Stade Roland Garros

Stade Roland Garros is a big group of tennis courts in Paris. It is where the French Open tennis tournament happens every year. This tournament is also called Roland Garros, and it is one of the biggest tennis events in the world. It takes place in late May and early June each year.

The stadium is named after Roland Garros, a French pilot who lived from 1888 to 1918. The courts were built in 1928 to help France defend the Davis Cup, a famous team tennis competition.

The whole area covers 13.5 hectares, which is about 34 acres. It has twenty courts, including three big stadiums. There are also gardens, a large restaurant and bar, a special area for reporters and important guests, France's National Training Centre, and a museum called the Tenniseum that shows the history of tennis.

Dedication

The stadium is named after Roland Garros, a brave pilot who was the first person to fly alone across the Mediterranean Sea. He was also an inventor who created a special machine gun for airplanes and fought bravely in World War I. Sadly, he died in a battle in the sky in October 1918.

History

France was a big name in tennis in the early 1900s, thanks to great players like Suzanne Lenglen and a group called les Quatre Mousquetaires — Jacques "Toto" Brugnon, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste. In 1927, France beat the United States to win the Davis Cup, mostly because of these players. The Stade Roland Garros was built to host France's defense of the Cup the next year. France kept the Cup until 1933, mainly because of the Musketeers. A monument for France's six Cup wins is in a special courtyard near the stadium's entrance.

During World War II in 1939, the stadium was used to hold people who were seen as unwanted, including people from Hungary, Russia, Italy, Poland, and those thought to be communists. A writer named Arthur Koestler said that when he was there, posters for a tennis match between Cochet and Borotra were still up.

Playing surface

The tennis courts at Stade Roland Garros are known for their red clay surface. However, they are actually made from white limestone covered with a thin layer of red brick dust. Underneath this layer is volcanic rock, sand, and concrete to help water drain well. Workers keep the surface smooth before matches by dragging chain-link over it. The red brick dust is added as needed, especially during big tournaments.

This special surface was created in 1928 to solve a problem with natural clay courts, which would become unplayable after rain. The limestone and brick mix looks and plays like clay but drains water much better. Since then, many other types of "clay" surfaces have been made, but each one plays a little differently. Tennis player Venus Williams once said, "All clay courts are different. None play the same. [Roland Garros] plays the best."

Stadium courts

Court Philippe Chatrier

Court Philippe Chatrier was built in 1928 and is the main stadium at Stade Roland Garros. It can hold 15,225 spectators after a renovation in 2019. It was called "Court Central" until 2001 when it was renamed to honor the president of the Fédération Française de Tennis, who helped bring tennis back to the Summer Olympics in 1988.

The stadium’s grandstands are named after the Four Musketeers—Brugnon, Borotra, Cochet, and Lacoste—because of their success in the Davis Cup, which led to the stadium being built. The men’s singles trophy at the French Open is called La Coupe des Mousquetaires.

After the 2018 tournament, the stadium was torn down and rebuilt with steeper seats for the 2019 tournament. A retractable roof and lights were added for the 2020 tournament, which was moved to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2025, a new plaque honoring Rafael Nadal’s 14 French Open titles was placed at the stadium. Nadal, along with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, attended the ceremony.

Court Suzanne Lenglen

Court Suzanne Lenglen was built in 1994 and can hold 10,068 people. It is named after Suzanne Lenglen, a famous tennis player who won many big tournaments, including six French Open titles and six Wimbledon titles between 1914 and 1926. She was known as La Divine (Divine One) and La Grand Dame (Great Lady) of French tennis and won two Olympic gold medals in 1920. A bronze statue of her stands near the entrance to the court. The women’s singles trophy at the French Open is named La Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in her honor. The court has an underground system to control moisture on the playing surface.

In 1994, the path between Court Chatrier and Court Lenglen was named Allée Marcel Bernard for a French tennis champion from the 1940s who passed away that year. A retractable roof was added in time for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The roof, inspired by Suzanne Lenglen’s pleated skirt, closes in 15 minutes and has solar panels.

Court Simonne Mathieu

The 5,000-seat Court Simonne Mathieu was finished in March 2019. It is just outside the main Roland Garros area but is part of the tennis complex. It is named after Simonne Mathieu, a women’s tennis champion and a leader in the French Resistance during World War II. The court is four meters below ground level, with greenhouses around it that match the nearby gardens. This court replaced the old Court 1.

Court 1

Court 1, known as the "Bullring" because of its round shape, was torn down in 2019. Built in 1980, it was a favorite for fans because it was small and close to the action. After Court 1 was demolished, a larger viewing area called Place des Mousquetaires was created where fans can watch matches on a big screen.

Tenniseum

The Tenniseum, also called the Museum of the French Federation of Tennis, opened in May 2003. It was designed by architect Bruno Moinard and is located in an old groundsman's cottage. The museum has many exhibits about the history of tennis, with a special focus on the French Open.

Visitors can see important trophies, learn about the history of Stade Roland Garros, and view old tennis clothes and racquets. There is also a big collection of photos and paintings about tennis. The museum’s media library has many books, posters, and facts about tennis, including details about every French Open match since 1928. The multimedia center has over 4,000 hours of videos, such as documentaries and interviews with famous tennis players. Tours are offered every day, with two in English at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. During the French Open, people with tournament tickets can enter the museum for free.

Expansion project

In 2009, plans were made to expand Stade Roland Garros with a new roof over the main court and more seating areas. However, some people in Paris did not agree with these plans, so there were discussions about moving the tournament to a new place outside the city. After considering the costs, it was decided to stay and expand the current location instead.

There were also worries about how the expansion would affect nearby gardens and wildlife. After some legal challenges, work continued, and new courts and buildings were added. The main court got a new roof, and night sessions were introduced for the first time. More changes are planned for the future, including a roof over another court for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Location

Stade Roland Garros is found on the west side of Paris, near the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne in the city's 16th arrondissement. The land is shaped like a triangle and is bordered by Avenue Porte d'Auteuil and the A13 autoroute to the north, and Boulevard d'Auteuil to the south. To the east, it is bounded by Avenue Gordon Bennett and the nearby Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil.

Transportation

The closest Métro stations are Porte d'Auteuil (Line 10) and Michel-Ange–Molitor (Line 9, Line 10), located to the north and southeast.

You can also take buses on routes 22, 32, 52, 62, 72, 123, 241 and PC1, or use the Vélib' bike-sharing service at stations 16 034, 16 035 and 16 036. During the French Open in May and June, there is a special taxi stand at the southeast corner of the stadium, near Robert Schuman Avenue and Auteuil Boulevard.