Very Little Progress Seen in Roland Garros Expansion Plans

Written by: Staff on 5th June 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Very Little Progress Seen in Roland Garros Expansion Plans

epa03730796 The silhouette of Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during his quarter final match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 June 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

While excitement in play in the French Open heightens, the battle between the French Federation de Tennis (FFT) and the Paris Assembly over the plans to develop and broaden Roland Garros or move the tournament elsewhere continues.

Last week’s bad weather at the clay court Grand Slam perfectly illustrated the shortcomings of the current site – by far the smallest in terms of acreage at the four majors – not just in the lack of a retractable roof over one of the show courts to ensure continuous play but also an appalling lack of shelter for the paying fans.

Nearly two years ago the FFT decided to keep the tournament at Roland Garros rather than move to one of three alternate sites but ever since there has been battles with the Parisian government and environmentalists because the plans involve moving into the neighboring Bois de Boulogne and adjacent botanical gardens.

“In the French mentality right now, every time there’s a project, whether it’s cultural or sports-oriented, there are always problems,” said FFT president Jean Gachassin.

“We can’t do anything normally. Before we move a tree or a flower bed or raise something 10 meters, we need permits and everything gets contested. We knew it before we started, so we just have to try not to get impatient.”

However the situation is getting to Gilbert Ysern, French Open tournament director and chief executive of the FFT. “I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days when we are a bit punch-drunk,” he said. “There are lots of things that have hit us and are happening that are not so easy to handle.”

Currently there are hopes a compromise between the FFT and the Parisian Assembly will be reached to allow expansion to be completed by 2018 but nobody is stressing any great optimism. If the site does not get bigger than the long term future of the event in its current guise is bleak.

“To save the tournament, we have to be able to make this project a reality,” Gachassin said. “By save it, I mean that without this project, we’re going to be in competition with other countries who want to do the same thing.

“I know we are being threatened by certain regions of the world like Asia, or a Qatar, who has lots of money and want to build big stadiums. But there won’t be the soul and the history, just lots of money.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: FFT, French Federation de Tennis, Gilbert Ysern, Paris tennis news, Roland Garros, Sports, Tennis News