees—especially knowledgeable tennis fans—are notorious court-hoppers. With a reserved seat on Chatrier, you have the freedom to explore. Many fans use early-round days to:

• Watch rising stars on the outside courts with front-row proximity
• Catch doubles matches and mixed doubles with a more relaxed atmosphere
• Visit the practice courts where top players warm up (a major draw for autograph hunters)
• Explore the Roland Garros museum, boutiques, and the stunning new garden areas

The result is a constant flow of people in and out of Chatrier, creating the appearance of empty seats even when every ticket for the session has been sold.

The Sacred French Lunch Break

This one is cultural and entirely charming. The French take their lunch seriously. Between approximately 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, a significant portion of the Chatrier crowd migrates to the grounds' many restaurants, food courts, and picnic areas.

Roland Garros has invested heavily in its dining options. From the upscale Maison de la FFT to casual crêpe stands and wine bars scattered across the grounds, the culinary experience is considered an integral part of the Roland Garros day out. Many attendees plan their entire day around a long lunch, scheduling their court time for the afternoon matches.

The midday emptiness is so predictable that experienced fans use it to their advantage: arriving at Chatrier during the lunch exodus often means easier access and better sight lines for matches that start around noon.

Weather and Session Breaks

Paris weather in late May and early June can be unpredictable. Rain delays are a French Open tradition. When play is suspended, spectators scatter to covered areas, cafes, and the hospitality village. When play resumes, it can take 20-30 minutes for the crowd to fully reassemble.

Additionally, between matches there is naturally a turnover period. Fans who came primarily to watch the first match of the day may leave, while those holding out for the evening session have not yet arrived. This transition period creates the visual of empty seats even on sold-out days.

How Empty Seats Benefit You as a Ticket Buyer

Here is the good news: the empty seats phenomenon is actually great news for ticket buyers. It means several tangible benefits for your Roland Garros experience:

• Less crowded grounds: Even on sold-out days, the grounds rarely feel oppressively packed. You can move freely between courts without the crush you might experience at other Grand Slams.
• Easier access to outside courts: With many reserved-seat holders lingering on Chatrier or in hospitality areas, the outside courts are wonderfully accessible. First-come seating on Courts 6-14 is often available even on popular days.
• A more relaxed atmosphere: The ebb and flow of the crowd gives Roland Garros its distinctive, almost festival-like atmosphere. It is less intense than Wimbledon, more social than the US Open, and uniquely French.
• Grounds Pass value: A Grounds Pass at Roland Garros gives you access to all outside courts, the atmosphere, the food, and the practice courts—all at a fraction of the cost of a reserved Chatrier seat. Given that many Chatrier ticket holders are out on the grounds anyway, the experience gap is smaller than you might think.

For day session tickets, the early rounds (Week 1) offer an exceptional experience. The grounds are lively, multiple courts have top players in action, and the atmosphere is at its most sociable. You do not need a Finals ticket to have an unforgettable day at Roland Garros.

To understand what different sessions cost, check our detailed French Open ticket prices guide.