Why is the French Open called Roland-Garros?

The French Open is called Roland Garros in honor of one of the country's fighter pilots, Roland Garros. He was born in 1888 and died during the final few months of World War I in October, 1918.

One of the four grand slams in the world of tennis, the French Open is right around the corner. The second Major tournament of the tennis season is the only one to be played on the clay court.

The 2024 French Open will kick off on 26 May. Qualifying rounds are already underway as players seek a chance to play in one of the most prestigious tennis competitions. Interestingly, the French Open is also known as the 'Roland-Garros'. Here's why:

The French Open is also known as Roland-Garros because the tournament and the venue are named after the great French aviator Roland Garros. The story goes long back to 1928, when the stadium was built to help preserve France's tennis success after their Davis Cup victory the previous year.

The newly built venue was then named after Roland Garros at the request of Emile Lesueur, the president of the Stade Francais at the time. Emile Lesueur and Roland Garros were classmates and it was Lesueur's wish to name the arena after Roland Garros. Years later, the tournament and the venue continue to be known as Roland-Garros.

Men's French Open Winner Photocall

Roland Garros was a pioneer of aerial warfare during World War I and was the first person to fly across the Mediterranean Sea in 1913. His significance and impact on France's history are remarkable. The competition named after him began in 1891.

Initially, the tournament was reserved for players who were members of French clubs. Later in 1925, the competition was opened to players from different countries, and the French Open was born. In 1968, the 'French Championships' as it was called until then became the first Grand Slam to allow both amateurs and professionals to compete.

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Most Roland-Garros titles won in the Open era ft. Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Chris Evert

One of the four major tennis events, the French Open or Roland Garros is considered to be the toughest of all the Grand Slams. However, that hasn't stopped some winners to bag the title on multiple occassions.

In Men's tennis, 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal is the player with the most French Open titles in the Open era. The Spaniard has won the event an astonishing 14 times in his career. He last won the competition in 2022. In second place is 67-year-old Bjorn Borg from Sweden.

Rafael Nadal Photocall After French Open Victory

The 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic and Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl and Gustavo Kuerten have managed to win the competition 3 times each.

In the women's category, the record for most Roland-Garros wins is held by Chris Evert of the US, who has won the French Open seven times. Another great player from her era, Steffi Graph also managed to win the competition six times.