The end of the road is near for the French Open's iconic Court One, with its pending demolition meaning some of the grand slam's spirit will be lost with it, the man who designed it told Reuters on Wednesday. The court, known as The Bullring, was built in 1980 and is loved by players and fans alike for its unique design and the way it brings the audience into the game - with fans ducking and fending off serves that have shot into the crowd.
But it is due to fall victim to a Roland Garros renovation project, with its replacement expected to be completed by 2020, according to Paris city officials. An exact demolition date has not yet been set. "Jim Courier was practicing once on this court and I could hear him hitting the balls from a long distance away and the sound was travelling outside the stadium," architect Jean Lovera told Reuters in an interview. Courier, twice French Open champion in the early 1990s, has called it his all-time favourite tennis stadium. "I will personally miss Court One and the memories I keep from those high and low moments spent in that small stadium," he has said.