French Open

Named after a French aviator, Roland Garros, the French Open, which is called Tournoi de Roland-Garros in French, is one of major tennis tournaments included in the Grand Slam. Professional tennis players in France gather during this event to do their own matches and get trophies. In case you are one avid fan of tennis and you want to know more about this Grand Slam tournament, continue reading.

The French Open tennis history dictates that this major sporting event was started in 1891 under the name Championat de France International de Tennis. It covers a number of divisions participated by both men and women. The first of the women tournaments was introduced in 1897, and the men’s division came out later that year.

While the men’s and women’s tournaments were managed, people who have control with the event decided to held the championship using a different playing surface in 1912. From that plan, the tournament was held using red clay as the field’s surface, and this material was said to be made up of red bricks’ crushed wastes. Although that managed and maintained, the tournament was restricted to tennis players who have not gotten their licensed to play in France. This restriction was closed though in 1924.

The year 1925 marked the entrance of international competitors who just came to France to compete in the event. This time, the matches were played on grass, but in an alternate way, taking between the Stade Francais and the Racing Club de France.

The French Open was continually played at those grounds until the Porte d’Auteuil was built to host a number of tennis authorities. It is this stadium which is named after the French aviator, Roland Garros, from whom the name French Open was taken.

There are five main trophies set to be awarded to the winners of the French Open tennis tournament. Included in the list are Coupe des Mousquetaires, which is offered for the men’s singles; the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for the women’s singles; the Coupe Jacques Brugnon for the men’s doubles; the Coupe Simone Mathieu for the women’s doubles; and the Coupe Marcel Bernard for the mixed doubles. It is worth knowing that all of these trophies are made from pure silver, and each boasts decorations on the sides that one can consider as perfectly etched. What’s further interesting to know about the trophies of the French Open tennis is that whoever won the division matches will be given the chance to see their names printed on the trophy plate. This is considered a standard rule in both the men’s and women’s singles.

The prize of the winner in the French Open tournament is also given with a replica of the trophy that he or she won. These replicas are also made from pure silver, but are fabricated and engraved. Note that French Open has its own artists who make all the fabrication and engraving processes, the Maison Mellerio.

Today, the French Open tennis tournament is held every June at Paris. It is known throughout the country and different areas in the world as the second of the Grand Slam tournaments that the annual tennis calendar possesses. Other than that, the tournament is deemed as the most premier of the world championships held on clay courts. All of these things are what primarily make the French Open one of the most prestigious events in the whole Paris.

Note: The 2007 French Open was reported as something fresh and new. In what sense? It has provided prize money for both the men and women who got the titles in all rounds, and this happened for the first time ever in the history of French tennis.