- The 2024 French Open clay courts have seen a flurry of activity
- The Suzanne-Lenglen court has undergone major renovations
- Ticket prices continue to increase
The 2024 French Open clay courts have seen a flurry of activity so far. Both predicted supremacy and unexpected upsets upending the men’s and women’s competitions have played out.
As the first week comes to an end, the following is a summary of the major developments at Roland Garros.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT 2024 FRENCH OPEN?
Here are the major highlights of the second Grand Slam of the year in Paris.
Suzanne-Lenglen Court Upgrade
The Suzanne-Lenglen court has undergone major renovations. Its retractable roof, akin to the Philippe-Chatrier court is now in place. This lightweight canvas cover, which is inspired by the renowned Suzanne Lenglen, a trailblazer in women’s tennis, closes in just 15 minutes.
Matches can continue whether it rains or gets too hot. Further, this court can now accommodate up to 25,000 spectators who can also watch matches at night and early morning thanks to LED panels lining the court.
Novak Djokovic Has Lower Expectations
Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud. Photo/ESPN
Novak Djokovic is a defending champion at the 2024 French Open but he admits that he has no high expectations. He plays the first-round match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Tuesday night. As he looks to capture his 25th Grand Slam title, he has modest expectations but tremendous ambitions.
The Serbian player hasn’t won a single tournament this year. While his expectations are low, Djokovic says playing in major slams turns him into a different animal. He is ready to do his best after taking more practice on building his form and momentum. Known for his mental strength, Djokovic is taking it a day at a time but with calculated moves. He plays at Roland Garros under Nenad Zimonjic as his coach after parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic.
Rafael Nadal Knocked Out
Rafael Nadal at the French Open. Photo/SBNation.com
There was a lot of hope that Rafael Nadal would reclaim his glory as the ‘King of Clay’ at the 2024 French Open but that is not the case. Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros winner, was shockingly defeated in the first round by Alexander Zverev. Throughout the game, the Spaniard, who was dealing with reoccurring injuries, wasn’t as swift as he was years ago. Following this loss, there are calls that he should drop the bombshell and retire before Wimbledon.
Iga Swiatek Meets With Naomi Osaka
Iga Swiatek. Photo/Sky Sports
Iga Świątek is well on course with a much-awaited second-round match against Naomi Osaka. She is looking for a third victory at Roland Garros and it is interesting watching her play Osaka at the Philipe-Chatrier arena. Before their French Open match, Swiatek showed off her admiration for the former world No. 1, Osaka. The Pole spoke highly of the Japanese player terming it an honour playing together.
Osaka defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 4-6 7-5 on Sunday and Swiatek defeated Leolia Jeanjean 6-1 6-2 on Monday to book a second-round match on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff is Unstoppable
Gauff made her presence known right on by easily defeating qualifier Julia Avdeeva 6-1, 6-1 in the opening round of the 2024 French Open. With this victory, she achieved her 50th career Grand Slam victory.
Gauff pulled off a huge upset in the third round. She met Danielle Collins, the finalist in the French Open 2023. She beat her 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to sail to the fourth round on Wednesday against Tamara Zidansek.
Ons Jabeur Eyeing Grand Slam
The Tunisian tennis star has lost her focus. Her main prize is the Grand Slam and she has admitted as much. She plays against Camila Osorio in the second-round match. Jabeur came so close to winning the 2023 Wimbledon but lost the finals to Marketa Vondrousova. It scuttled her plans to start a family as earlier planned. Her hope is still alive.
Jannik Sinner is Eyeing a Second Grand Slam
Despite suffering a hip injury and withdrawing from the Madrid Open, the Italian is ready to earn a second major title. He says that he is in perfect condition physically and mentally.
HOW MUCH DO FRENCH OPEN TICKETS COST?
Championship Tennis Tours tickets range from $200 to $400 for a grounds pass, depending on whether it’s a day or night session. In the first round, tickets to Court Philippe-Chatrier range in price from $470 to $2,294.
During the second week of play, the prices only increase as the event moves on to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The supporters’ preference for a particular court will also affect the pricing.
To access some of the smaller courts, fans can purchase ground passes, which are less expensive. However, tickets at Suzanne Lenglen Court and Court Philippe-Chatrier (Center Court), the two main courts, are more expensive.
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