Court Philippe-Chatrier Seating Guide
Where to sit & the best seats
“Central” · “Centre Court”
Where to sit at Court Philippe-Chatrier
Category 1 courtside lower rows
You are almost at clay level, close to the baseline and the players' box.
Upper-tier Category 3
The cheapest seats with a complete view of both baselines and the tactics.
Lower and middle tiers near centre for the night session
The floodlit single-match programme concentrates the noise and energy.
Highest upper-tier rows on a hot afternoon
Full sun with the roof open and a long distance from the clay.
About Court Philippe-Chatrier
Court Philippe-Chatrier is Roland-Garros's centrepiece, a roughly 15,000-seat clay amphitheatre wrapped in three main tiers. The tournament sells seats by numbered price category rather than by named stand, so the closer to the court and the baseline you sit, the higher the category. Since 2020 a retractable roof shelters play from rain and enables floodlit night sessions. The atmosphere builds from polite daytime crowds to a partisan roar for French players and the finals, which are the court's flagship events.
Roland-Garros's main show court is a clay amphitheatre on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. A 2019-2020 rebuild reconstructed the stands and added an 11-truss retractable roof that closes in about 15 minutes, plus floodlights that enabled night sessions from 2021.
Court Philippe-Chatrier in photos
4 outside · 3 inside the venue
Seating map
View the official Court Philippe-Chatrier seating plan
We don't have a live ticketing map for Court Philippe-Chatrieryet. The venue's official website has the current seating chart and event-specific layouts.
How the venue is set up
Day session
The main daytime programme of several matches; upper rows can bake in full sun on hot afternoons when the roof is open.
Night session
A single featured evening match under lights since 2021, roof often closed, with a more intimate and electric atmosphere.
Finals weekend
The women's and men's singles finals draw the fullest and most partisan houses of the fortnight.
Seating levels explained
Courtside (Category 1 / Loges)Front lower rows and courtside boxes
The closest seats, level with the players and the clay, including presidential and VIP loges.
Pros: Unbeatable proximity to the action and the players' benches.
Cons: The most expensive tickets and the hardest to obtain.
Middle tier (Category 2)Mid-height rows around the bowl
The middle band of seating, giving a fuller tactical overview of rallies.
Pros: Good balance of closeness and perspective; some rows sheltered.
Cons: Still premium-priced, and sideline seats flatten depth.
Upper tier (Category 3 / top)Highest rows / promenade level
The top ring, farthest from the court but with the widest view of the whole clay.
Pros: The best value and a great sense of the crowd and occasion.
Cons: A long way from the play, and sun exposure when the roof is open.
Best seats at Court Philippe-Chatrier
Closest to the court
Category 1 courtside lower rows
You are almost at clay level, close to the baseline and the players' box.
Best value
Upper-tier Category 3
The cheapest seats with a complete view of both baselines and the tactics.
Baseline vs sideline
Seats behind either baseline (north/south ends)
Best angle to read serve trajectory, depth and rally length.
Best for shade / roof
Higher covered rows, or any seat with the roof closed
Afternoon sun hits parts of the bowl; upper covered rows and roof-closed sessions stay cooler.
Big-match atmosphere
Lower and middle tiers near centre for the night session
The floodlit single-match programme concentrates the noise and energy.
| For | Sections | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closest to the court | Category 1 courtside lower rows | You are almost at clay level, close to the baseline and the players' box. |
| Best value | Upper-tier Category 3 | The cheapest seats with a complete view of both baselines and the tactics. |
| Baseline vs sideline | Seats behind either baseline (north/south ends) | Best angle to read serve trajectory, depth and rally length. |
| Best for shade / roof | Higher covered rows, or any seat with the roof closed | Afternoon sun hits parts of the bowl; upper covered rows and roof-closed sessions stay cooler. |
| Big-match atmosphere | Lower and middle tiers near centre for the night session | The floodlit single-match programme concentrates the noise and energy. |
Seats to avoid & obstructed views
Highest upper-tier rows on a hot afternoon: Full sun with the roof open and a long distance from the clay.
Extreme sideline seats level with the net: Foreshortened view that makes judging depth on baseline rallies hard.
Front rows behind courtside camera and line-judge positions: Occasional sightline interruptions at court level.
Corner seats where the two ends meet: Angled view favouring one baseline.
Accessibility & companion seating
Roland-Garros provides wheelchair spaces and companion seating on Chatrier, bookable through the official ticketing service, with accessible entrances and facilities across the redeveloped site. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advised.
Where: Designated accessible platforms in the lower tier with step-free access.
Getting there
Transport
Metro line 10 to Porte d'Auteuil or line 9 to Michel-Ange-Molitor, both a short walk, with RER C nearby. Parking is very limited during the tournament, so public transport is strongly advised.
The area
Sits in the leafy 16th arrondissement beside the Bois de Boulogne and the Auteuil greenhouses, next to Stade Jean-Bouin. Central Paris is 20-30 minutes away by metro.
Court Philippe-Chatrier · Paris, France
Frequently asked questions
Does Court Philippe-Chatrier have a roof?
Yes. A retractable roof was added for 2020; it closes in about 15 minutes to keep play going in rain and enables floodlit night sessions.
Where are the best seats on Chatrier?
Category 1 courtside seats are closest to the players, while upper-tier Category 3 offers the best value with a full view of the clay.
Is it a clay court?
Yes, like every Roland-Garros court it is red clay (terre battue).
How many people does it hold?
Around 15,000 after the stands were reconstructed for the roof.
What is the night session?
Since 2021 Roland-Garros stages a single featured evening match under lights on Chatrier, usually with the roof closed.
How do I get there?
Metro line 10 to Porte d'Auteuil or line 9 to Michel-Ange-Molitor; parking is very limited, so public transport is best.
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Hero image: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de — via Wikimedia Commons