Why Is the French Open Also Called Roland Garros?

On the hallowed grounds of clay, where rallies stretch long and legends are born, lies the French Open – a dream whispered by every aspiring tennis player. Here, champions like Rafael Nadal, with his record-breaking 14 victories, and Chris Evert, the queen of clay with 7 titles, have etched their names into history. But the French Open holds another secret, a name that sparks curiosity – Roland-Garros. What story does this name hold?

The History of Roland-Garros

To commemorate France’s victory in the 1927 Davis Cup, Stade Francais built the stadium in order to preserve their success in tennis. The iconic venue has since become synonymous with the French Open, which is the only grand slam played on clay. Emile Lesueur, the president of Stade Francais, requested the name be kept after his former classmate, who had died during World War 1.

English speakers might call the tournament the ‘French Open’, but almost the entirety of the tennis world refers to it as the ‘Roland Garros’, including the event itself. However, neither is the original name of the tournament. Instead ‘Internationaux de France de tennis’ is the official name of the tournament in the local language.  

Why is it Called Roland-Garros?

The stadium was built to set France’s 1927 Davis Cup victory in stone and tell the world that France did not lack in the racquet sport. Lesueur’s request was granted, and the tournament signified the legacy of the French war hero and his former classmate, Roland Garros. French spelling requires places and/or events named after people to be hyphenated, hence the name Roland-Garros.

Who was Roland Garros And What Legacy Had He Left Behind?

Roland Garros was a great French aviator who gave his life in World War 1 in 1918. The war hero had little to no experience with tennis, instead Garros grew up playing rugby and football. At the age of 21, the Frenchman fell in love with planes and, four years later, in 1913, flew what is thought to be the world’s first flight over the Mediterranean.

His obsession with planes helped French aviators install a machine gun on the vehicle, which synchronized the fire rate to the propellers. Despite being taken prisoner in 1915, taking three years to be released and being in poor health, he opted to return to fighting right away. He had the quote, “Victory belongs to the most persevering“, inscribed on his planes’ propellers, a befitting quote for a clay tournament.  

Along with the French Open memorial, an airport on the French island of Réunion is named after him. Garros’ legacy has been solidified by the impact his persona left on his peers. Many believe a person dies for the second time when their name is forgotten, but for Garros, the grim reaper will never be able to take his second life.