Allée Roland Garros

Tucked away in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Roland Garros isn’t just a name synonymous with tennis greatness. It’s a place brimming with history, intrigue, and a touch of wartime darkness. Roland Garros, the stadium complex, echoes the spirit of its namesake, a pioneering aviator and World War I hero. Though he tragically fell in aerial combat in 1918, his legacy lives on, not only in the stadium’s name but in the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the trophy awarded to the men’s singles champion. This connection to the “Four Musketeers” of French tennis, Borotra, Brugnon, Cochet, and Lacoste, runs deep. Their Davis Cup victories in the 1920s and 30s inspired the stadium’s construction in 1928, specifically to host France’s Davis Cup defense. Their names grace the four main grandstands of Court Philippe Chatrier, the principal venue, while a monument celebrating their six Davis Cup championships stands proudly in Place des Mousquetaires. But Roland Garros holds a darker secret within its history. During World War II, the grounds served as a detention center for “undesirables” – those suspected of being communists or simply deemed undesirable by the occupying forces. Imagine the stark contrast: posters advertising a Cochet-Borotra match still hanging, a poignant reminder of a carefree past, while within the very walls, individuals awaited an uncertain fate. Now, fast forward to the present. Roland Garros boasts twenty courts, including three impressive stadiums. Court Philippe Chatrier, after a 2019 renovation, seats over 15,000 spectators and boasts a retractable roof, a modern addition to this historic venue. Court Suzanne Lenglen, the second largest, honors the “Divine One” of women’s tennis, and even features an underground irrigation system to maintain its unique clay surface. Speaking of clay, the famed “red clay” of Roland Garros is actually white limestone topped with powdered red brick dust, a state-of-the-art drainage solution back in 1928. This surface, while mimicking the feel of clay, allows for continuous play even after rain, a significant advantage over traditional clay courts. And within Roland Garros, you’ll find the Tenniseum, a multimedia museum dedicated to the history of tennis. Explore the evolution of tennis attire, marvel at racquets dating back to the mid-19th century, and relive historic French Open matches through digitized video archives. Roland Garros has evolved and expanded throughout the years, facing environmental concerns and delays along the way. But its heart remains, a testament to the spirit of Roland Garros the man, and to the enduring legacy of French tennis.