The French Open - Roland Garros

The French Open

Roland-Garros

Hello boys and girls or as in French they say “Bonjour les garçons et les filles”. It’s less than a week passed since the most prestigious tennis tournament came to end. The memoir of this great event seems not to leave my mind. Let me take you back in past, so that you can see through my eyes and experience this joyous ride of tennis arcade called the French Open, popularly  known as Roland-Garros.

Roland Garros

"The French Open"

(French: Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros, named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros) is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May and early June in Paris, France, at the Stade Roland Garros. It is the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world and the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments – the other three are the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon. Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam still held on clay and ends the spring clay court season.

Roland Garros

It is one of the most prestigious events in tennis, and it has the widest worldwide broadcasting and audience of all regular events in this sport. Because of the slow playing surface and the five-set men's singles matches without a tiebreak in the final set, the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world.

Roland Garros

For Dummies, Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs.

Paris - Roland Garros

Going back in history, A French national tournament began in 1891; this was open only to tennis players who were members of French clubs. It was known as the Championnat de France, which is commonly referred to in English as the French Closed Championships. The first women's tournament was held in 1897. This "French club members only" tournament was played until 1924. This tournament had four venues during those years:

►Île de Puteaux, in Puteaux, played on sand laid out on a bed of rubble.

►The Racing Club de France (in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris), played on clay.

►For one year, 1909, it was played at the Société Athlétique de la Villa Primrose in Bordeaux, on clay.

►Tennis Club de Paris, at Auteuil, Paris, played on clay.

Roland Garros

In 1925, the French Championships became open to all amateurs internationally. From 1945 through 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon, making it the third Grand Slam event of the year. In 1968, the French Championships became the first Grand Slam tournament to go open, allowing both amateurs and professionals to compete. In another novelty, since 2006 the tournament has begun on a Sunday, featuring 12 singles matches played on the three main courts. Additionally, on the eve of the tournament's opening, the traditional Benny Berthet exhibition day takes place, where the profits go to different charity associations. In March 2007, it was announced that the event would provide equal prize money for both men and women in all rounds for the first time. In 2010, it was announced that the French Open was considering a move away from Roland Garros as part of a continuing rejuvenation of the tournament.

Roland Garros Clay Surface

Talking about the Surface characteristics, Clay courts slow down the ball and produce a high bounce when compared to grass courts or hard courts. For this reason, clay courts take away some of the advantages of big serves and serve-and-volleyers, which makes it hard for serve-based players to dominate on the surface. For example, Pete Sampras, a player known for his huge serve, never won the French Open (nor even advanced to the final) in his entire career. Many players who have won multiple Grand Slam events have never won the French Open, including John McEnroe, Venus Williams, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, and Maria Sharapova. Andy Roddick, who holds the record for the second-fastest serve (249 km/hr) in the history of professional tennis, has never advanced past the fourth round.

On the other hand, players whose games are more suited to slower surfaces, such as Björn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Rafael Nadal, and Mats Wilander, and on the women's side Justine Henin, have found great success at this tournament. In the open era, the only male players who have won both the French Open and Wimbledon, played on faster grass courts, are Rod Laver, Jan Kodeš, Björn Borg,Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Roland Garros

So now let’s talk about the latest French open 2011 (May 17 – Jun 5) – which was a blend of glamour and talent showcased on the grounds of Paris, France. And you know if it’s Paris it’s going to be fiery, spicy and hot but when combined with tennis, it has the highest glam quotient! French Open 2011 was full of tension and drama, it was yet another beautiful season of Roland Garros. The players this year showed some of the great matches. I loved all the games especially the Men's Single final between the Tennis Titans Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Titans

Like every year this year also there was a blend of fashion and talent seen on the the court. Fashion Parade this time @ French Open 2011.

♦ Hottest Dressed ♦

Maria Sharapova

Well I have to say this girl was responsible for the initial high temperatured days of French open 2011. She cracked it like always! The Russian lass was seen wearing a bright yellow dress on a sunny day. It was pretty decent and classy at the same time very much acceptable for the fashion police.

Gael Monfils

 I know, I know he has been the most consistent one on the worst dressed list each time, but finally he has made us realize that Gael is not Gael without those sleeveless, ridiculous patterned tees.

Klara Zakopalova

 She was outstanding, innovating and acted as a heartbeat raiser this time when she hit the grounds with a sky-blue colored tennis tee along with a navy blue shirt with shorts beneath.

Roger Federer

 He looks hot as always in that simple classy look of his own. He is the tennis fashion god!!

Victoria Azarenka

 Caroline learns how to carry these ruffly outfits from Victoria. She did it the right way. An example of how ruffles can work nicely on a tennis skirt. Way to go, Victoria!

Maria Kirilenko

She is doing a great job and i hope she keeps on doing it. This time it was about the neon racquet string which brings in the innovative side of hers as is the Karate Kid headband.

♦ Worst Dressed ♦

Juan Ignacio Chela

 Well, it looked more like a T-shirt of some science crazy student showcasing some DNA sample on his shirt with in a tacky green color. What a mess!

Elena Vesnina

She tried to be more on the safer side by wearing out the normal expected tennis outfits. She went out for the always-good-to-go color themes such as blue-whites and black-whites. Much more was expected of her.

Sania Mirza

She has always been considered the leading female tennis star in India and people have always appreciated her efforts followed by some controversies though. But this time we didn’ t have the chance to see any of her innovative side as she failed to cross 2nd round only. Better luck next time Sania!

Kim Clisjters

What happened to you girl? It looks like you went into a Barbie palace and was in a hurry and picked up that pink and purple outfit. Though the haircut is good.

Caroline Woznaicki

What’s up with that ruffly untidy thing on you?? Oh! That’s your dress! I must therefore, conclude that you’re not too good with your fashion sense. Try something sensible.

Beautiful Moments :

Celebs, Eye Candies and Fans @ The French Open

Bradley Cooper at French Open

Eye Candie : Salma Hayek @ the French Open

Bar Refaeli Watches the French Open

Pippa Middleton at the French Open

Bar Refaeli Watches the French Open

The Republic Guard gives a fine performance before the men's final

The Swiss fans are ready to cheer their man on!

Nadal Fans

Autograph hunters looking to add to their collection

Eye Candie : Salma Hayek @ the French Open

The Winners: 

French Open Trophies

French Open Final Winners can be categorized  in 4 major categories as given below:

Event: 2011 Men's Singles

Champion: Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Rafael Nadal (Spain) won his sixth French Open title, and the tenth slam title of his career.

Runner-up:  Roger Federer (Switzerland)  

Final Score: 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1

 Event: 2011 Women's Singles

Champion: Li Na (China)

Li Na (China) won her first-ever Grand Slam tennis singles title, and the first-ever Grand Slam title for Asia and China.

Runner-up:  Francesca Schiavone (Italy)  

Final Score: 6–4, 7–6(7–0)

 Event: 2011 Men's Doubles

Champion: Daniel Nestor (Canada) | Max Mirnyi (Belarus)

Daniel Nestor (Canada) was part of the winning men's doubles team. Nestor won his third French Open Men's Doubles title, and the seventh slam title in that discipline.

Max Mirnyi (Belarus) was part of the winning men's doubles team. Max Mirnyi won his second French Open Men's Doubles title, and fourth slam title in that discipline.

Runner-up:  Juan Sebastián Cabal (Colombia) | Eduardo Schwank (Argentina)   

 Final Score: 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–4

Event: 2011 Women's Doubles

Champion: Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Republic) | Lucie Hradecká (Czech Republic)

Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Republic) was a member of the victorious Women's Doubles team, claiming her first Grand Slam title. She and her partner were unseeded in the Women's Doubles draw.

Lucie Hradecká (Czech Republic) was a member of the victorious Women's Doubles team, claiming her first Grand Slam title. She and her partner were unseeded in the Women's Doubles draw.

Runner-up:  Sania Mirza (India) | Elena Vesnina (Russia)   

Final Score: 6–4, 6–3

Event: 2011 Mixed Doubles

Champion: Casey Dellacqua (Australia) | Scott Lipsky (United States)

Casey Dellacqua (Australia) was part of the winning mixed doubles team. Srebotnik won her first French Open Mixed Doubles title, and the first slam title in mixed doubles.

Scott Lipsky (United States) was part of the winning mixed doubles team. Lipsky won his first French Open Mixed Doubles title, and his first slam title in mixed doubles.

Runner-up:  Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) | Nenad Zimonjić (Serbia)   

Final Score: 7–6(8–6), 4–6, [10–7]

So this bring to the end of this years French Open, one of my favorite Grand Slam. It was as much an ordeal as a spectacle; an emotional roller coaster and in the end there was a villain and a hero, tears and tantrums, then laughter and all was forgiven. Ending this post with the winning speech of the World number one Rafael Nadal.

"The real Rafa is both the Rafa who wins and the Rafa who plays well and the Rafa who suffers and doesn't play that well. You have to face this situation. You also have a Rafa that plays very well and wins. These two Rafas are real Rafas."

World number one Rafael Nadal after winning his sixth French Open title.

See you next year!

(Inputs from http://en.wikipedia.org)

(Pictures: Google)

Special thanks to 

http://www.rolandgarros.com

REGARDZ:

SUNNY DHANOE

11:31 PM