Paris Masters Ready to Shine at La Defense Arena

Paris Masters Director Cedric Pioline

The Paris Masters is set to kick off its new era at La Defense Arena later this month, boasting the second-largest tennis court globally, surpassed only by the US Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“We came to the conclusion that a new venue meant a new show. It will be much more vertical, even more based on laser-type lighting...”

The Paris Masters is set to kick off its inaugural season at the La Defense Arena this month. The showpiece court at the venue will be the second-largest in the world, surpassed only by the US Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium.

La Defense Arena, which opened in 2017, is a state-of-the-art venue that also serves as the home of French Top 14 rugby club Racing 92. With its cutting-edge facilities, the arena is expected to provide an exceptional experience for tennis fans.

Tournament director Cedric Pioline has confirmed that the 2025 edition of the ATP Masters 1000 event will take place from October 27th to November 2nd. The tournament is expected to feature some of the biggest names in tennis, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“The centre court will have a capacity of around 17,500 people, making it the second biggest court in the world for perennial events (tournaments held annually), behind the US Open centre court,” the former world number five-ranked player revealed.

“There will be just over 4,000 seats on Court No. 1 and 4,000 on Court No. 2. Court No. 3 has a capacity of a few hundred seats.”

The Paris Masters tennis tournament has signed a 10-year deal, starting from 2025, to move to the La Defense Arena. This move aims to meet the ATP's requirements for top-tier tournaments, allowing the event to maintain its Masters 1000 status.

“Without any changes on our part, over a medium-term cycle -– we are talking about four to five years –- there was a possibility of being downgraded (to a 500 or 250 event),” Pioline said.

Rumors had long suggested the Paris Masters might lose its Masters 1000 status due to the limitations of its longtime home, the Bercy Arena, which it had called since 1986. The move to La Defense Arena was a strategic decision to meet ATP requirements and secure the tournament's future.

"We have also decided to increase the playing surface for the comfort of the players,” Pioline said. “(At Bercy), the outside courts were a little small in relation to the physical commitment of the players and their coverage of the court.

“On Courts 1 and 2, the ceiling height was insufficient, at least by standard measurements: it should have been 12 metres (according to ATP specifications), but it was slightly less than 10 metres. And overall, it felt a bit cramped.”

“We simply needed to be able to evolve,” he added of the decision to leave Bercy.

The move to La Defense Arena brings two major upgrades: increased seating capacity and more spacious surroundings for players to perform at their best. The new venue will provide a better experience for both spectators and athletes.

Paris Masters to Shine with Glitzy Player Walk-ons

Paris Masters Director Cedric Pioline is keen on maintaining some traditions at the tournament, even as it moves to a new venue. The glitzy player walk-ons, a hallmark of the event, will continue at La Defense Arena, albeit with some updates to keep things fresh.

“The tunnel that was created (at Bercy) in the 2010s was a great innovation,” he said.

“We came to the conclusion that a new venue meant a new show. It will be much more vertical, even more based on laser-type lighting.

“It has to be a truly immersive experience.”

Tournament director Cedric Pioline expressed confidence that the Paris Masters would attract top talent, particularly Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who are battling for the year-end No. 1 spot. The 1,000 ATP points at stake will be a significant incentive for both players.

See you at @ParisLaDefArena for the Rolex Paris Masters 🎾#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/pYjABIMumD

— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) October 13, 2025

Pioline believes the high stakes will draw the world's best to La Defense Arena, ensuring an exciting tournament for fans.

Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the Shanghai event due to cramping has raised concerns about his availability for upcoming tournaments. Despite this, he has confirmed his participation in the ATP Finals in Turin from November 9th to 16th.

Tournament director Cedric Pioline expressed confidence in the tournament's lineup, despite uncertainty surrounding Sinner's participation in the Paris Masters. The Davis Cup finals, scheduled from November 18th to 23rd in Bologna, adds to the busy end-of-season schedule.