Are Court Conditions Dangerous at the French Open?

[Chas Tennis]

Here is a news story of David Goffin running into a tarp that covered cables at the 2017 French Open. He received a serious injury to his ankle.

David Goffin retires injured at French Open after catching his ankle in TARPAULIN

DAVID GOFFIN’S coach called for improved safety after a freak accident forced the Belgian out of the French Open. Goffin caught his right ankle in the tarpauline at the back of Court Suzanne Lengle…

www.thesun.co.uk

I have always remembered those cables and tarp as an obvious and unnecessary hazard. ?


This year, there are small signs in front of the lines people that are a trip hazard for the players. Alcaraz nearly ran into one of them.

Why have any hard objects or trip hazards where the players can be injured?


Note- players are running as never before.

UPDATE - I just noticed tarps on the court this year, 2023!

 

[ibbi]

Having those Lacoste things on the court is ridiculous, but it probably makes them an awful lot of money, so they're not going anywhere. Nobody is going that far back in the court like 99% of the time, so I don't think it's that big a deal.

Still, at night and under the humidity of the roof when moisture forms more readily on the court and completely alters the properties of it? Yes, absolutely. Tennis should straight up not be played on clay, certainly not in Europe, after about 8/9pm at the very latest. We saw what happened last year. That wasn't an accident.

 

[tudwell]

Clay is too dangerous. Needs to be banned like carpet.

 

[Bartelby]

I noticed the tarps and feared that the ball kids would trip as they have to negotiate their way back to their positions on the tarp.

Players could get unlucky as well if they run unthinkingly.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Clay is too dangerous. Needs to be banned like carpet.

Yes! The fights to the death, like in GLADIATOR, discontinued the practice on red clay in 35 BC. Ban it!

 

[Chas Tennis]

I noticed the tarps and feared that the ball kids would trip as they have to negotiate their way back to their positions on the tarp.

Players could get unlucky as well if they run unthinkingly.

Do all clay courts in 2023, have similar cables and tarps?

Suppose Alcaraz today had gotten a similar injury to Goffin, only worse...................for cables & tarps?....?

Where's a risk-to-benefit analysis? Good advertising?

 

[ihitlikeagirl]

today carlos was HOLDING the (metal?) Lacoste sign after a point--assuming he ran into it. I definitely think those should not be allowed on the court. There are other ways to get Lacoste their publicity

 

[Chas Tennis]

Goffin accident Youtube at 2017 French Open.

Search for Youtube using -
Roland-Garros 2017 : Inquiétude pour Goffin !! Terrible blessure pour le Belge !

At about 52 seconds of the video, you can see what happened. Goffin is sliding and his foot runs into the tarp. See picture below. The same Laconte signs are there also, he missed the signs.
Single frame at 52 seconds to see exactly how Goffin's accident occurred. To single frame on Youtube, stop video, full screen, and use the period & comma keys.

Same tarps...........

Close up picture.

David Goffin hurt his ankle on a tarp at the French Open and the photo is barf-worthy

Ugh.

www.sbnation.com

Is this dangerous?

 

[Gerco]

today carlos was HOLDING the (metal?) Lacoste sign after a point--assuming he ran into it. I definitely think those should not be allowed on the court. There are other ways to get Lacoste their publicity

I think in Montecarlo they replaced the same metal signs for cushions like signs after Juan Monaco ran into those once and got injured.

 

[ihitlikeagirl]

Goffin accident Youtube at 2017 French Open.

yeah it sucks. he was a good player and has never been the same. I feel really bad for him...because it was surely down to that accident/injury that his career changed.