Aren’t you curious on how the Roland Garros Tournament came also to be known as the French Open Tournament? To know about it, how about taking a tour back in time? Not an actual tour, just a virtual one. Tennis was only imported to France way back in the latter part of the 19th century. It was only a national event that time but in 1925 it was established as an international event. It was after World War I that French tennis gained attention. It was the victory of four Frenchmen – Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra, Henri Crochet and Rene Lacoste, against America in 1927 that necessitated a new stadium for games to be held.

The new stadium was built on a site right in the heart of Paris. The new stadium sits on three-hectares of land. The founders during that time decided to name the stadium after the French heroic wartime aviator Roland Garros hence the event came to be known as Roland Garros Tournament or French Open. This French playing court is very different from other courts because it is made with red clay, a substance that makes the ball slow down during play.

From that time on Roland Garros Tournament has produced a lot of winners the latest is this year with Rafael Nadal emerging as the winner in the Men’s Division and Belgian Player Justine Henin for the Women’s Division.