Caring For The ‘Clay’ Of Roland Garros

BusinessSportsMoneyCaring For The ‘Clay’ Of Roland GarrosByTim Newcomb,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tim Newcomb covers tennis gear/business, stadiums and shoe tech.Follow AuthorJun 01, 2026, 10:33am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Sweeping the clay on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at Roland Garros in Paris. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesWhat we call the clay of Roland Garros offers a slightly more complex definition. Each of the courts at the Paris tennis major feature five distinct layers and none have any actual clay involved in the crafting of the famous red-hued tennis court surface. The courts of Roland Garros have been roughly the same since their initial creation in 1928 and now each of the 18 courts feature five layers: a layer of stone, a layer of gravel, clinker, limestone and all topped with a dusting of crushed red brick. Each of the courts features the same construction to ensure consistent play across the site. And each layer serves a distinct purpose. The bottom two layers of stone and roughly a foot of crushed gravel allow for proper drainage. The middle layer of about three inches of clinker—a coal or volcanic residue—helps retain moisture so the top layers don’t crack. The second layer from the top of 2.5 inches of crushed limestone offers stability for the players. It is all topped with just over half an inch of crushed red brick that not only provides the playability of the courts that slow the ball but also give the surface its famous red color. Bruno Slastan, who has spent 36 years prepping the playing surface at Roland Garros, once told me that getting the facility’s competitions and practice courts ready for the tournaments requires special attention to the top two layers. Each year, crews rework the white limestone layer and haul in 88,000 pounds of broken brick, but only d...