French Open - Slam could leave Roland Garros

Reuters - Tue, 03 Nov 13:43:00 2009

The French tennis federation is considering moving the French Open out from Roland Garros if its extension project does not get the green light within a year.

TENNIS/Roland Garros - 0

The project was agreed on earlier this year and an architect was appointed but the Paris City Council is now getting cold feet, FFT director general Gilbert Ysern said.

"It seems that the mayor's entourage has become more hostile to our project - which was not the case when we launched it," Ysern said.

"Add to that the residents' opposition and we are now forced to look for other options, including that of leaving the premises."

Last May, tennis officials said a new centre court equipped with a retractable roof would be used at Roland Garros for the French Open by 2013 or 2014.

Of the four grand slam events, the Australian Open has two courts with a roof, while Wimbledon's Centre Court unveiled its new translucent retractable roof this year.

Paris City Council and the French government were set to invest £18 million each in the project which is estimated to cost £160m.

Officials at Paris City Council could not be immediately reached for comment.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. well if the french open will not be in the grand slam­ anymore it's a bad news for justin henen she always­ won there and no change to kim clijters to win this­ tournament at 2010 so pls.WTA do something to support­ the french open.

    From ellen v, on Wed 4 Nov 10:37AM

  2. Comment 4 is a little silly. The number of courts­ needed to stage a Grand Slam event is on a completely­ different scale to an ATP masters event. You have to­ put on men's, women's boys and girls singles­ and doubles, mixed doubles, senior doubles and the­ wheelchair event. If the ATP decided Hamburg no longer­ merited a Masters event then I am sure they don't­ have the resources to put all that on.

    This is just­ the French Tennis Federation upping the ante to get the­ mayor to stop messing them around. It is unthinkable­ that they would move the French Open away from Roland­ Garros.

    From Bobito, on Wed 4 Nov 12:42AM

  3. what?!?!?! Tennis will NOT be the same without Roland­ Garros!!!! they can't do this to the tennis players­ AND fans!!!!

    From sahinakhatun, on Tue 3 Nov 9:54PM

  4. What would the French Open be without the clay of­ Roland Garros? Its has been and will be forever the­ only clay grand slam. If the clay grand slam should go­ somewhere else then i'll quit watching tennis.

    From janar.joesaar, on Tue 3 Nov 9:52PM

  5. The French Open wouldn't be the French Open without­ the hallowed clay of Roland Garros.

    As for hosting it­ at Hamburg, that's just sick after Monica Seles was­ stabbed there.

    From Andrew Broad, on Tue 3 Nov 9:33PM

  6. Good god! It would be a tragedy!

    From Stephen M, on Tue 3 Nov 6:32PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    They could move it to Hamburg for the time being-­ (since they were stripped of the Masters 1000 event).­ Of course, won't be the "French Open"­ anymore, but would still be good for tennis

    From Ade I, on Tue 3 Nov 6:32PM

  8. it would have been one of the greatest losses in tennis­ history

    From risimko, on Tue 3 Nov 2:53PM

  9. go one better and take the slam out of france, this­ years event there wasnt a packed stadium on any day,­ they obviously dont want it.

    From ajpbolton, on Tue 3 Nov 2:03PM
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