Front-row seats for $40. VIP courtside for $300. Some of the world’s best tennis players just feet away. Why aren’t more Americans going to Paris?
I just got back from two incredible days at the 2026 Rolex Paris Masters, and I’m genuinely surprised by how underrated this tournament is, especially among American tennis fans.
On Wednesday, I watched Lorenzo Musetti knock out world No. 1 Alexander Zverev and Rinky Hijikata stun Novak Djokovic. On Thursday, I watched Ben Shelton fight past France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a thrilling third-set tiebreak to reach the quarterfinals. The tennis was spectacular, and the atmosphere inside the enormous Paris La Défense Arena was electric.
But the biggest shock was the price of the seats.
I paid just $40 for a front-row seat. It was officially sold as having reduced visibility, but my view was fantastic. The following day, I splurged on a $300 VIP courtside seat for Shelton’s match. I was practically on top of the action.
For perspective, comparable front-row seats at the US Open can cost upwards of $10,000, and true courtside seats at the Grand Slams often aren’t even available to the public. Yet here I was, watching top players from a few feet away for a tiny fraction of the price.
Even getting there was surprisingly good value on points: 48,000 Air France miles each way in business class, and 35,000 Hyatt points per night at the beautiful Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, where cash rates were running over $2,000 per night.
Of course, the Grand Slams have a history and prestige that an ATP Masters 1000 can’t replicate. But when it comes to the actual tennis, the atmosphere, and especially how close you can get to the players, the Paris Masters was almost as good an experience, in my opinion.
A couple of days in Paris, world-class tennis, and unbelievable seats without Grand Slam prices. If you’re an American tennis fan, put this one on your calendar.
It might be the best-kept secret in professional tennis.
Filed underParis, France