Concerns Raised Over Court Layout at Roland Garros
Several players have experienced injuries after colliding with obstacles positioned at the back of the courts during the French Open, prompting calls for changes to the court layout.
Iga Swiatek has publicly requested that the tournament organizers reconsider the placement of these obstacles following multiple incidents that led to player withdrawals this week.
On Friday, Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez was pursuing a lob when she collided with one of the Lacoste advertising boards located behind the court, resulting in a fall. After receiving medical attention, Sonmez and her doubles partner Tatjana Maria retired from their second-round match against Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina, trailing 2-0.
“I didn’t see the incidents, but I heard about them,” said Swiatek. “Obviously if these things happen, there needs to be a reaction, because there are other ways for us to be visible for sure, you know?”
Swiatek added,
“It’s a shame, and it shouldn’t – I hope they’re going to put them in a different place or just put the advertising in a different way there, because it’s not safe for sure.”
Additional Injuries Highlight Safety Concerns
Earlier in the week, Belgian player Alexander Blockx disclosed that he had to withdraw due to an ankle injury sustained from the rain covers at the back of a practice court. Blockx initially shared this information in an Instagram statement, which he later edited. He wrote,
“Unfortunately during today’s practice I heard a snap in my ankle while I sprained it thanks to the ‘really necessary’ covers at the back of the court at Roland Garros, which is why I had to withdraw from tomorrow’s match.”
Other players have also reported near misses. Great Britain’s Katie Boulter urged the removal of the advertising boards after she tripped on one during her second-round match on Friday while moving backward to hit a forehand. She posted on X,
“THESE THINGS HAVE TO GO. Got lucky last night but next time I might not be…”
Her tweet included screenshots showing the close call.
Historical Context and Comparison with Other Tournaments
This issue is not new at Roland Garros, where advertising panels are positioned behind the court to promote sponsors. In 2017, David Goffin was forced to retire from his third-round match due to a similar incident. Other Grand Slam tournaments do not place rain covers behind the baseline, and Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open is the only other major venue with advertising hoardings on the court; however, those boards are affixed directly to the back wall.
The problem is exacerbated on clay courts, where players tend to defend from deeper positions, increasing the likelihood of contact with obstacles.
Additionally, Roland Garros remains the only major tournament that employs line judges, with advertising boards positioned adjacent to the linespeople on the court.
Player Perspectives on Potential Changes
Following her straight-sets victory over Viktorija Golubic, Marta Kostyuk expressed skepticism about the likelihood of any modifications to the court setup, stating,
“Honestly, I feel like there are some rules that no matter what happens, they just cannot be changed, and no matter how much you speak about it or how much you fight over it, it’s just the rules. I don’t know.”
Swiatek’s Tournament Progress and Upcoming Challenge
Last Thursday, after the draw ceremony, it was noted that Swiatek was placed in a challenging section of the women’s singles draw, with a projected match against Jelena Ostapenko and a potential semi-final against Elena Rybakina. However, both Ostapenko and Rybakina were eliminated in the second round, allowing Swiatek to build momentum and confidence in her first major tournament with new coach Francisco Roig.
Swiatek now faces a more demanding opponent as she pursues her fifth Roland Garros title. Her next match is against Marta Kostyuk, who is on a 15-match winning streak and remains undefeated on clay this year after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid.
Kostyuk commented on the upcoming match,
“I definitely have a different feeling going into this match, because I feel like last time that I played her in Cincinnati, I lost this match way before it even started, and I don’t feel the same this time.”
