"It's hard to realize that it's Roland-Garros": spectators discover the tournament in the Covid era

Sitting in the tribune of court number 13, Augustin, 20, and Hugo, 22, encourage young Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi with voice and gesture.

Despite the cold, the rain and the autumn wind which strike the masked faces, nothing would have prevented these two engineering students, one of whom came especially from Bordeaux, to be present this Sunday at Roland-Garros for the start of the main draw of this very special tournament.

Unique.

"It's true that the sun is missing, but we're not going to complain, it's even a chance to be here today," says Augustin.

"Chance", the word comes back regularly, tirelessly, in the mouths of visitors of the day.

The two friends are part of the 750 lucky people chosen by lot by the organization after the Prefecture's decision, at the end of last week, to lower the spectator level from 5,000 to 1,000 seats due to the deterioration of health in Ile-de -France.

The other 250 are invited by partners or elected officials.

The alleys, usually black with people, are deserted.

Only a quarter of the stores are open.

“There are more people who are there to work than mere spectators,” notes Patrice, 48, who came from Sens with his family.

It is difficult to realize that it is Roland-Garros elsewhere.

"

"It's nice not to be bothered by the crowd"

"I find that the staff or visitors are less stressed than usual, there is a real good atmosphere and there is no problem with social distancing", appreciates Marc, 61, who attends the match of Jérémy Chardy on the Lenglen.

In this enclosure which can usually accommodate 10,000 people, there are only about ten at the start of the second set of this match.

"Despite everything, I find it sad to see empty stadiums, it's a shame that the authorities have not accepted a larger gauge," points out Marc.

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The rain and the cold are a good reminder that it is not spring.

After the Indian summer which accompanied the Tour de France, autumn has its revenge.

Coming from Lorient with his brothers and his mother, Hugo is not disoriented by the weather.

"It's even better in Brittany, we should have organized the event there," smiles the political science student.

Passed the joke, the interested party, hat and hood on the head, relishes.

“My mother called to be reimbursed for seats and that's how we found out we were taken.

I worked here two years ago and find it nice not to be hassled by the crowds.

There is a good atmosphere, safety is less on the teeth than usual.

"

The roof, the new charm

Marine, 30, and Damien, 31, received the confirmation email on Friday evening.

Three years ago, these two inhabitants of Orleans came to the Porte d'Auteuil tournament but the party was spoiled by the rain.

This time around, if they checked the weather as a matter of principle before leaving to dress sufficiently, they were sure to attend plenty of matches due to the eleven aluminum wings that now cover the clay on Central Court.

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“The last time, we could only see two hours of games, enough not to be reimbursed, this time, thanks to the roof, we are sure to see games all day, says Damien.

Even if there are not many people, the acoustics of the room give a nice atmosphere.

The matches are of good quality.

We are really happy because we had taken places to be at the top of the Chatrier and there we were able to get into the first rows.

This would never have been possible in normal times.

"

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Their tickets, bought for 65 euros each, allow them to settle in places where the price is around 150 euros in normal times.

Better, with their sesames, the "lucky ones of the draw" can move to the four corners of the stadium and attend all the matches.

What is not allowed during a classic edition.

"We will take the maximum advantage to move, see the Simonne-Mathieu court that we do not know and see as many players as possible," continues Damien, camera in hand.

Not sure that the players hold the same speech.