Which Roland-Garros ticket is the best buy?

Worth knowing

• —Category Gold and Category 1 seats sit in the lower rows on both Chatrier and Lenglen — closest to the clay, but the cheaper Category 2 tier in the upper bowl often gives a better full-court sightline for following rallies rather than just the baseline action in front of you.
• —The roof closes in around 15 minutes once rain starts — if play is suspended, stay in your seat rather than heading for cover elsewhere in the grounds; the restart is usually faster than people expect once the trusses are shut.
• —Lenglen's ticket prices run noticeably below Chatrier's for the same day of the tournament, and the standard of tennis in the second week is frequently just as high — a genuinely good-value alternative if Chatrier is sold out or over budget.
• —Nadal's footprint tile sits beside the net on Chatrier, not at the entrance or in a concourse — you'll need to be courtside (or watching closely on the broadcast camera pass) to spot it, since it isn't sign-posted for passing foot traffic.

Worth knowing

• —Register for the general public ballot as soon as it opens (typically early December) — selection only grants a purchase window, not a guaranteed ticket, so being in the pool from day one matters more than showing up on the last day of registration.
• —A second, first-come-first-served sales phase opens in late March specifically for Opening Week and outside-court tickets — if the December ballot doesn't work out, this is a genuine second chance, not a rumor.
• —Outside-court seating is unreserved — arrive at gate opening rather than mid-morning if you want an actual seat at Simonne-Mathieu or the more popular annex courts rather than standing at the back.