French Open 2025: Key Changes And New Fan Rules

The French Open 2025 is ready to start on Sunday, May 25, at the famous Roland Garros stadium in Paris. This is the only Grand Slam tournament that is played on clay courts, and fans are excited to see their favorite tennis stars in action. Last year’s champions, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, are coming back and hoping to win again.

But this year, there will be some important changes in the rules and match schedule. These updates are made to make the experience better for both players and fans.

French Open 2025: Key Changes And New Fan Rules

Alcohol Not Allowed in the Stands – Crowd Rules Get Stricter

One big rule this year is that alcohol is banned in the audience stands. This decision came after several top players, like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, complained about rude crowd behavior during matches.

• Fans were shouting during points and disturbing players.
• In one case, a player was even hit with chewing gum by a fan.

To stop such incidents, the tournament director Amelie Mauresmo confirmed that the alcohol ban, which was started last year during the event, will now continue fully from the beginning of the tournament.

Once you enter the tennis court area, no alcohol is allowed. If someone creates a problem, the staff will not hesitate to remove the person immediately. This is part of a zero-tolerance policy for crowd misbehavior.

Men’s Semifinals Get a New Time Slot

There’s also a big change in the men’s semifinal schedule. Usually, the two semifinal matches are played in the afternoon. But this time:

• The men’s semifinals will start at 6 PM (UK time) on Friday, June 6.
• Both matches will be played under the lights, making it more exciting for fans watching live and on TV.
• The second match will start 90 minutes after the first one ends, so it may go late into the night.

This new timing is expected to bring more thrill and allow more fans around the world to watch during prime time.

Women’s Doubles Final Gets Earlier Start

The women’s doubles final will start 30 minutes earlier than usual on Sunday, June 8. This small timing change is done to better manage the schedule for the final day.

New Fan Zone at Concorde – Fun Off the Court

This year, fans are also getting a new fan zone called “Tribute Concorde”. It will open from the quarterfinal stage, starting on Wednesday, June 4, till Monday, June 9.

Here’s what fans can enjoy at the Concorde Fan Zone:

• Space for 5,000 people to sit and watch.
• Food and drinks for everyone.
• Live DJ music for entertainment.
• A Roland Garros merchandise shop to buy souvenirs.

This is a great step to make the tournament feel like a festival, not just a sports event.

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