Former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo of France tells Reuters that she disagrees with the French Tennis Federation’s Sunday vote to keep Roland Garros at its current site.
The current site at Porte d'Auteuil beat out bids from Versailles, Gonesse and Marne-la-Vallee (near Euro Disney) to host the event beginning in 2016. It includes a plan to expand the current facilities, but will still be smaller than the area offered by the other proposals.
"I think that in Paris today we don't have the possibility to have the necessary space to develop Roland Garros," Mauresmo said. "We are the smallest of the four Grand Slams and I think it is important to have the chance to grow, and for the public to have more room."
Roland Garros will still be the smallest Grand Slam venue, but Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe said that a construction of a new 5,000-seat arena would give the site 60 percent more space. The plan for the renovation of the current site from expands it from 21.3 acres to around 33.8 acres. There has also been talk of building a retractable roof over court Philippe Chatrier (center court) and possibly adding lights in order to play night matches. Another proposed nearby stadium could hold 8,000 spectators.
The mayor of Paris declared himself "overjoyed" and promised to push forward with plans for redevelopment. Marne-la-Vallee expressed disappointment at the result but wished the existing site good luck in its plans. The mayor of the suburb of Gonesse admitted he had never expected to win, especially after the development concessions made by the city last year.
But, he said, the decision was the result of an "aristocratic and elitist vision" that ensures the tournament will "stay the smallest of the Slams."
"This a missed opportunity for tennis and metropolitan Paris," he added.
One of the primary reasons cited for keeping the tournament where it is was cost. Moving the site was at least double the $339 million price tag of renovation. - MC