Court Simonne-Mathieu, Tennis court and greenhouse in 16th arrondissement, France
Court Simonne-Mathieu is a tennis court within the Roland Garros complex, designed with a semi-buried structure that accommodates 5,000 spectators across two seating levels. The innovative layout allows the facility to blend into the surrounding garden landscape while providing full viewing capacity.
The French Tennis Federation proposed this expansion project in 2010, with construction taking place from 2016 to 2019. The new court was built by integrating into an existing garden space rather than replacing it entirely.
The court is named after Simonne Mathieu, a French tennis champion who made her mark on the game in the 1930s. Her name carries weight in French sports history and reminds visitors of an athlete who shaped the sport.
The court surface sits several meters below the surrounding ground level, with the entire structure rising only 6 meters high to preserve the garden landscape. Visitors should expect a short walk down to reach the seating areas and courts.
Four greenhouses ring the tennis court, housing over 1,000 plant species sourced from tropical and subtropical regions across four continents. This botanical setting creates an unusual blend of competitive sport with living gardens.
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