New Raleigh tennis complex will have French red clay courts
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The red clay courts at The French Open. Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images
Swing Racquet + Paddle, a massive racquet sports complex being built near Brier Creek in Raleigh, plans to feature something rare in North American sports: red clay tennis courts.
Why it matters: Swing said Tuesday it will partner with Roland-Garros, also known as the French Open, to import true European red clay courts to the Raleigh complex when it opens in 2028.
- Red clay courts are very hard to find in the U.S. and offer a much different experience than the typical asphalt or concrete courts, according to Swing's founder Rob Autry.
Driving the news: Swing plans to import clay — which is actually made from crushed red brick — directly from Europe to build its red-clay courts, Autry said.
- Swing has to construct the courts in accordance to guidelines from Roland-Garros, Autry added.
Zoom in: The partnership will make Swing the only Roland-Garros Club in the U.S., according to Aymeric Labaste, head of Roland-Garros International Development, which has signed similar deals in Brazil, China and Japan.
- The deal will also come with additional activations and high-level tournaments to be held on the clay courts.
What they're saying: "You don't need to fly across the pond to experience a taste of Roland Garros," Autry told Axios. We'll do activations "throughout the year for competitions at the highest level all the way down to those learning to play tennis."
- "Some of the best players in history learned to play on red clay," he added. "It's a slower surface, so it allows you to to to to really take your time and slow the ball down."
The big picture: Swing is one of the biggest sports investments happening in the Triangle. The complex spans 44 acres and features dozens of tennis, padel and pickleball courts.
- The opening has been delayed from its original timeline. But with all its permits in place now, significant construction is beginning. Swing hopes to open to the public in 2028, according to Autry.
- The city of Raleigh has also pledged $10 million in financial assistance for the facility, which is being built on city-owned land at 6121 Mt. Herman Road.