A ticket to tennis paradise

Paris in springtime

For 29 euros (snap them up quickly, they sell out FAST) you have access to the entirety of the Port d’auteuil grounds including star-studded Court Philippe-Chatrier practice sessions, open seating for Court Suzanne-Lenglen matches, another five courts of qualifying and as many stars of the sport as you can point a camera phone at.

During a leisurely stroll west to east dipping into courts to my left and right I spotted a US Open champion, a Wimbledon winner, two recent Grand Slam finalists and another two who’ve reached the semis at one of the sport’s four majors - all in the space of 30 minutes.

Sure, if its bona fide megastars you’re after then park yourself inside the 15,000-capacity Chatrier where in the space of a few hours you’re guaranteed sightings of Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Zheng Qinwen and the soon-retiring Gael Monfils.

But if you love the sport of tennis and you know who to look for often it’s the smaller courts and hidden corners of Grand Slam venues that are the most rewarding.

I set off from practice court 15 where Britain’s Jacob Fearnley is banging down serves and at the far end young Croat Dino Prizmic - the man who beat Novak Djokovic in Rome recently - is fine-tuning returns from deep behind his baseline, his left knee taped for extra security.

Yards away, Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien celebrates a three-set final round qualifying win on the sunken Court 14 and a couple of courts down mercurial lefty Adrian Mannarino finds his groove on serve under a boiling hot sun.

Through the lines queuing at the water refill stations and fountains - the temperature will hit 29c today - and past Lenglen where from inside an almighty roar goes up as two-time RG doubles champion Pierre-Hugues Herbert is announced to the crowd.

On Court 9 recent Madrid semifinalist Anastasia Potapova (and dog Jackie) trains with 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu who is taking instructions from the recently-rehired Andrew Richardson, the man who guided her to glory five years ago in New York. The serve technique is the focus during the few minutes I stop to observe.

Across the walkway on Court 8 former Paris semifinalist Maria Sakkari clad all in black is playing points with Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, the latter with strapping applied to her left thigh.

Back into the crowds and Damir Dzumhur and former Wimbledon doubles champion Nikola Mektic scurry past deep in conversation and after navigating the crowds on Grand Allee - Marcel Bernard (20,000 fans a day come through the gates during Opening Week) next it’s Court 5 where Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi is another working on his serve motion.

To my surprise, right next door there’s even plenty of room around Court 4 where Zverev and the in-form Jiri Lehecka trade blows in front of maybe 150 fans tops, and the familiar faces keep coming as I march east.

On Courts 2 and 3 it’s French tennis all the way. Ugo Humbert is chatting to coach Jeremy Chardy, and close by the freshest talent from this great tennis nation Moise Kouame is taking instructions from current advisor, French legend Richard Gasquet.

I quickly catch sight of former US Open finalist Taylor Fritz hitting volleys back to 17-year-old Kouame as the American continues his comeback from a long-term knee injury.

One final push past the mobbed ice cream stands and deckchairs of Jardin des Mousquetaires and through the beautiful, shaded gardens towards the greenhouse-surrounded Court Simonne-Mathieu. Here another former Grand Slam semifinalist, Felix Auger-Aliassime, is expected shortly for an hour’s appointment with Cristian Garin.

Star-spotting in the sunshine. What’s not to love?

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