One of the top tournaments in the world padel calendar, the Alpine Paris Major, is held at Roland Garros, the famous home of French tennis, which has seen a dramatic makeover. The clay courts that once reverberated with the footfall of tennis greats are transformed into vibrant padel stadiums for a week in September. The change is a daring advancement in the venue’s use, fusing innovation and tradition to welcome a new generation of racket sport.
Conversion logistics: from clay to glass
In order to create padel courts with glass walls, artificial turf, and small dimensions, workers start the conversion process weeks in advance by tearing down parts of the tennis infrastructure. The stadium’s focal point, Philippe Chatrier, serves as a showcase for the fast-paced style of padel, while the nearby courts are modified to host both main draw and qualifying matches. The change is more than just a physical one; it represents padel’s rising prominence in the sports world.
A brand-new Roland Garros beat
Padel offers a faster tempo and a more participatory style of play than clay-court tennis’s deliberate, sluggish rallies. A festival-like atmosphere is created as the audience, placed closer to the action, participates in every point. The experience is enhanced by music, light displays, and spectator areas, which transform Roland Garros into a lively arena for entertainment and athletics. The Paris Major is a celebration of the vitality and accessibility of padel, not just a competition.