THE FRENCH OPEN/THE ROLAND GARROS
The French Open, often called as Roland Garros, is one of the four Grand Slam Tournaments and it is held annually over two weeks between late May and early June in Paris, France. It features men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, junior's championships, and wheelchair, legends and exhibition events. It is the first and the largest clay-court tennis tournament in the world. Because of its' slow-playing surface, it generally is considered as the most physically demanding tennis tournament.
The first tennis tournament was held on the courts of l'Ile de Puteaux in 1891. It became known as the French Championships. At the beginning, it was an one-day national championship. In 1925, the French Tennis Federation decided to open the championship to the best foreign players. In 1928, Stade Français CASG, which is a French professional rugby union club, offered the tennis authorities a land near Porte d'Auteuil. The condition was to name the new stadium as Roland Garros, in honor of the former member of the Stade Français club and the World War I pilot. In 1968, the French Open became the first Grand Slam Tournament of tennis' open era. In 1998, the centre court got the name of the long-time president of the French Tennis Federation: Court Philippe Chatrier.
The first tennis tournament was held on the courts of l'Ile de Puteaux in 1891. It became known as the French Championships. At the beginning, it was an one-day national championship. In 1925, the French Tennis Federation decided to open the championship to the best foreign players. In 1928, Stade Français CASG, which is a French professional rugby union club, offered the tennis authorities a land near Porte d'Auteuil. The condition was to name the new stadium as Roland Garros, in honor of the former member of the Stade Français club and the World War I pilot. In 1968, the French Open became the first Grand Slam Tournament of tennis' open era. In 1998, the centre court got the name of the long-time president of the French Tennis Federation: Court Philippe Chatrier.
In 2014, the tournament will run from May 25 through to June 8.