Tickets for French Open go on sale

TICKETS for tennis’s second Grand Slam tournament of 2014 - the French Open at Roland Garros - go on general sale today.

Tennis fans with deep pockets have been able to buy VIP packages since January, but all ticket options will soon be available to the public, with prices starting from as little as €12 for an “Evening Visitors” ticket.

All-day passes start at €20 for the early qualifying rounds, though prices will vary depending on the day of the tournament and the court.

Tickets for the men's final on Sunday, June 8, on the Philippe Chatrier court, cost €170 for category 1, €136 in category 2 and €102 in category 3.

Excitement is mounting ahead of the tournament, which starts on May 20.

Rafael Nadal is an early pre-tournament favourite for the men’s singles title on his preferred surface - but his surprise third-round exit at Indian Wells has cast a faint shadow of doubt over his chances.

Serena Williams, meanwhile, powered her way to the title in 2013 during a remarkable year in which she reached 13 finals and won 11 titles.

But a host of other stars will have their eyes on the Roland Garros prize.

Li Na, who won the women’s singles at French Open in 2011, will be among the favourites, having become the oldest woman to win year’s opening Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open.

Her male counterpart, the “other Swiss” tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka, will want to build on his first Grand Slam win in Australia.

But they will face stiff competition from fields likely to feature big names such as Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, teen prodigy Belinda Bencic, and Novak Djokovic.

Tickets are available by logging on to the official website rolandgarros.fft-tickets.com