The renovation of the Roland Garros complex has been banned again by the court

Paris - The planned renovation of the Roland Garros tennis complex in Paris is once again delayed. Just three days after the highest French administrative court green-lighted the start of the project, another court ordered its suspension. The latest development may affect not only the annual French Open tennis Grand Slam but also Paris's bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games.

Plans to expand the Roland Garros complex have been controversial ever since the French Tennis Federation (FFT) prioritized renovation over a possible relocation five years ago. The project faced protests from environmentalists who claim that building a new 5,000-seat court in the Serres d'Auteuil botanical garden would harm the vegetation. The greenhouses there contain a variety of tropical and local plants from the 19th century.

One of the heirs of the botanist garden architect Jean-Camille Formigé successfully filed a request in court on Thursday to suspend the project. The opportunity to commence work lasted just three days.

As part of the renovation, the FFT plans to cover the main court, which is expected to occur no earlier than 2020. This would mean that after the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, the fourth Grand Slam would also have at least one court with a roof, allowing play even in adverse weather conditions.

Roland Garros is also part of the organizational committee's bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the complex is set to host not only tennis matches but also basketball, rugby, and five-a-side football. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city for the games next year.