During this year’s French Open, players will be granted a camera-free zone in a designated area, ensuring their privacy. This decision follows a backlash from players at the Australian Open, where many felt that cameras intruded on their emotional moments after matches.
The French Open is scheduled to take place from May 24 to June 7 at Roland Garros in Paris. Tournament organizers have responded to the criticisms voiced by prominent athletes, including Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, and Jessica Pegula, all of whom expressed their discontent regarding the media coverage of their post-match reactions. Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, even questioned whether players were treated like “tennis stars or animals in the zoo.”
Amelie Mauresmo, the tournament director, emphasized the importance of respecting player privacy, stating, “Players need a private area, something which will not change. No cam access.” This commitment to privacy aims to create a more respectful environment for competitors.
Additionally, the French Open will not replicate the Australian Open’s recent novelty feature, the “AO 1 point slam,” where an amateur player won a significant prize by defeating top competitors. Mauresmo clarified, “Our ambition is not to repeat everything that’s done elsewhere. This does not align with the image of Roland Garros.”
Furthermore, Roland Garros will maintain its traditional approach by not adopting electronic line-calling technology, which is commonly used at other major tournaments, including Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
In terms of financial rewards, the prize money for the French Open has seen a 10 percent increase, bringing the total to 61.7 million euros (approximately $101.5 million), which includes an additional 5.3 million euros (around $8.7 million) for 2025. The champions in both the men’s and women’s singles categories will each receive 2.8 million euros ($4.6 million), while runners-up will take home 1.4 million euros ($2.3 million). Semifinalists will earn 750,000 euros ($1.2 million), and players eliminated in the first round will receive 87,000 euros ($143,000).
Outside of the tournament, the Place de la Concorde in Paris will feature free screenings of matches during the second week of June. Additionally, the tournament will honor two beloved figures in tennis, French veteran Gael Monfils and Swiss 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, as they bid farewell to the sport.
