Each spring, Parisian tennis spectators step out of winter’s shadow and into the sun-drenched seats that surround the terracotta courts of the Roland-Garros Grand-Slam tournament. These clay courts become the World stage for best in Tennis performance – with the burnt umber of the court commanding itself as centre stage, the star of its own show.
So does a spectator’s style take a back seat? Quite the contrary, still allow it to take a prominent seat (preferably in a Hospitality box) but rather command attention; using the colour palette that wholeheartedly complements the moment, and generate a slow reveal of elegance, played out in linen and shade, or burnt red suede on the ochre sun-dappled terraces, or cooler tones from a private dinner in their court-side Greenhouses.
Because Roland-Garros, unlike any other Grand Slam, speaks in a distinctly Parisian dialect - measured, elegant, quietly cocksure? It’s not just about watching the match, but about knowing how to watch, how to arrive, how to take your seat. One must settle into the rhythm of the court, and allow yourself to become seamless to the tone and atmosphere, because this is a tournament for connoisseurs, of tennis, yes, but also of light, time, and understated luxury.
Those with access to the tournament’s most coveted hospitality offerings know this well, with the Loges Présidentielles which offers shaded respite and discreet service, their glass panels and tailored upholstery turning the stands into something closer to a private salon.
Beyond that, the Roland-Garros Greenhouses, part garden retreat, part exclusive dining room, serve elegant meals beside lemon trees and climbing vines, where the murmur of match play filters through glass panes and starched linens. Here, hospitality is a performance in itself: personal, seamless, unobtrusive.
The savoir-faire expected from the Roland-Garros spectator isn’t about spectacle, it’s about how one naturally occupies the space, so let your cotton-silk jacket comfortably crease in the heat. Accessories should be purposeful so allow your sunglasses to drink in the afternoon light, leaving you to enjoy the game without any obtrusive glare, and leave the woven fan, soft leather-bound scorebook and silk handkerchief at home.
Spectators here have a shared understanding - nothing too polished, and nothing borrowed from trend; the Roland-Garros look is cultivated, and never over-constructed.
Your attire, much like your behaviour, should complement the pace of play: composed, observant and present. There’s no need for shouting or flamboyance, this would feel out of place (leave that to the players), instead, your style should unfold with the day: from morning matches watched in powdery blue/green knitwear and fresh silk cotton, to the soft hush of evening dinners, where rosé and conversation can flow beneath lanterns and fig leaves.
The quiet glamour of Roland-Garros becomes a world where the experience above it is equally curated, where the seat you choose, and the specific Chateau from which you decide to drink, speaks volume. So speak with subtlety, dress with grace, and most importantly, watch like you belong.
