Saturday night in Paris presents a unique situation for sports enthusiasts. As Novak Djokovic competes in his French Open match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, many in the city will also be keenly following the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, happening concurrently in Munich.
This scheduling overlap has been a frequent topic of discussion at Roland Garros throughout the week. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo is well aware of the divided attention across Paris this Saturday evening.
“We cannot forbid people from looking at their phones and following the football match simultaneously,” Mauresmo commented. “There won`t be 10 or 20 goals. If once or twice there is a bit of an uproar, it will be fine. The fact that the Champions League final is happening doesn`t change much for us anyway.”
Situated about a kilometer from Roland Garros, the Parc des Princes, PSG`s home ground, is preparing to welcome 40,000 fans to watch their team play Inter on large screens. This mass gathering, alongside the crowds at Roland Garros, poses a significant logistical challenge for local authorities. An estimated 5,400 police officers will be stationed across Paris to manage celebrations or commiserations. To assist with the movement of people to the 16th Arrondissement where both venues are located, an extra metro line has been opened.
“Police department teams will be deployed all around Roland Garros,” Mauresmo confirmed. “Safety arrangements will also be implemented.”
Several PSG players visited the Roland Garros grounds earlier in the week. Gianluigi Donnarumma attended Jannik Sinner`s match, with Sinner noting their existing friendship. Striker Gonzalo Ramos and João Neves also made appearances. Ousmane Dembélé was seen watching Ugo Humbert`s first-round victory. Humbert expressed his admiration for Dembélé, calling him his favourite footballer and praising his season. Humbert was thrilled to meet him and receive a signed jersey.
Tennis players have also been frequently asked about the upcoming final. French 20-year-old Arthur Fils expressed a desire to avoid being scheduled for the Saturday night session specifically to watch PSG. While he considered attending the match in person, the logistics proved too complicated. Fils shared his long-standing love for PSG, mentioning his enjoyment of watching players like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Gael Monfils, who lost his match earlier, had planned to travel to Munich for the final after a family commitment, but his attendance depended on the outcome of his wife Elina Svitolina`s match, as she wished him to stay if she won.
Italian player Lorenzo Musetti, who is already through to the fourth round and knows some Inter players, stated he would support Inter Milan in the final, despite being a Juventus fan, choosing to back his countrymen.
Novak Djokovic made a clear plea to Mauresmo to avoid the night session when discussing the schedule before it was announced. He stated he would be supporting PSG and definitely wanted to watch the match if he wasn`t playing.
However, Djokovic`s wish was not granted. So, while much of Paris focuses on the Champions League final, Djokovic will be on Court Philippe-Chatrier, aiming for the fourth round and attempting to ignore any unexpected football-related cheers from the crowd.
Marcus Bellamy