No more matches interrupted by rain or darkness: Roland-Garros finally has a roof. For tennis fans, it is a ten-year-old commitment that is coming to fruition. The central court will now have a retractable roof, joining the other major tournaments on the circuit already equipped with this type of facilities: the US Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open. In bad weather, the roof can cover the Philippe-Chatrier court in fifteen minutes.
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From the quarter-finals, all matches will be played on this protected central court, with two sessions: one at noon and the other at 5 p.m.
Eleven wings inaugurated on the eve of the tournament
"This roof will give us new possibilities for the scheduling of matches and for homogeneous playing conditions from the quarters", explains Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation. "You know how committed we are to the sports fairness of our event."
The roof structure is made up of eleven wings, a nod to the aviator, Roland Garros, who gave the name to the stadium where the Parisian Grand Slam tournament takes place. "They are also the echo of our subtle heritage", specifies the president of the Federation.
The roof of the main court of @rolandgarros is revealed this morning #PhilippeChatrier@europe1pic.twitter.com/hq3pPo2Qy1
- Corinne Boulloud (@ CoBoul1) February 5, 2020The workers are still at work, but the new retractable roof will be ready for the next edition of the tournament. One year ahead of initial forecasts, in 2021. After two months of testing, the inauguration will take place on May 23, the day before the tournament kicks off. Roland-Garros will take place from May 24 to June 7, in partnership with Europe 1.