TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
RABAT OPEN
Tour
WTA
Date of event
17-23 May 2027
Location
Rabat
Surface
Clay
Website
Singles Title
P Marčinko
Doubles Title
E Chong/M Kempen
Level
250
TENN360 INSIGHT:
The Lalla Meryem Grand Prix is a little piece of Moroccan tennis history. Founded in 2001 and now firmly established in Rabat, it is the oldest African stop on the WTA Tour and arrives just before Roland-Garros, giving the event a distinctly European clay-season feel with a Moroccan twist.
The tournament is played at Club des Cheminots, so you get a much more intimate experience than at the enormous Masters events. For the main matches, look for a side-on position close enough to appreciate the movement and patterns of clay-court tennis. The smaller courts are also worth exploring early in the week, when the distance between fan and player can feel wonderfully small.
Excellent
The compact club setting makes this one of those tournaments where you can feel much closer to the players than you would at a major event. Early-round matches and the practice areas are particularly worth seeking out.
You want a WTA event with a strong sense of place rather than a huge sporting complex. It’s a great combination of high-level women’s tennis, Moroccan atmosphere and the excitement of the clay season building towards Roland-Garros.
I’d make a day of it rather than just turning up for one match. Arrive early, have a wander around the courts, watch the players getting used to the clay and then settle in for the bigger matches later in the day. And leave some time to enjoy Rabat itself — this is one tournament where the city is very much part of the experience.
This is Moroccan clay-court tennis, so expect plenty of sunshine and warmth around tournament time. May can still bring a little variation, but sunglasses, sunscreen and water are sensible essentials — with a light layer for later in the day.
Club des Cheminots is in Rabat and the tournament is well placed for reaching by public transport or taxi. Once you are there, the compact setting also means you can spend your day on foot rather than constantly moving between distant courts.
You’re looking for a giant tournament campus with endless courts, huge stadiums and lots of distractions between matches. Rabat is much more compact and personal — that’s part of its charm, but it won’t suit everyone.
Power in Numbers
32
Single Draws
Centre court seat
6
Courts