JazzSports.com |

The French Open - Roland Garros

The Philippe Chatrier is the main court of the Roland Garros.

The French Open 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.

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 2007, the last eight French Open men's singles championships were won by men who did not win any other Grand Slam tournament, as were the last 13 of 15. The French Open is the title that has also prevented female players like Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, and Martina Hingis from achieving a career Grand Slam.

The French Open is billed as the most challenging of all the grand slams and the 2008 French Open tennis tournament is sure to adhere to the rigours and robust competitiveness so typical of the second of the annual tennis 'majors'.

Over fifteen thousand spectators have already reserved their seats on centre court, the famed Court Philippe Chatrier, and thousands more are expected to arrive at the spectacular Roland Garros venue over the two weeks of the competition in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the fabled combatants of clay court tennis.

Hosted by one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris, the French Open 2008 event will run from May 25th to June 8th and this year's event is sure to unleash some of the most riveting tennis - both the men's and women's defending champions for the singles event are vying for a fourth consecutive victory.

2007 Winners

Rafael Nadal's Official Site

Rafael Nadal

Nadal is undefeated in his career at the French, having won all 21 matches he has played en route to his three championships. Nadal holds the longest winning streak among male players on a single surface in the open era. From April 2005 to May 2007, he won a record 81 consecutive clay court matches.

Henin-Hardenne's Site

Justine Henin-Hardenne

Justine Henin is a Belgian professional tennis player and the current World No. 1. As of June 2007, she has won six Grand Slam singles titles, including four French Open singles titles (four of the last five and the last three, consecutively).

Homepage | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Press Releases | Site Map | Contact Us