Roland-Garros Opening Week in Paris

Roland-Garros opens its 2026 tournament on Monday, May 18, with five days of qualifying matches and public practice sessions at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. The French Tennis Federation’s official tournament site says Opening Week runs from May 18 to May 22, before Yannick Noah’s Day on May 23 and the start of first-round main-draw play on May 24. Tickets for the opening stretch have been sold separately from the main fortnight, with the event marketed as a chance to watch both players fighting for the draw and top seeds training on site. ### What exactly is included in Opening Week? Opening Week at Roland-Garros covers the qualifying tournament and access to practice sessions for main-draw players, according to the tournament’s official ticketing page. The federation says spectators can move across the grounds, including Suzanne-Lenglen, to watch players competing for places in the singles draw and established stars preparing for the main event. (rolandgarros.com) The official ticket site says the format is designed to bring fans closer to the players during the first days of the tournament. Practice sessions are scheduled daily during Opening Week, while qualifying matches run on both women’s and men’s sides. ### When do the matches and gates start each day? (rolandgarros.com) Monday, May 18, is listed with gates opening at 9:00 a.m., and qualifying plus practice beginning from 10:00 a.m., according to Roland-Garros’ provisional schedule. The same timetable applies on Tuesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 20. Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, are scheduled with gates opening at 10:00 a.m. and qualifying beginning from 11:00 a.m., while practice remains listed from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (rolandgarros.com) The schedule is marked provisional on the official site. ### Which courts are part of the opening stretch? Suzanne-Lenglen is part of the Opening Week offer, and the federation says its retractable roof allows play to continue in poor weather. (rolandgarros.com) The official ticketing article also says fans can sit on Philippe-Chatrier to watch WTA and ATP players during practice sessions. Outside courts are included in the Opening Week sales program, according to the official ticketing and schedule pages. The tournament site presents the week as a way to watch emerging players in qualifying before the main draw begins. ### How are tickets being sold? March 31 was the start of a first-come, first-served sales phase for Opening Week and second-week outside-court tickets, the federation said in a March 30 ticketing update. (rolandgarros.com) That phase followed earlier sales windows for FFT members, premium access and other categories listed on the official ticketing information page. The tournament’s ticketing page says the public draw registration for 2026 ran from December 3 to December 17, with selected buyers notified before sales access. Last-minute sales are listed from April 22, while official travel packages pairing tickets with Paris hotel stays are also being offered through Roland-Garros Travel. (rolandgarros.com) ### What happens after Opening Week ends? Saturday, May 23, is scheduled as Yannick Noah’s Day, with gates opening at 10:00 a.m. and programming from 11:00 a.m., according to the provisional calendar. Sunday, May 24, is then listed as the start of first-week main-draw play. Roland-Garros says the full 2026 tournament runs from May 18 to June 7 at Porte d’Auteuil. (tickets.rolandgarros.com) Live schedules, draws and ticket information are being updated on the tournament’s official site as the event approaches. (rolandgarros.com) (rolandgarros.com)