Also known as the French Open, Roland Garros is an outdoor tennis tournament held in different venues in Paris. It is a Grand Slam – the second in order of the season – and the only one played on a clay surface.
This single feature makes the tournament unique to players and viewers. It is conducted annually, with the tennis Grand Slam schedule typically in the dead of May, except in unusual circumstances – like COVID-19. The tournament is always well contested and promises fans apex entertainment and competition.
Roland Garros History
This legendary competition was founded in 1891 and has had over 120 editions since then. It was initially called the “Championnat de France”, which means French Championships in English. The tournament was open only to members of French clubs.
However, its first winner was of British nationality; a man known as H. Briggs. Consequently, the tournament began developing and adding more playing categories to the tournament.
The International Lawn Tennis Federation designated Roland Garros (French Open) as a major tournament eventually. This was because, in 1925, the tournament opened its doors to all amateur players rather than just French Club members.
The French Open is named in honor of a war aviator – Eugene Adrien Roland Garros – who participated in World War 1. In 1928, the war veteran’s name was labeled on the tennis court where the event holds. Hence, the event is called Roland Garros.
While other grand slams changed their surfaces, the French Open retained its originality. For this reason, Roland Garros (and clay) is regarded as the most difficult surface, even for elite players. Many legendary players failed to win the French Open due to its uniqueness.
However, those who have won have done so in stunning fashion.
Roland Garros Tickets
The 2023 French Open will be held from 22 May to 11 June. The event is always packed with a colorful influx of persons from around the world, with entertainment the prime reason for attendance.
Thus, event tickets are sold out almost as soon as they are available. To get a ticket from the Roland Garros ticketing site, you just have to follow some simple steps.
To pre-purchase your French open Ticket, the steps to follow are:
- Create your Roland Garros Account: By putting in your accurate information, you’ll get access to the purchase gateway.
- Check and Choose your preferred offer: Depending on your preference, you can choose a ticket that suits you.
- Make payment: Use an up-to-date browser to make payment. On the site, you can pay. However, you can contact your bank for assistance if you’re more comfortable with bank payments.
- Wait for 10 AM CET Opening Day: Few hours from the beginning, the Roland Garros tickets gateway will not be available. However, it swings open at exactly 10 AM CET.
- Join the Queue: For orderliness, every buyer will be put in a queue. No matter what time you purchase your ticket, you’ll be randomly placed in the queue automatically.
- Complete Your Order: After some delay, you’ll be able to finalize your transaction.
Roland Garros Legends
Rafael Nadal
Rafa is the biggest winner in Roland Garros’ history, with 14 titles on his mantle. His dominance on clay surfaces is unrivaled, as he often destroys his opponents on them.
He holds the joint record for the most Grand Slams with 22 and has spent several weeks atop the tennis charts. He has won over 90 career trophies, making fifth on the all-time’s list.
Bjorn Borg
Bjorn was the first person in the open era to win more than ten grand slams, of which six were the French Open. He was a precursor to Rafa Nadal and expressed dominance on the court, winning all six of his finals in Paris. Many of his records still stand today, and he’s considered one of the pioneers of the game.
Max Decugis
In the amateur era, Max Decugis was the poster player of Roland Garros. He was born in 1882 and played at a time only players in French clubs were allowed to compete in the French Open.
During the course of his career, he won 8 French titles and is regarded as the pacesetter for what is known as Roland Garros in the open era.
Roland Garros Format
Men’s singles match come with the hardest strain: the best of five sets. The male players could dig deep to get the win. This is a bit different from the other categories.
The male doubles category, along with the mixed, female singles, and doubles categories, all play to the best of three sets. Meaning the highest score that can occur at the end of a match in any of these categories is 2-1.
Roland Garros Partners
Roland Garros has four levels of partners; Main Partner, Premium Partner, Official Partner, and Official Supplier. It has formed the highest level of partnership with BNP Paribas. The bank is regarded as one of the biggest in Europe and a consistent main partner of the Roland Garros franchise.
The French Open’s premium partners are Rolex, Emirates, Oppo, Lacoste, and Renault. This level is a notch beneath the main partner’s and above the other two Roland Garros’ partnership rungs.
Its official partners are Perrier, Infosys, Wilson, and Engie – which supports women’s tennis. The franchise has a host of official suppliers like Orange, ALL (Accor Live Limitless), Mastercard, Moet Hennessy, etc. These partners ensure the smooth running of the event annually.
Final Thoughts on the 2023 French Open
Late May to mid-June always proves to be an exceptional time for tennis fans.
The second Grand Slam in the year – Roland Garros – takes place amongst funfair and entertainment, bringing the best of competition to occupy the crowd and those watching from home.
The French Open is one of the world’s apex sports competitions, allowing its participants an opportunity to rise to the podium and the fans to witness it. These values are why The French Open has endured over a hundred years, and is getting even better.