Is the French Open played on a clay court?

The French Open is one of tennis’ four grand slam tournaments along with Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open – and the only one played on clay. But are the courts really made of clay?

The French Open is one of tennis’ four grand slam tournaments along with Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open – and the only one played on clay. But are the courts really made of clay?

There are few images in tennis more iconic than the red clay of Roland Garros. The arena in Paris hosts the French Open, the second grand slam of the year and one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. The courts of Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen have played host to some of the most ...

Named after the French aviator, Roland Garros lies in Paris’s 16th arrondissement and is the only major to be played on clay courts. The name of the stadium is used interchangeably with the tournament’s official title of the French Open, ...

The red clay courts of Roland Garros, where the French Open takes place each spring in Paris, sit on the other end of the speed spectrum. Gritty clay has a looser surface than hard and grass courts and provides friction that absorbs some of ...

This composition creates a true "clay court" surface, distinct from the synthetic acrylic or asphalt-based courts often found in public parks. The result is a playing area that is visually stunning, with its rich red hue providing the iconic backdrop for every rally, and physically demanding, dictating the very rhythm of professional tennis. The properties of clay produce a unique set of challenges that separate Roland Garros champions from winners of other grand slams.

Clay courts are built on a foundation ... a thin layer of fine clay particles on top. Clay courts are more common in Continental Europe and Latin America than in North America, Asia-Pacific, or Britain. The only Grand Slam tournament that uses clay courts is the French ...

The clay surface also makes the French Open unique in that it is the only Grand Slam tournament that still uses human line judges after Wimbledon's move to fully automated line calls in 2025. The challenge system does not exist at Roland Garros either due to not having the Hawk-Eye system installed; it is claimed that it is less reliable on clay courts due to dust coming up during play ...

The top surface is made of bricks. No, seriously. Red dust from the same bricks used to build houses throughout France is spread on top of the courts at Roland Garros. Underneath that red dust, there are four more layers.