Paris is always a good idea, but in this economy, Paris isn’t always an option.
Luckily, US tennis fans not willing to shell out for the sport’s most prestigious clay-court tournament have a cheaper (read: free) alternative in New York City.
The inaugural Roland-Garros NYC Experience, hosted by streaming partners TNT Sports and HBO Max, promised to transport tennis fans to Paris as the official watch party of the French Open. I grabbed my best tennis-fan friend, Hana, and scoped out the event in Manhattan’s historic Seaport.
After attending, I did see some similarities between this watch party and the US Open, which I’ve been to twice. Besides being in the same city as the US Open, the watch party was also held the week that US Open tickets went on sale.
Here’s what I saw.
The shaded viewing section was the perfect place to sip a drink and watch live tennis.
Roland-Garros, which dates back to 1891, is the only one of the four major pro tennis tournaments — also known as Grand Slams — held on clay, a pretty tough surface to play on.
Named after a French World War I fighter pilot and aviator, Roland Garros is typically held in Paris in the springtime.
I’ve never been to the French Open, as it’s called, but in general, the crowds at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon are known for being more formal, with stricter etiquette for viewers. Meanwhile, the US Open has a more festival vibe, where it’s more acceptable for crowds to get in on the action with boos and cheers.
The mini tennis court was a good place for a photo op, but not much else.
I’m no tennis expert, but I’ve hit a ball once or twice in my life, and I could tell the strings on the rackets here were about as tight as dental floss.
The balls were so deflated that they hardly bounced — probably for safety reasons — which made the swing-and-miss combo all the more common.
Hana and I used our five minutes to volley back and forth. I thought to myself: Is this just pickleball?
Just like the US Open, there were plenty of fun freebies.
Carts like this one passed out cans of strawberry-flavored Perrier and sample-size sunscreen bottles. Waiters also handed out hors d’oeuvres such as tiny sandwiches and skewers.
The hatmaking station was a big hit.
This 10-minute line was the longest we waited in. You could choose between a black bucket hat or a baseball cap, and pick up to three of five pre-designed stickers to press onto it.
The TNT Sports logo was already embroidered onto the front of the hats; however, this restricted where you could place the stickers.
The outdoor bar was beautifully decorated, but could’ve been better stocked.
The bar reminded me a lot of the US Open, with the wood pillars, oblong shape, and matches streaming on the TVs. The menu offered cans, draft beers, wines, and cocktails, but the Roland-Garros signature, the fresh and fruity Ace Royale, was all but sold out by the time Hana and I ordered.
Dare I say: I liked the Ace Royale better than the US Open’s famous Honey Deuce.
Hana and I were told there was only one Ace Royale left, so we split it. The drink tasted like a cucumber smash, with citrus and basil notes — perfect for a hot summer day.
Many tennis fans were in attendance, including some New Yorkers who’d staffed the US Open as kids.
Adam Kessler (left) said he worked at one of the US Open’s merch stores when he was a high schooler. The Brooklyn native had also just purchased tickets for the 2026 tournament earlier that week.
His story echoed those of many other attendees. Several attendees said they had attended the US Open multiple times, while others recalled working the tournament themselves — or having siblings who did — when they were younger.
People dressed up for the event as though we were at a real tennis tournament.
These women caught my attention with their brightly colored dresses. Milana Lysova (right), a former competitive tennis player, is outfitted in a Cult Gaia dress, Hermès sandals, a Chanel bag, and Rolex and Cartier jewelry.
There was no shortage of places to pose for pics.
It probably underscores just how much major tennis tournaments have become influencer events.
While the event can’t replace the energy of an actual Grand Slam, for the low price of zero dollars, I thought it was worth it. I’d recommend it next year for any casual tennis fans looking for something to do on a warm weekend, especially if you don’t have $10.99 a month for a basic HBO Max subscription to stream the matches from home.
I walked away from it satisfied — and glad I snagged Fan Week tickets for the US Open in a few months.
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