French Open expansion aims to preserve Parisian style

FILE PHOTO: View of the Philippe Chartrier court as spectators protect themselves from the rain with umbrella before the start of the women's quarter-final match between Sara Errani of Italy and Andrea Petkovic of Germany during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, June 4, 2014. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - After years of legal battles the French Open has begun to expand its facilities, hoping to match other grand slam events - including having a roof over Centre Court to banish weather delays - while preserving its Parisian pizzazz.

Roland Garros lags behind the other three grand slams in terms of covered courts - the Australian Open has a roof over three courts, the U.S. Open will have a second roof by 2018 and Wimbledon will add a second one by 2019.