After Wimbledon, the French Open Championship, to be played from May 22 to June 5 at Roland Garros, is probably the most coveted Tennis Grand Slam title. It is considered the unofficial World Championship on clay and is one of the oldest tournament in the sport. After the success of the “Sunday start” in the last five years, eight extra matches are programmed for this year bringing the total to 32, with 16 men’s singles and 16 women’s singles. The history of the championship dates back to 1891 when the first meet was held in the sports society of the Ile de Puteaux in Sience near Paris. The championship for women was first held in 1897 and F.
Masson emerged the first champion. Australian Jack Crawford was the first foreigner to win French Open when claimed it in 1933.French Open was the first Grand Slam tournament to join the “Open” era in 1968, and since then many tennis greats have graced the famous clay courts, including Björn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander and Gustavo Kuerten. Home fans will never forget 1983, the year Yannick Noah became the first, and so far only Frenchman to win the men’s singles title. For the first time in recent years Rafael Nadal does not go into Roland Garros as the stand-out favourite. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal’s bid to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six titles at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament will begin against John Isner.
Russian Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters of Belgium will start as favourites while Caroline Wozniacki will be desperate to translate her undoubted talents into a Grand Slam title run. Most titles: Australian Margaret Court holds the record of winning the highest number of titles at French Open. She has won the 13 titles between 1962 and 1973, comprising five singles, four women’s doubles and four mixed doubles. Most titles (Men): The record of most number of titles by a male player is held by Frenchman Henri Cochet who has won nine titles between 1926 and 1930, comprising four singles, three doubles and two mixed doubles.
Most singles titles: Sweden’s Bjorn Borg who won six titles between 1974 and 1986, held the record of winning the highest number of single titles in this championship.
Most women’s singles titles: The record of most woman’s single titles is held by Chris Evert of the United States. She won seven titles between 1974 and 1986.
Most men’s double titles: Frenchmen Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet hold the record of most men’s doubles titles. They have won three doubles titles between 1927 and 1932
Most women’s doubles titles : Shirly Fry and Doris Hart (both United States) have won four women’s double titles between 1950 and 1953 which is most in this championship.
Most men’s double titles (single): Australian Roy Emerson holds the record of most double titles. He has won six consecutive doubles titles with five different partners between 1960 and 1965.
Most women’s doubles titles (single): The record of most women’s double titles by a single player is held by American Martina Navratilova who has won seven women’s double titles with different partners between 1982 and 1988.
Most mixed doubles titles: Australian Ken Fletcher and Margaret Smith hold the record of most mixed double titles. They have won three titles between 1963 and 1965.
Youngest champion: The youngest men’s champion was Michael Chang of the United States. He won the men’s single titles in 1989 when he was 17 year and three month old. The youngest women’s champion was American Monica Seles. She was 16 years and six month old when she won the women’s single title in 1990.
Oldest champion: The oldest champion was Andres Gimeno of Spain. He won the only title in 1972 at 34 years and 10 months. The oldest women’s champion was Zsuzsi Kormoczy of Hungary. She was 33 years old when she won the only title in 1958.
