French tennis federation confident Roland Garros' extension project will go ahead as planned

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN , Associated Press

Last update: November 4, 2009 - 10:43 AM

PARIS - The building of a new stadium for the French Open has been blocked because of political issues, but the French Tennis Federation said Wednesday that it was confident it will go ahead as planned.

Gilbert Ysern, the general director of the French Tennis Federation, said the Paris mayor's office "was unsure of the project's outcome," and time was running out to launch the construction work.

"We have been told that it's now a complicated matter," Ysern said. "City hall is facing strong opposition. But we will keep working very seriously on the project and this is of course our favorite option. We are a strong federation, and we will succeed."

The federation announced this year a project to build a new center court with a retractable roof that could be in use by 2013 or 2014.

The new 14,600-seat stadium would be located just under 500 yards from the current center court and surrounded by two other smaller, covered arenas at a cost of $177 million.

The project is reportedly facing opposition from green members of the city council and residents living near the stadium. Paris city hall said it remained committed to the project.

"Paris city hall and its political majority wants the French Open to stay in Paris," city hall said in a statement. "We are well aware of the necessity for the French tennis federation to modernize its facilities to stay competitive. We want to find a solution in this area."

Ysern said the federation has the right to use Roland Garros until 2015.

"We have already injected a lot of money, an architect has been appointed and has already started his works. We can't lose our time. We have to build," Ysern said.

The FFT chose architect Marc Mimram, who designed the overpass that connects France and Germany across the Rhine River in Strasbourg.

Ysern added the FFT would pursue other options — including the possibility of moving the tournament away from its historical site — in case the new stadium project falls through.

"We are thinking about the impact of such a relocation," Ysern said. "When you want something and you understand it's not sure that you are going to get it, you have to think about other options."

The FFT hasn't determined a site yet but it would be difficult to build a new arena in Paris itself, with the organizers probably being forced to consider a move toward the suburbs.

The federation said another option was to build a retractable roof over the current center court.

If the extension's project gets approved, the new facilities would also host the Paris Masters, which is played at Palais Omnisports de Paris.