How does the general vibe differ in each of the 4 tournaments? How do I get tickets and get to the venue? How can I avoid the biggest queues and crowds? Which one am I likely to enjoy the most? If you are thinking of attending one of the grand slam tournaments, there are a lot of insiders’ tips that can make the experience easier to organise and more fun. So we asked four of our members – John O’Leary (Australian), Penny Kraemer (French), Bart Bourgeois (Wimbledon) and Lewis Lu (US) to tell us about their visits to each tournament and provide some practical advice. Read on…

The French Open at Roland Garros by Penny Kraemer

Tickets  It is not possible to buy tickets at the venue – they must be pre-purchased. The official Roland Garros ticketing website https://tickets.rolandgarros.com/en/home gives all the ticketing options and prices. In order to purchase tickets to the French Open you first have to create an account on the French Tennis Federation Ticketing website  www.fft-tickets.com. Then as long as you are online when the tickets go on sale you will be able to order the tickets you want. When we first logged on to buy our tickets we were in a very long virtual queue but it moved quickly. Each person’s name is allocated to the ticket at this point and ID is required when you get to the gate so tickets are not able to be transferred to anyone else. The tickets are made available as e-tickets in your French Tennis Federation account on the website.

Getting to the venue  We used Metro Line 10 and got off at Porte d’Auteuil. From there it is a 5-10 minute walk down the beautiful treelined Avenue de la Porte d’Auteuil to Stade Roland Garros.

General impressions/experience/comments  Stade Roland Garros is quite a small, confined site and the facilities and the stadiums are not as modern as at the other Grand Slams but this simply adds to the charm of this typically French event. Members of tournament staff at Roland-Garros projected a collective aura of understated French elegance and all were smiling and happy to be of assistance.  We found that the crowds tended to arrive late so the main stadiums were nowhere near full at the start of the day’s play and we were able to enjoy a relaxed morning coffee and a read of Le Quotidien, the tournament’s daily programme, before we headed off to the first match.

We found the Parisian tennis crowd to be very knowledgeable and discerning – they love their tennis and expect players to always give their best.

“Win – in the style they demand – and the French fans will love you forever. But dare to underachieve or, worse, fail to display the etiquette they expect of a tennis player, and you risk crossing the fine line where cheers turn to jeers”

Aside from the two main courts, there are 16 outside courts with varying amounts of seating. All give a great close up view of the match and there didn’t seem to be too much of a queue waiting to get in to watch any given match.

In an old gardener’s cottage the French Tennis Federation have created an interesting museum that is certainly worth a visit. It traces the history of tennis, tennis in France, the French Open, and the ever evolving equipment and sportswear over the last 120+ years. It is open all year round (except Mondays and Tuesdays) and free entry is included for ticket holders during the French Open.

Finally, there’s not a lot of shelter at Roland Garros and the weather can be unpredictable! Take a hat AND an umbrella!

The French Open is an amazing experience for true tennis fans who appreciate the game of tennis without the hype and mayhem that can be found at other Grand Slams.

The Australian Open at Melbourne Park by John O’Leary

General impressions/experience  Not matter if you are a first timer or a frequent attendee, the Aussie Open has something new every year. Recent additions have completely changed Flinders Park; Margaret Court Arena improvements now creating three undercover courts, new river entrance, large outdoor viewing areas and entertainment precincts make the Open a great summer attraction in Melbourne. With so much going on outside you couldn’t be blamed for forgetting about the tennis. You’re also more than likely see other Northern Suburbs players, if not Kooroora members, wandering around enjoying the atmosphere.

Getting to the venue   Once in Melbourne (of course) the best way to get to Flinders Park is by foot. In 2017, the main entrance was moved closer to the CBD so you feel like you are at the venue a lot sooner than you used to. You can catch a free tram to the venue if you wish, however this is crowded, particularly if catching from Flinders St Station. Subsequently, the entrance to the Park at the tram stop is equally crowded. So, the recommendation is to walk to the venue and catch the tram back.

Getting tickets   Getting good tickets can be a challenge though depends on what you are looking for. Tickets tend to go on sale from October as packages and then for individual sale. Rod Laver Arena is not necessarily the best option. Three matches are allocated during the day, two ladies and one mens. This makes way for the two nights matches. At least one of the top 4 seeds are likely to play. Access to Margaret Court Arena is not included and separate tickets are required. The seats are closer and there are more matches scheduled. Likely you will have a better experience there. Ground passes also include access to Hisense Arena, again another venue for good matches. There is also more under cover seating on outside courts.

Comments about crowds/atmosphere   Not meaning to be a marketing pitch here, but the Aussie Open is so much more than a tennis tournament. The centre has expanded over the years with loads of activities and entertainment. This spreads out the crowd well. The middle weekend (weather permitting) is the busiest, though many don’t come for the tennis with the Saturday normally dedicated to a major beer sponsor with a large marque and bands playing.

Any other tips for attendees   To gain the best experience (and value) the first week, leading into the weekend, is the best time to go. Plenty of match options to view on the outside courts and as mentioned, plenty of entertainment throughout the day and into the evening. The second week has more doubles events and juniors on outside courts and is less crowded. Whilst many of the outside courts have increased shading, take your sunblock.

Wimbledon at SW19 by Bart Bourgeois

General impressions/ experience   The Wimbledon Championships are my favourite grand slam of the year and it’s all about tradition at Wimbledon – wearing whites, no play on first Sunday, strawberries and cream etc.  I have attended Wimbledon a number of times and have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. Centre court now has a retractable roof so even if it’s raining in London (very likely) there will still be a full day’s play.

Getting to the venue   Wimbledon is held in July each year at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Church Rd, Wimbledon, London. By public transport the best option is to catch the tube to Southfields station and it’s a 10 minute walk from there to the venue. Parking at the venue is also an option but will likely take longer given the crowds.

Getting tickets   Tickets are difficult to come by. Unlike the other majors you are unable to book online. You can try the Tennis Australia public ballot. Queuing is a Wimbledon tradition and a guaranteed way to obtain a ticket. It’s best to arrive by 8am to ensure entry or alternatively you can queue from around 4pm in the afternoon for the afternoon/ evening session.

Comments about crowds/ atmosphere   Big crowds attend Wimbledon every year and it can be difficult moving around the venue during peak periods. If you have a ground’s pass it’s advisable to take a seat early on in the day if there are good matches on an outside court as it will be difficult to find a seat later in the day as there is limited seating on some courts.

Any other tips for attendees   One additional tip I have is that if you have a ground’s pass you can upgrade it to a show court ticket for an extra 5 -10 pounds later in the day (from around 5pm). They sell the tickets above Henman’s Hill.

US Open at Flushing Meadow by Lewis Liu

It’s a long waiting moment to sit in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. And here we are, watching the women’s final between two Americans, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys.

Getting to the venue  Going to Flushing Meadow is pretty simple from midtown Manhattan where we stayed in 5th Avenue, Line 7 will take you right to the main gate of the venue.

Getting tickets  We began planning our trip 6 months beforehand, bought tickets from Viagogo (luckily we were not one of those online scam victims exposed by Australian media).

Comments about crowds/atmosphere    People are excited, a lot of cheers, hailing, crowd waves and applauds for a great shot.I can tell you it’s completely different watching on site from sitting in front of TV.

Any other tips for attendees   Don’t forget to spoil yourselves between matches by seeing vibrant life of New York. We went to see The Phantom of the Opera in Majestic Theatre, and the other night at Jazz Standard, all very high standards, and good value for money.

Tips   First week’s General entry ticket is a very good choice, where you can see different matches, whether it’s men, women, doubles or mixed. We were only a few rows from players. Visit the venue at least two hours before match, enjoy the atmosphere, activities and shops. Backpacks not allowed no matter what size.