Roland Garros
French Open…
Roland Garros, also known as French Open or the Tournoi de Roland-Garros,
officially, is named after Roland Garros, a French Aviator and Fighter Plane Pilot during
the First World War. French Open is held between the month of May and June for a
period of two weeks in Paris, France. Roland Garros is the second Grand Slam Tournament after Australian Open, held each year, and is followed by Wimbledon and U.S.Open. Roland Garros is the premier Clay Court Grand Slam Tournament in the world. French bank BNP Paribas sponsors this tournament.
A Brief Past…
The French Open was started at a national level in 1891 and allowed international players to participate in 1925. Then, the matches were held on grass courts between Racing Club de France and Stade Français. In 1928, a new tennis stadium for Davis Cup was built at Porte d’Auteuil. Its surface was made up of red clay.
French Open became the first Grand Slam Tournament to be open not only for professional but also amateur competitors, in 1968
The French Open… .
The French Open has five events namely Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. All these events take place in two weeks time between middle of May and beginning of June. Both Men’s and Women’s singles’ winners are offered the same prize money as in U.S. Open and Australian Open.
These events are played on clay surface, where not all champions succeed. Even champions like Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, who have won many Grand Slam titles struggle to make their mark on clay courts.
Blasts from the Past…
Men’s record holders for most wins:
All competitions: Henri Cochet (France), 9 titles (4 singles, 3 doubles, 2 mixed doubles titles).
Singles: Björn Borg (Sweden), 6.
Consecutive singles titles: Björn Borg, 4.
Doubles: Roy Emerson (Australia), 6.
Ladies’ record holders for most wins:
All competitions: Margaret Smith Court (Australia), 13 (5 singles, 4 doubles, 4 mixed doubles titles)
Singles: Chris Evert (USA), 7.
Consecutive singles titles: Helen Wills Moody (USA), Hilde Sperling (Germany) and Monica Seles (Yugoslavia), 3.
Doubles: Martina Navratilova (Czechoslovakia/USA), 7.
Last French Singles champions:
Men: Yannick Noah (1983)
Women: Mary Pierce (2000)