Emirates hosted a group of young tennis enthusiasts at the Yannick Noah Day event during the French Open at Roland-Garros, the airline said in a press release issued Monday, highlighting its broader commitment to youth development and community engagement through sport.

The Dubai-based carrier said the initiative brought young athletes from the French tennis association Attrap’la Balle to the iconic Paris venue for a behind-the-scenes experience, including access to player practice sessions, stadium facilities, and Emirates’ hospitality suite at Court Philippe-Chatrier.

According to Emirates, participants toured the Roland-Garros facilities, including the annex courts, and attended on-court entertainment activities as part of the annual Yannick Noah Day programme, which aims to make tennis more accessible to young people.

Former French tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga joined the event, meeting participants and posing for photographs, adding visibility to the initiative aimed at inspiring young athletes.

Emirates said its involvement at Roland-Garros would continue throughout the tournament as a presenting partner of the Trophée des Légendes, with young participants from Attrap’la Balle set to take part in ceremonial coin tosses before matches. The airline added that the programme would also provide opportunities for participants to meet former tennis players and interact with Emirates cabin crew.

Each participant will receive an “Aircrafted by Emirates” backpack, produced using upcycled materials from the airline’s aircraft retrofit programme, the company said.

The initiative forms part of Emirates’ wider sports sponsorship and community outreach strategy, extending beyond France. The airline said it has committed $2.5 million over five years in the United States to support community tennis courts and youth education programmes. In Britain, Emirates and Wimbledon have contributed £7 million to the Championing Nature initiative, while in Australia the airline works with the Australian Tennis Foundation on youth-focused tennis programmes.

Emirates, one of the world’s largest international airlines, has long invested in global sports sponsorships as part of its brand and customer engagement strategy, with partnerships spanning tennis, football, rugby and other major sporting events.

While the Roland-Garros initiative is not expected to directly affect flight operations or passenger services, industry observers say such programmes strengthen customer engagement and corporate social responsibility credentials, particularly in competitive global aviation markets.

The airline said the partnership reflects its objective of connecting communities through sport and creating opportunities for youth development, with activities expected to continue during the remainder of the French Open tournament.