Tickets
How to buy tennis tickets
Tennis tickets are sold in more ways than almost any other sport: direct general sales, public ballots, member presales, official resale and hospitality packages all coexist. This guide walks through each route in order, so you can work out the right one for the match you want — and avoid the mistakes that lead to overpaying or buying a ticket that does not work.
First, identify how your event sells tickets
The single most important step happens before you try to buy anything: find out how your chosen tournament releases tickets. A Wimbledon Centre Court seat, an early-round day pass at the US Open and a courtside place at the ATP Finals are bought in completely different ways. The tournament's official website is the authority here, and it will always state the method, the dates and the rules. Start there, not on a search engine or a marketplace.
The buying process, step by step
- 1
Go to the official tournament website
Confirm the tournament's real domain and its named ticketing partner. This is the one source that is always correct about dates, prices and rules. Bookmark it.
- 2
Check the on-sale method and dates
Is it a ballot, a member presale, a general sale, or all three in sequence? Note every relevant date and set a reminder a day or two before each one.
- 3
Register or create an account early
Most systems require an account, and ballots need registration weeks ahead. Doing this in advance — not on sale day — saves precious minutes when demand is high.
- 4
Decide your court, day and budget in advance
Know your priorities before you log in: a specific match, a specific day, the cheapest entry, or a guaranteed good seat. Indecision is what costs people the best tickets.
- 5
Buy the moment your window opens
For popular sessions, availability can change minute to minute. Have payment details ready and complete checkout promptly once you are in.
- 6
If it is sold out, use official resale only
When general sale is gone, check whether the event runs an official or authorised resale platform. Verified fans list tickets there at controlled prices.
Route 1 — Official general sale
This is the default for most tour events and many Grand Slam sessions. Tickets are released directly by the tournament on announced dates and sold first come, first served. It is the simplest route and usually the best value, because you pay the face price set by the organiser. The catch is timing: the most attractive sessions can sell out quickly, so being ready the moment sales open matters far more than any insider trick.
Route 2 — Ballots and lotteries
Some events — Wimbledon most famously — allocate a large share of tickets through a public ballot. You register your interest in advance, and a random draw decides who is offered the chance to buy. You cannot choose your match or your seat, and being selected is a matter of luck rather than speed. The upside is that a ballot gives ordinary fans a fair, affordable route to tickets that would otherwise be impossible to get. We cover the Wimbledon system in detail in its own guide.
Route 3 — Official resale
If a session is sold out, the safest second chance is the tournament's official resale platform, where it exists. Verified buyers who can no longer attend list their tickets, usually at or near face value, and the transfer is handled securely so the barcode is reissued to you. This is completely different from unofficial resale on social media or general marketplaces, where prices are inflated and tickets may be duplicated, cancelled or fake. Our resale and transfers guide explains how to tell them apart.
Route 4 — Hospitality and official packages
Hospitality bundles a premium seat with extras — dining, a lounge, drinks, sometimes parking and a guaranteed view of a show court. Sold by the tournament or its official hospitality agents, it is the most expensive route but also the most certain: you know exactly where you will sit and that entry is guaranteed. It suits big occasions, corporate guests, or anyone who values comfort and certainty over price.
Which route is right for you?
| If your priority is… | Best route | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | General sale (early rounds, outside courts) | Selling out fast for marquee sessions |
| A specific big match | Hospitality or official resale | High cost; limited availability |
| Affordable access to a sold-out event | Ballot (if available) or official resale | Ballots are luck-based; register early |
| Guaranteed comfort and entry | Hospitality package | Premium pricing |
Routes and rules differ by tournament — confirm the specifics on the official site before buying.