French Open & Champions League: Saturday Showdown
French Open Faces Divided Loyalties Amid Champions League Final in Paris
Updated May 30, 2025
The Novak Djokovic/Filip Misolic match at the French Open coincided with Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, creating a unique atmosphere. fans at Roland Garros were seen following the soccer match, acknowledging the city’s divided attention.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo recognized the situation.She said any outbursts from soccer fans would be tolerated. “We can’t prohibit people to watch their telephone and to follow the football match concurrently,” Mauresmo said. “If once or twice we’ll have a bit of an uproar, it’s going to be fine.”
With 40,000 fans expected at Parc des Princes to watch PSG on large screens, local authorities deployed 5,400 police officers to manage the crowds.Extra metro lines were opened to ease transportation to and from the 16th Arrondissement.
Several PSG players visited Roland Garros earlier in the week. Gianluigi Donnarumma watched Jannik Sinner‘s match, while João Neves and Ousmane Dembélé also made appearances.Dembélé supported Ugo Humbert, who said, ”[He’s] my favorite football player, and I love his personality and the way he plays.”
Due italiani a Parigi 🇮🇹 🤝 😃
L’incontro tra #Sinner e #Donnarumma
Il portiere del PSG era nel
Box di Jannik per il suo esordio al #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ZLJGka8oXz — OK tennis (@oktennis) May 27, 2025
Arthur Fils expressed his desire to avoid playing during the Champions League final to support PSG. Gael Monfils‘ attendance at the final depended on his wife Elina Svitolina’s match outcome.
Lorenzo Musetti, a Juventus fan, supported Inter Milan in the final. Djokovic jokingly requested Mauresmo to avoid scheduling him during the final,but ultimately played in the night session.
What’s next
As the French Open continues, organizers will likely consider scheduling conflicts with major sporting events to minimize distractions for both players and fans. The convergence of tennis and soccer highlights Paris’ vibrant sports culture.