French Open (tennis)
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Logo of Roland Garros (tournament) |
The
French Open, officially the
Tournoi de Roland-Garros (English:
Roland Garros Tournament), is a
tennis event held over two weeks between mid May and early June in
Paris,
France, and is the second of the
Grand Slam tournaments on the annual tennis calendar. It is the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world. The French Open is currently sponsored by the French bank,
BNP Paribas.
The French Open began as a national tournament in
1891. In
1925, the
French Championships opened itself to international competitors with the event held on a grass surface alternatively between the Racing Club de France and the Stade Français. For the
1928 Davis Cup challenge, a new tennis stadium was built at Porte d'Auteuil. Named for a hero of
World War I, the new Stade Roland Garros, and
Court Philippe Chatrier, was built with a red
clay (
terre battue) playing surface, one which alters the ball's bounce and the player's approach to the match vis-à-vis
grass courts. As such, over the years, clay court specialists have evolved who often succeed here whilst higher ranked players may struggle like the great champion
Pete Sampras and current World No. 1
Roger Federer who won every other Grand Slam several times but never the French Open.
As of 2006, the last six, 8 of the last 9, 11 of the last 13, and 13 of the last 17 French Open men's singles championships were won by men who did not win any other Grand Slam tournament. On the female side of tennis, the French Open is the title that has prevented players such as
Lindsay Davenport from achieving a career Grand Slam and in 1997, it was the only Grand Slam that a 16-year old
Martina Hingis failed to win.
In
1968 the French championship became the first
Grand Slam tournament to go "open", allowing both amateurs and professionals to compete. As of 2006, the French Open joined the US Open and the Australian Open as the only major tennis events to offer equal prize money to both the men and women singles winners.
Men's record holders for most wins since 1925:*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 since 1925:*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.
Youngest Singles champions:*Men:
Michael Chang (1989): 17 yrs, 3 mos.
*Women: Monica Seles (1990): 16 yrs, 6 mos.
Oldest Singles champions:*Men:
Andrés Gimeno (1972): 34 yrs, 10 mos.
*Women: Chris Evert (1986): 31 yrs, 5 mos.
Defending champions:*Men:
Rafael Nadal*Women:
Justine Henin-HardenneLast French singles champions:*Men:
Yannick Noah (1983)
*Women:
Mary Pierce (2000)
*
Men's Singles*
Women's Singles*
Men's Doubles*
Women's Doubles*
Mixed Doubles*
Official Site*
Roland Garros on France2*
Satellite image of the venue (Google Maps)
