The French tennis federation says the French Open needs to get bigger or move from its historic site if it wants to stay competitive with the three other Grand Slam tournaments.
Gilbert Ysern, the general director of the federation, said Monday the relocation of the tournament was reviewed and that a decision could be made next year.
Ysern said that four projects were studied, including one that would see the French Open move next to the Versailles castle.
The clay-court Grand Slam could also stay at Roland Garros, but the building of new facilities would be required. Construction work at the site would cost about $270 million while building a new stadium outside Paris would cost an estimated $810 million.
"We live in a very competitive environment. The three other Grand Slam tournaments improved a lot during the past 20 years and we are behind them,'' Ysern said, "both in terms of the services we can offer to the players and regarding the stadium facilities.''
Ysern said Roland Garros has become too small for its 450,000 annual spectators, and that players also complained about the lack of private spaces dedicated to them.
"I spoke with Roger Federer last year in Monte Carlo and he had a long list of complaints,'' Ysern said. "And it was not just because he was still looking for his first win at the French at the time. He was particularly upset by the problems that can occur during the first week.''
Although the French federation doesn't fear the tournament could be stripped of its Grand Slam status, Ysern said the French Open could lose prestige in the near future and fail to entice the best players if nothing is done.
"Look at what happened with the Australian Open during the '80s, when the best players didn't want to play there,'' Ysern said. "We could face the same problems. For example, if the hardcourt specialists don't come here anymore. I'm not worried about the best players but we need to be on our guard.''
Ysern confirmed that the project announced last year to build a new court with a retractable roof less than 500 yards from the current center court was blocked due to political issues.
"There is no consensus over this project and we decided we won't continue,'' he said. "But if we stay here in Roland Garros, we will need a roof for the center court. We can build a new indoor court inside the stadium or add a roof to the center court.''
Ysern said the French federation would pursue four other relocating options in the Parisian suburbs "to find more space.''
Provided the French federation assembly gives the go ahead in February 2011, the French Open could move next to the Versailles castle as it has a good transportation network. Another option would be near Disneyland Paris, in Marne-La-Vallee.
"Whatever the general assembly decides, it will be a historic decision,'' Ysern said. "There is no room for mistake because we can't go backwards. After all, relocation could mean the best future for our tournament.''
