English

THE FRENCH OPEN AT ROLAND GARROS

no Comments

Introduction :

The French Open is an annual Tennis Tournament held over two weeks in May and June.  This was established in 1891 and played since 1928 on outdoor red clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.  The French Open Tournament is one of the four Grand Slam tournament played each year.  The other Grand Slams are Australian Open, Wimbeldon and the US Open.  This tournament is organized by the Federation Francaise de Tennis (FFT).  The French Open is the second of the four Grand Slam Tournament of the year to be played after Australian Open.

The Men’s Singles Winner receives the Coupe des Mousquetaires, named after The Four Musketeers of French tennis.  They are Jean Borota, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste. 

The French Open :

Let us try to know more about the French Open Tennis tournament, officially Roland-Garros.  This is a major tennis tournament.  The venue is named after the French aviator Roland Garros. In this year 2019, it is being held from May 20th to 9th June, comprising Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles play.  Junior and Wheel Chair Tournaments are also scheduled.  The prize money is 4.27 crore EUR (2019).

Roland Garros (the Aviator) :

Eugene Adrien Roland Georges Garros was born on 6th October 1888 at Saint – Denis, Reunion, France and died on 5th October 1918 (aged 29) at Vouziers, Ardennes, France.  He was a French pioneering aviator and fighter pilot during World War 1 and early days of aviation.  In 1928, the Roland Garros tennis stadium was named in his memory.  The French Open tennis tournament takes the name of Roland Garros from the stadium where it is held.

History of French Open Tournament :

The French Open was established in the year 1891.  This was originally known as the French Championships.  The tournament was only open to French players or foreign players who are members of a French club during the first 34 years of its existence.

Before the Stade Roland Garros was built in 1928, the tournament was alternated between Racing club and La Faisanderie.  The event was not held from 1915 to 1919 because of the First World War and was held unofficially under German occupation from 1941 to 1944, during the Second World War.

Henri Cochet won the first tournament at the new venue.  Rafael Nadal of Spain has won the most French Open titles.  He has won eleven titles.  He also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the Open era, with five titles from 2010 to 2014.  Max Decugis won the most titles i.e. eight before the Open Era.

Michael Chang became the youngest player to win the French Open when he took the title in 1989 at 17 years, 3 months and 20 days.  The oldest to win the championship is Andre Vacherot.  He won in 1901 at the age of 40 years.

French players have won the most French Open Men’s Singles Titles with 38 victories.  The second spot is occupied by Spanish players with 18 victories.  The third spot is occupied by Australian players with 11 victories.  The reigning Champion is Rafael Nadal (2018).

Invention of Tennis :

Major Walter Wingfield of London invented a game called Sphairistike (Greek for “Playing ball”) in 1873, from this game the modern tennis was evolved.  Wingfield’s game was played on a hourglass – shaped court and created a sensation in Europe, the Unites States and even in China.  This game was played outdoors on a court. 

Something about the Sport Tennis :

Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each.  Each player uses a tennis racket i.e. strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent’s court. (Wikipedia).

Equipment : Tennis Ball, Tennis Racket.

First played : Between 1859 and 1865, Bermingham, England.

Highest Governing Body : International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Team Members : Singles or Doubles. 

Names of Champions and Runners-up of last 10 years :

Sl. No. Year Country Champion Country Runner-up Score
01. 2018 Spain Rafael Nadal Austria Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3,

6-2
02. 2017 Spain Rafael Nadal Switzerland Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3,

6-1
03. 2016 Serbia Novak Djokovic UK/GBR Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1,

6-2, 6-4
04. 2015 Switzerland Stan Wawrinka Serbia Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5,

6-2, 6-4
05. 2014 Spain Rafael Nadal Serbia Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5,

6-2, 6-4
06. 2013 Spain Rafael Nadal Spain David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2,

6-3
07. 2012 Spain Rafael Nadal Serbia Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3,

2-6, 7-5
08. 2011 Spain Rafael Nadal Switzerland Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6

(7-3), 5-7,

6-1
09. 2010 Spain Rafael Nadal Sweden Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2,

6-4
10. 2009 Switzerland Roger Federer Sweden Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6,

7-1, 6-4
11. 2008 Spain Rafael Nadal Switzerland Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3,

6-0

 

Speciality of Rafael Nadal :

(Rafael Nadal of Spain won 11 titles in this tournament) :

2005 – Beat Mariano Puerta (Arjentina) 6-7, (6-8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

2006 – Beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6, (7-4)

2007 – Beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

2008 – Beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-1, 6-3, 6-0

2010 – Beat Robin Soderling (Sweden) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

2011 – Beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-5, 7-6, (7-3), 5-7, 6-1

2012 – Beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

2013 – Beat David Ferer (Spain) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

2014 – Beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4

2017 – Beat Warwinka (Switzerland) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1

2018 – Beat Dominic Thiem (Austria) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

Speciality of Bjorn Borg :

(Bjorn Borg won 6 titles during the open era)…. 

1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Current Champion : Women’s Singles – Simona Halep

Runner Up : Sloane Stephens

Let us try to understand more about tennis through the quotes by famous players and personalities….

Tennis Quotes :

  1. As a tennis player, you have to get used to losing every week. Unless you win the tournament, you always go home as a loser. But you have to take the positive out of a defeat and go back to work. Improve to fail better. …STAN WAWRINKA.
  1. If you can react same way to winning and losing, that’s a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life, and there is going to be a life after tennis that’s longer than your tennis life. …CHRIS EVERT.
  1. Everyone needs a Coach. It doesn’t matter whether you are a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast or a bridge player. …BILL GATES.
  1. Tennis is mostly mental. Of course, you must have a lot of physical skill, but you can’t play tennis well and not be a good thinker. You win or lose the match before you even go out there. …VENUS WILLIAMS.
  1. As a tennis player you can win and you can lose, and you have to be ready for both. I practiced self-control as a kid. But as you get older both – winning and losing – get easier. …RAFAEL NADAL.
  1. Tennis was never work for me, tennis was fun. And the tougher the battle and the longer the match, the more fun I had. …JIMMY CONNORS.
  1. All my life I’d woken up to tennis, tennis, tennis. Even if I don’t go to practice, I am thinking about it all day. …SERENA WILLIAMS.
  1. It is very important not to think about losing. …VENUS WILLIAMS.
  1. Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility. …BILLIE JEAN KING.
  1. Losing is not my enemy, fear of losing is my enemy. …RAFAEL NADAL.
  1. Tennis is a hard sport. There is a lot of competition all year and you play alone. …RAFAEL NADAL.
  1. Tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, break, love – the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature. …ANDRE AGASSI.
  1. If you are a champion, you have it in your heart. …CHRIS EVERT.
  1. I am not afraid of anyone, but sometimes I am afraid of myself. …JUSTINE HENIN.
  1. What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when you are not playing that well. …JOHN McENROE.
  1. You have to believe in the long term plan you have but you need the short term goals to motivate and inspire you. …ROGER FEDERER. 

 

…Ratikanta Singh.