Rolland Garros - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Location: Roland Garros is a major tennis tournament held annually in Paris, France. It is played at the Stade Roland Garros, named after the French aviator Roland Garros.
- 2. Surface: The tournament is played on clay courts, which are considered slower than other surfaces like grass or hard courts. This unique surface requires players to adjust their game and strategy accordingly.
- 3. History: Roland Garros was first held in 1891 and is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, along with the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. It is the only Grand Slam event held on clay courts.
- 4. Dates: The tournament usually takes place over two weeks in late May and early June. It is the second Grand Slam event of the year, following the Australian Open and preceding Wimbledon.
- 5. Prize Money: Roland Garros offers significant prize money for the winners of the tournament. In 2021, the total prize pool was €34,367,215, with the winners of the men's and women's singles events receiving €1,400,000 each.
- 6. Format: The tournament features singles and doubles events for men and women, as well as mixed doubles and junior events. Matches are played in a best-of-five sets format for men and best-of-three sets for women.
- 7. Famous Champions: Some of the most famous champions of Roland Garros include Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament a record 13 times, and Chris Evert, who won the women's singles title a record 7 times.
- 8. Upsets: Roland Garros has seen its fair share of upsets over the years, with lower-ranked players occasionally defeating higher-ranked opponents. These upsets add an element of unpredictability to the tournament and keep fans on the edge of their seats.
- 9. Traditions: The tournament is known for its unique traditions, such as the red clay courts, the iconic trophy, and the famous "Bullring" court, which provides an intimate setting for fans to watch matches up close.
- 10. Global Audience: Roland Garros attracts a global audience of millions of tennis fans who tune in to watch the tournament on television or online. The event showcases some of the best tennis players in the world competing for one of the sport's most prestigious titles.