Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Respected coach offers eye-opening theory for Paris empty seats
Christian Montegan • June 6th, 2025 10:47 am
One of Roland-Garros' biggest mysteries concerning empty stands during day sessions may have something to do with an applicable theory, according to one of the most respected coaches in the sport.
Throughout the past fortnight in Paris, French locals have often filled the stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier during the primetime slot of 8:30pm, but the same cannot be said for the first matches of the day.
Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo and French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton have stood firm on their stance scheduling men only for the night sessions, arguing more value for ticket holders on top of avoiding early morning finishes.
Naomi Osaka's coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, previously the coach of Serena Williams, chimed in on the unfortunate scenes witnessed during the second Slam of the year.
"It's really shocking, and it's really sad to be on Centre Court of Roland-Garros with some of the best players in the world and seeing 75, 80, sometimes 90 per cent empty, this is really shocking," Mouratoglou said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
"Have you seen the Centre Court of Wimbledon empty like that, ever? Even once? I've been on the Grand Slams for 20 years, every single year, and I can tell you, it's not the same in the other Grand Slams."
The 54-year-old placed a theory on the table as to why less fans are willing to flood Centre Court in the earlier hours, and he also offered a potential solution.
"I don't have the full explanation. What I can say is that it's something we really need to solve, even for the players," he said. "You're at a Grand Slam, I mean, the history of tennis, one of the four more important tournaments in the world, you're on the Centre Court, the court is empty.
"One explanation that I heard — I don't know if it's true — but French people are too attached to lunch from 12 to maybe four o'clock, it's empty, and that's a big problem.
"The US Open has found a solution to that, at least for the VIP's, which are the lowest seats... they put catering there. Roland-Garros, if you want to eat, you have to go to the village. So once you're at the village and you have the TV, you're having a good lunch and you stay."
Philippe-Chatrier should be a sell out when French wildcard and world No.361 Loïs Boisson continues her cinderella story against second-seed Coco Gauff for a place in the final.
In the first semi-final, a captivating clash awaits between Aryna Sabalenka and four-time champion Iga Świątek on Friday night AEST.
