The French Open is one of the world's most traditional tennis tournaments, but its iconic clay courts got an upgrade with the addition of a retractable roof. This new feature covers the Centre Court, Stade Philippe-Chatrier, to prevent delays due to heavy rain during major matches.
The retractable roof is made up of 11 individual freestanding lattice structures, each weighing 330 tons. Installing the roof takes approximately 15 minutes, while the assembly process spans over eight months, according to organizers.
Components for the retractable roof were manufactured in a workshop near Venice on an area of around one hectare over a two-year period. After Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the US Open, the French Open is now the final grand tournament with a sunken roof.
Rafael Nadal's Record Break
Impressively, this new roof will undergo several tests before the 2023 tournament, scheduled for May 24. Defending champion Rafael Nadal will aim to surpass his record of 13 titles at the French Open. However, he will face tough competition, especially from Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem, finalists in the Australian Open. If Nadal is successful, he will also match Roger Federer's total of 20 Grand Slam titles during his career.
[Source: edition.cnn.com]
The addition of the retractable roof is expected to significantly improve the playing experience during rainy matches at Court Philippe Chatrier, making it an even more conducive environment for tennis matches. Spectators can enjoy the games without interruptions due to bad weather.
Unfortunately, the exact installation time for the new roof at the French Open was not specified in the sources provided. To obtain more specific details about the development, one should refer to dedicated sources or the official French Open website.
