French Open organisers have said they will make “adjustments to the area around the playing surface” after players complained about the placement of advertising boards.
Katie Boulter and other leading players called for action to be taken after a series of incidents and injuries on court at Roland Garros.
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez was forced to retire from her women’s doubles match on Friday after she tripped over an advertising board while trying to return a shot at the back of the court.
The 24-year-old did not suffer major injuries following the fall but added on X: “I left the court with 2 stitches and a bruised knee. Thankfully, it wasn’t worse.”
Zeynep Sönmez tripped over an advertising board at the French Open on Friday
Boulter also fell over the hoardings during her second-round singles defeat to Anastasia Potapova on Thursday after catching the heels of her feet on an advertising board at the back of the court. She was attempting to play a shot when the incident took place.
The boards both carried the name of the French Open’s official partner, Lacoste.
The British No 3 took to X on Friday to write: “THESE THINGS HAVE TO GO. [I] got lucky last night, but next time I might not be.”
Sönmez added: “I stand with Katie. Do we really have to wait until a player is seriously injured before these courtside boards are removed?
“Player safety must come first.”
In response to the players, French Open bosses explained “adjustments were currently being made to the area around the playing surface”.
Four-time women’s singles champion Iga Swiatek is another to have called for the boards to be removed, explaining that the issue could be resolved if bosses moved the advertising hoardings elsewhere.
“Obviously, if these things happen, there needs to be a reaction, because there are other ways for us to be visible for sure, you know?” Swiatek said.
“It’s hard sometimes to judge. Obviously, on a clay court we need more space sometimes because the balls are flying higher, and you can use the court a bit more with the spin and everything.”
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) said in a statement: “The Roland-Garros tournament organisers have taken note of some of the players’ feedback regarding the court setup.
“We have taken this feedback into account and are maintaining ongoing communication with the players and their teams.
“The stadium complex was modernised during the 2018/2019 season. All Roland-Garros courts currently exceed the international circuit minimum requirements regarding the distance between the baseline and the back of the court, which is set at 6.4 metres.
“However, the tournament’s priority remains the well-being of the players taking part. With this in mind, and based on our own observations, adjustments are currently being made to the area around the playing surface.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract
