Iconic French Open stadium almost made $1bn mistake at risk of losing Grand Slam status

May 24, 2026 - 08:15

The eyes of the tennis world turn their attention to Paris for the second Grand Slam event of the year.

The French Open gets underway, as Coco Gauff begins the defense of her second major and world No.1 Jannik Sinner looks to complete a remarkable career Grand Slam having fallen agonisingly short in defeat to Carlos Alcaraz last year.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in action against Xinyu Wang of China in the first round of the singles competition on a packed outside Court Eight during the 2025 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 26th, 2025, in Paris, France. — The French Open begins on Sunday, May 24

The Spaniard prevailed in a five-set epic on Court Philippe-Chatrier to win back-to-back French Open titles but will absent this year after confirmation came that he will also miss Wimbledon.

Gauff is the defending champion in the female singles, having come from behind to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 in last year’s final.

Her victory last year was Gauff’s second major win, her first since the win at the US Open in 2023 and the second time in four years that she has reached the Roland Garros final.

While many focus on the dramatic matches and the eventual winners, the true victory is that the tournament is happening at the iconic

French Tennis Association mulled $1bn relocation plan

Named after French aviator Roland Garros, the stadium was constructed in 1928 to host France’s first defense of the Davis Cup.

Many iconic names have donned the limestone – brick dust surface, but the modern era’s top players may not have had the chance to.

French tennis officials very nearly triggered a relocation mistake that would have stripped the event of its legendary status.

Roland Garros was openly criticized by players and fans alike for being severely claustrophobic, outdated, and lacking a mandatory retractable roof.

In 2009, the French Tennis Federation green-lit a significant eastward expansion of the venue, with the addition of lights and the aforementioned roof over Court Phillipe Chatrier.

In 2010, faced with opposition to the proposed expansion from factions within the Paris City Council, the FFT announced that it was now considering an alternate plan to move the French Open to an entirely new, 55-court venue outside of Paris city limits.

An exterior view of Court Philippe-Chatrier in the late afternoon sunshine during the 2026 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 21st, 2026, in Paris, France. — The FFT investigated a relocation after receiving backlash for their extension plans

General view of Court Simonne-Mathieu as Alexander Zverev of Germany plays a forehand against Jesper de Jong of Netherlands during the Men's Singles Second Round — Complete relocation was expected to cost north of $1 billion

The proposed relocation out of Paris was estimated to cost a staggering $810 million in public and private money—a figure that would have ballooned well past the billion-dollar mark with infrastructure upgrades.

By comparison, renovating the existing iconic site was projected to cost just around $370 million.

By February 2011, the FFT backtracked on their relocation plan, instead opting to double down on their expansion efforts.

Further details of the plan were announced in May 2013, including a complete rebuild of the Chatrier court on its existing foundations in addition to the new roof and lights, and a larger Place des Mousquetaires in the area occupied by Court 1.

Project deadlines were pushed back from 2016 to 2018. Local residents, wildlife enthusiasts and municipal authorities continued to voice opposition to the plan.

Eight years after the proposed plans, the last of the legal challenges were resolved and work resumed on the original eastward expansion plan.

Many pigeons gather around the courts, attracted by the abundant food left by spectators, causing accidents when tennis balls hit them during matches. To avoid this, Nova, a young falcon, and his handler Michael Vinagre patrol the courts each morning to scare the pigeons away before play starts. — The retractable roof was completed 11 years after the initial plans were laid out

The retractable roof was completed in time for the COVID-delayed 2020 tournament.

Last dance for Gael Monfils

The 2026 edition of the tournament will be the 125th in it’s history, and the last for a French Tennis legend.

Gael Monfils announced at the beginning of the year that this season would be his last, and he has already competed for the final time at six tournaments.

Despite the fact he has never won, Monfils is a crowd favorite at his home Grand Slam tournament.

Since 2005, Monfils has amassed a 40-17 record at the clay-court tournament, which starts Sunday. He faces compatriot Hugo Gaston in the first round.

Novak Djokovic has also been handed a boost in his attempt to win Grand Slam No. 25.

Gael Monfils of France reacts against Hugo Dellien of Bolivia during the Men's Singles First Round match on Day Three of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2025 in Paris, France. — Monfils will be retiring from Tennis following the French Open

Djokovic has only lost to either Sinner or Alcaraz across the past four Grand Slam events, but the latter has already been ruled out of the tournament.

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