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Wild video reveals how Roland-Garros selects iconic clay surface at French Open

The French Open is the only major in tennis that is played on clay courts, and the Paris-based tournament has a unique process to get the surface right.

By Matt Reed

A detail view of of a plaque for Rafael Nadal on day 12 at Roland Garros Stadium with the iconic red clay courts displayed
A detail view of of a plaque for Rafael Nadal on day 12 at Roland Garros Stadium with the iconic red clay courts displayed / Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
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For two weeks a year, the French Open takes place on the iconic clay courts of Roland-Garros in Paris, and while this has been the case for decades the process in which the facility decides on important decisions pertaining to the courts is quite fascinating.

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While the surface is certainly unique compared to other tennis majors like the Australian Open or U.S. Open that are played on hard courts, or essentially asphalt, the French Open has an entire plan in place to make their courts look as good as possible.

Since top stars like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are competing in the event, Roland-Garros uses a layer of stone, gravel, coal residue and limestone before the groundskeepers crush up red bricks to get the signature color of the courts just right.

Sports journalist Joe Pompliano posted a video to social media Thursday explaining how the process is done and showing a real-time clip of how the surface is laid out.

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