And so comes the culmination of the spring swing across the world’s clay.
The red stuff has held sway over the men and women since the hot and hard season peaked in Indian Wells and Miami—though a couple of rogue hard-court tournaments did eat into clay’s opening fortnight on the WTA schedule.
But April and May glow with terracotta through some of the most elegant and picturesque locations in the calendar, through three men’s Masters and two top-tier women’s Premiers from Monte Carlo to Madrid to Rome.
Finally they are all Paris-bound for perhaps the most sophisticated of the Grand Slams, the 12th tournament of the clay swing for the men, the 10th for the women.
But before the action begins in earnest, a little time to cast an eye over the history and heroes, the winners and records, that make this one of the sporting events of the year.
The firsts…
The first French Championships were played in 1891 and only by men who were members of French clubs. Nevertheless the first champion was a Briton, so little known that his first name still does not feature in the history books. He was, simply, H Brooks, and he happened to be a Paris resident.
The first women’s singles tournament came six years later, and was won by a French woman: It was Adine Masson’s first of five titles.
The French Championships became open to amateurs internationally in 1925, with Rene Lacoste beating Jean Borotra in the men’s event and Suzanne Lenglen winning the first of her six women’s titles. The tournament moved to the Roland Garros stadium in 1928.
In 1968, the French Championships became the first Grand Slam tournament to go Open. The first men’s champion was Ken Rosewall who beat Rod Laver: the following year the result was reversed, bring Laver his second calendar Grand Slam.
The first Open women’s champion was Nancy Richey, but the next year, Margaret Court won what would become a tally of five spanning 11 years.
The lasts…
Rafael Nadal, the defending men’s champion, has won a record eight singles titles. The only other man in this year’s draw to have won the Coupe des Mousquetaires is Roger Federer, who broke Nadal’s stranglehold by winning in 2009. However, it was Robin Soderling who recorded the only defeat over Nadal in 60 matches at Roland Garros.
Serena Williams is the defending women’s champion: She won in 2013, 11 years after her only other victory in 2002—when she beat her sister Venus. In between the two wins, only one woman has won more than once: Justine Henin, now retired, won the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen four times.
This year’s women’s draw therefore boasts six former French Open titlists. As well as Williams, they include Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Francesca Schiavone, Li Na and Maria Sharapova.
Chris Evert holds the women’s record with seven titles, the first in 1974 and the last in 1986.
More noteworthies…
Federer and Williams, both 32 years old, both hold 17 Grand Slams, and should they win in Paris, will join Evert and Martina Navratilova at fourth on the all-time list of Major titles.
A Grand Slam champion currently ranked in the top 10 is missing from both draws in Paris: Victoria Azarenka with foot injury and Juan Martin del Potro following wrist surgery.
The men’s draw features four other Grand Slam champions yet to win their first French title: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Lleyton Hewitt.
The women’s draw features three other Grand Slam champions yet to win their first French title: Petra Kvitova, Sam Stosur, Venus Williams.
Records over the years…
Youngest champion:
Michael Chang (1989): 17 years and 3 months
Monica Seles (1990): 16 years and 6 months
Oldest champion:
Andres Gimeno (1972): 34 years and 10 months
Zsuzsa Kormoczy (1958): 33 years
Top four seeds reaching semi-finals:
1984: John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl (winner), Jimmy Connors and Mats Wilander
1985: John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors and Mats Wilander (winner)
1992: Monica Seles (winner), Steffi Graf, Gabriela Sabatini and Arantxa Sanchez
2006: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal (winner), David Nalbandian and Ivan Ljubicic
2011: Rafael Nadal (winner), Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray
Top four seeds in 2014:
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer
Serena Williams, Li Na, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep
Did you know?
Each court at Roland Garros takes 1.1 tonnes of clay—1.5 tonnes for Philippe Chatrier;
Physiotherapists used 7km of adhesive tape on players during the 2013 tournament, while stringers used 46km of string;
60,000 balls are used each year during the three weeks of competition;
Number of spectators during 2013: 461,576