What type of surface is the French Open played on?

The French Open is played on clay courts. The courts are made up of four layers, including a 10-inch layer of stone, a 6-inch layer of metal waste material, a 4-inch layer of limestone and less than an inch of broken brick on top.

Compared to grass or hard courts, the ball slows down and bounces higher on clay. This can hamper players who rely on a powerful serve. For example, Pete Sampras and Venus Williams have both won many Grand Slam events, but they have never won the French Open, as of July 2014.

The French Open is considered the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world.