Tips & Tricks for Getting to & Watching the Slams

By Davida Dinerman

The Grand Slam itinerary includes the Australian Open in mid-January, the French Open (aka Roland Garros) in May – June; Wimbledon in July, and the US Open in August–September. Each tournament is played over a two-week period. On the women’s side, Margaret Smith Court’s historic 24 count of Slam singles titles still stands. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic has won the most Slam titles to date with 24. Can he win another and set the bar even higher? 

The thrill of attending a tennis Grand Slam tournament is unparalleled. Whether you're drawn in by the athleticism, the atmosphere, or the sheer excitement of witnessing history in the making, a Grand Slam event offers a unique blend of intensity and tradition that captivates attendees from around the globe. 

I asked a few tennis pals for tips and tricks on securing tickets for and getting the most out of attending a Grand Slam event.

Australian Open – Lois Harris

Tricks on Getting Tix:  I got my tickets through Ticketmaster when the sales opened through the Australian Open (AO) site in 2023. It is all communicated on the AO website—where you should register in advance to get notices. As we were going to be there at the end of the first week, I wanted to make sure that I had tickets for a stadium with a roof.  I was able to get first row center seats in Margaret Court Arena and third row center seats in Rod Laver arena at a reasonable price. We used a travel agent for most of our trip which included a cruise and a visit to Sydney. Australian Open packages started at $3,365 per person for two nights at a basic hotel, two days of tennis, and onsite hospitality. We also bought ground passes for one day at about $65 each.    

Note that there are no paper tickets. You must download the e-ticket when they are issued—later after purchase. Then you must save them to either Google or Apple Wallet so you can have them available on your phone to enter the grounds. Also remember that there is a one-day date difference between the U.S and Australia.

Best Places to View Matches:  You cannot beat good stadium seats, but particularly in the early days there are other stadiums where you can watch tennis with just the ground passes. It is important to get to the grounds early so you don’t have to queue up to get into those stadiums. There are the practice courts and outside courts with plenty of tennis to watch. A note about the food:  it is worth paying attention to what others are eating, because that is probably the best food. 

Best Places to Stay:  We stayed at the Adina Apartment Southbank Hotel in Melbourne which was within walking distance (15-20 min) from the grounds. It had a small counter with a bakery/coffee site in the lobby. There was a small grocery store close by, and it was within walking distance of several places to eat as well as the trolley system that runs through downtown Melbourne. There was also a Holiday Inn on the same street.  

Best part of the Tourney to Attend:  I have always preferred the earlier parts of the Slams as there is more to see. We paid extra for a tour of Rod Laver Arena prior to one of the matches. We got to see the blue-lit hall of champions and stand on the court doing the match warmup between the two players.  

Other DYK Tips: Visas: Both Australia and New Zealand require Visas that you can apply for online. There are sites that will do that for you at a high cost, but you can go right to the government sites and do it yourself much more cheaply and as easily. We took a private tour of Sydney which was not significantly better than the bus tour that is available except it picked us up at our hotel. We also purchased tickets for a show at the Sydney Opera House which was a highlight. 

While in Melbourne, a popular day trip is an all-day bus trip to Phillips Island to see the small penguins come out of the ocean at night. This trip also stops at a wildlife preserve where you can see koalas, kangaroos, and wombats up close.

We took a cruise leaving from Auckland, NZ before going to the AO. The WTA event was going on, and it was an opportunity to go if you want to see another event/venue. Each year the schedule is different, but worth checking out.

French Open – Allison Lebo

Tricks to Getting Tix: Go on the French Open website and set up an account. Once you have an account, it will alert you to when ticket sales start. Sales go to first round pick members, then to the public. You must get into the queue very early – like 5 a.m. And one person may buy up to four online tickets at the same time. If you go with others, you should all go online and get tickets and then divide them up among you. We ended up going sightseeing along with attending the Open. Ticket prices run $150 - $200 per ticket per day. I would recommend going two days in a row so you will not see the same players. 

Best Places to View Matches: All stadiums are small; there is not a bad seat in the house. The stadium opens at 11 a.m. local time, but get there by 10 a.m. You could make a trip watching the side courts. We went the first week to see more tennis. 

Best Places to Stay: We stayed at a phenomenal place called the Hotel Majestic. It had big rooms and full bathrooms, a complimentary breakfast, and was within walking distance or Metro access to the tournament. 

Other DYK Tips: I would recommend going two days in a row to not see the same players. We took the subway around the city and bought our tickets in advance. Do not get rid of the tickets until you leave the country. 

Wimbledon – Elizabeth Kuhle

Tricks on Getting Tix:  American Express has ticket packages that are VIP, and you can get good Center Court seats.  People camp out to queue up for the grounds passes.  

Best Places to View Matches:  Grounds passes are a good way to see all the outside courts. You need a ticket for Center Court, another ticket for Court No. 1, etc. You can line up to get on all the other courts but once you leave the court, ADIOS! No saving your seat!  

Best Place to Stay: Stay in Kensington and take the Tube. You’ll get off about one mile from the courts and it’s a lovely walk.  

Best Part of the Tourney to Attend:  Come the first week. While you might not see the “BIG” matches, you can see the most players!  

Other DYK Tips:  Buying a Center Court or Court No. 1 seat is a good investment now with the roofs. No rain outs. The outside court matches start earlier than Center Court.  

US Open – Lyn Calkins

Tricks on Getting Tix – You can go online as needed. I prefer to get a grounds pass plus access to Ashe Stadium and wander along side courts. The Grandstand court is my favorite as I can be closer to the players.

Best Places to View Matches:  There are bleachers set up on the field and side courts. It’s first come, first served and you can sit where you want. Of the show courts, I like the Grandstand the best as it is cozier and more personal than the Ashe and Armstrong Stadiums. 

Best Places to Stay:  I typically stay on Long Island (The tourney is in Queens). Other hotels near the tourney include Hyatt Place Flushing, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn New York, Best Western Queens Gold Coast, and Marco LaGuardia Hotel & Suites. The US Open publishes a site with travel packages, which you can find here.

Best Part of the Tourney to Attend: I prefer to watch a full docket of matches. I walk to different courts in the first week, Monday – Friday. Weekends get busier. I like watching people outside of the top players. There is a strong energy at the start of the tourney. 

Other DYK Tips: If you go a week ahead of the tournament, which will be the week of August 19 this year, you can go in for free and watch qualifying matches. It’s called “Fan Week.” You’re up close and personal. It is great for those players to have support. 

Attending a Grand Slam transcends mere spectatorship; it becomes a journey into the heart of a global sporting phenomenon. As you leave the tournament grounds, you carry with you not only memories of incredible athleticism but also a renewed appreciation for the beauty and passion of the sport.