Roland Garros keeps French Open 14/02/2011 |
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The French Open will stay at Roland Garros after the country's tennis federation rejected plans to move the tournament to the Paris suburbs from 2016.
A statement from the French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirmed that delegates chose the "enlargement and modernisation" of the current site over the other bids.
Versailles, Gonesse and a site in Marne-la-Vallee close to Disneyland Paris had all been in the running to take the Grand Slam tournament out of the French capital with offers of more space.
But a federation ballot on Sunday (February 13) saw Gonesse eliminated in the first round, Versailles in the second and Paris taking 70 per cent of the final-round votes.
"Members of the French Tennis Federation, who have met this weekend for a general assembly, have chosen the project of the city of Paris, which envisages the enlargement and modernisation of the historic site at Porte d'Auteuil for the new Roland Garros," a statement said.
"It chose an ambitious, prestigious project resolutely looking to the future."
FFT president Jean Gachassin added: "Our ambition was to offer a project with a real future and of a very high quality – to improve the reception and the comfort of the players and spectators."
That project will see 35 outside courts built, as well as a new media centre and a centre court with a retractable roof, which will mean matches can be played in inclement weather as well as at night – although it is still expected to be the smallest of the four Grand Slam venues.
Roland Garros has held the clay court event for over 80 years, with the first tournament being hosted there in 1928.
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