A vote will take place on Sunday to determine the future home of the French Open

The French Tennis Federation will meet on Sunday to decide whether or not the future of the French Open resides at Roland Garros. Talk of changing the location of the famous event has been met with controversy, though there are numerous possible benefits that could be brought about by relocation.

“It’s true that when we started to talk inside our federation about the possibility of a move, the idea didn’t have much success,” stated Gilbert Ysern, the general director of the FTF. “But we’ve come a long way. Thinking hard about it and laying out the possible advantages there would be in building a new stadium, there’s been a change in many people’s way of approaching it. Today, it’s far from being something that cannot be envisaged.”

It is believed that Roland Garros is still likely to be chosen to host future French Opens, though alternative sites such as Gonesse, Marne-la- Vallée and Versailles are being looked into.  When the 180 FTF delegates meet on Sunday, a two-thirds majority will be necessary for a decision to be reached. Should this majority not be met, the delegates will meet again within the next three months, with a smaller majority required for a resolution to the issue.

Relocation may turn out to be a good move for the French Open, though it would undoubtedly be a shame to lose the tradition that is associated with the clay courts of Roland Garros. Many traditionalists, including world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, have argued that the tournament will simply not be the same if it gets moved elsewhere. That said, there are a number of people, including Justine Henin, who seem to have reluctantly accepted the possibility of change.

“I have a hard time imagining Roland Garros anywhere else, but I think it’s definitely true that the site needs to grow,” remarked Henin. “The players and the spectators suffer because it’s too small. They have to find a solution. Can it grow where it is? That’s what everybody wants. But other tournaments have left and gone somewhere else. Maybe Roland Garros will do it, too, even though it will leave me with twinges of regret.”