Roland Garros to remain venue for French Open

PARIS, (Reuters) – Tradition won the day today  when the French tennis federation decided to keep the French  Open at a renovated Roland Garros and rejected plans to move the  tournament to the Paris suburbs from 2016.
A federation statement said delegates had opted for the  “enlargement and modernisation of the historic site at Porte  d’Auteuil for the new Roland Garros”.
Versailles, Gonesse and a site in Marne-la-Vallee close to  Disneyland Paris had bid to take the only clay court grand slam  out of the French capital and offer more space.
However, in a federation ballot on Sunday, Gonesse lost in  the first round, Versailles in the second with Paris then taking  70 percent of the vote in the final round against  Marne-la-Vallee.
Although, the ageing and cramped Roland Garros in the west  of Paris near the Bois de Boulogne will now be redeveloped it is  still likely to be the smallest grand slam venue.
The Australian and U.S. Opens have much more modern  facilities while Wimbledon has added a roof to its centre court.
Retired former world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the face of  French tennis for many years, was among a number of players who  were keen for the tournament to change location.
“I think that in Paris today we don’t have the possibility  to have the necessary space to develop Roland Garros,” she told  Reuters.
“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.”
Media reports had expected Paris to win the vote in the end  but there was speculation a run-off with Versailles, the site of  the royal palace, might be needed.