You know that feeling when you realize you've been looking at the wrong calendar for weeks? It happens to the best of us, especially with the messy overlap of tennis seasons. If you're planning your life around the red clay of Paris this year, you need the actual, finalized French Open schedule 2025. Honestly, don't just wing it. The tournament has some quirks—like starting on a Sunday rather than a Monday—that can totally wreck your travel plans if you aren't paying attention.
Roland Garros is a beast. It's the only Grand Slam where the surface itself feels like a living character in the drama. We’re looking at a three-week marathon that starts with the grueling "Opening Week" (the qualifiers) and ends with someone lifting a trophy while covered in brick dust.
The main draw kicks off on Sunday, May 25, 2025, and runs through the men’s final on Sunday, June 8. If you're looking for the qualifiers, those actually start way earlier on May 19.
The Breakdown: Day by Day at Roland Garros 2025
Most people think the tournament starts when the big names hit the court. Wrong. If you want to see the future of the sport—or catch a veteran fighting for their career—the Opening Week is where it's at.
Opening Week: May 19 – May 23
This is the qualifying tournament. It’s cheap, it’s intense, and the players are literally playing for their livelihoods. Matches usually start around 10:00 AM.
The First Round: May 25 – May 27
The "Sunday Start" is a Roland Garros tradition. While Wimbledon and the US Open wait for Monday, Paris gets going early. Over these three days, the massive 128-player draws for both men and women get whittled down. Expect matches to start at 11:00 AM on the outside courts and 12:00 PM on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The Second & Third Rounds: May 28 – May 31
This is the "sweet spot" for fans. There are still enough matches happening that you can wander from court to court and see top-10 seeds from five feet away. By Friday, May 30, the pressure starts to cook.
The Second Week: June 1 – June 4
The Round of 16 (June 1-2) and the Quarter-finals (June 3-4). The crowds get louder, the "night sessions" under the lights of Chatrier become the place to be, and the casual fans start tuning in.
When the Trophies are Won
The final few days are a whirlwind. Unlike some other tournaments, the French Open splits its semifinals across two days.
- Thursday, June 5: Women’s Singles Semifinals and the Mixed Doubles Final.
- Friday, June 6: Men’s Singles Semifinals. These are usually "not before 2:30 PM" and "not before 7:00 PM" affairs.
- Saturday, June 7: The Women’s Singles Final. It’s usually scheduled for 3:00 PM local time. The Men’s Doubles Final follows it.
- Sunday, June 8: The big one. The Men’s Singles Final at 3:00 PM, followed by the Women’s Doubles Final.
A Quick Note on Those Night Sessions
Paris added lights and a roof to Chatrier recently, which changed everything. There is now one "featured" night match every evening from May 25 through June 4. These don't start before 8:15 PM. If you have a day session ticket, you'll be kicked out before this match starts. It's a separate ticket, which kinda sucks for the wallet but is great for the atmosphere.
How to Actually Get Tickets (The 2025 Lottery System)
If you haven't bought tickets yet, listen up. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) changed things for 2025. They moved to a random draw system for the general public.
Basically, you had to register between late January and early February just to get a chance to buy. If you missed that window, don't panic. The "Last Minute Sales" usually open in late April on the official site. Avoid the "resale" sites that look like they're from 1998; the only legal way to buy is through the official Roland Garros portal. They are incredibly strict about ID at the gate. If the name on the digital ticket doesn't match your passport, you're sitting in a cafe outside the stadium instead of in the stands.
Watching from Your Couch
If you aren't heading to the 16th Arrondissement, you’ve got options.
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In the United States, coverage is split between NBC, Peacock, and Tennis Channel. It's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to figure out which match is where. Generally, Peacock handles the early morning stuff, and NBC takes the big weekend windows.
For the UK fans, Eurosport and Discovery+ are your best bets. If you're in France, it’s all about France TV and Amazon Prime.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
First, sync your calendar. Don't just mark "French Open." Mark the Men's Final on June 8 and the Women's Final on June 7.
Second, if you're traveling, book your accommodation near the Porte d'Auteuil or Boulogne-Billancourt areas now. Prices triple once the tournament starts.
Third, download the official Roland Garros app. It’s actually decent. It gives you live "Order of Play" updates, which are vital because the schedule changes every time it rains—even with the roofs on Chatrier and Lenglen, the outside courts still get washed out.
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The French Open schedule 2025 is set. Now we just wait to see if the clay-court specialists can hold off the hard-court power hitters for another year.