The French Open

The French Open is the biggest clay court event of the year, and is co-sanctioned by the WTA and ATP tours. As one of the four grand slam events held annually, the French Open attracts some of the biggest television and live audiences in tennis.

The French Open’s unique character is provided by the surface on which it takes place. Clay court play requires unique technical abilities and considerable stamina, with extended rallies translating into some of the lengthiest, most taxing matches in any grand slam.

French Open Betting

[odds]http://odds.gambling-guru.com/tennis/long-term-tennis-betting/french-open-2009/men/winner|French Open Men’s[/odds]

[odds]http://odds.gambling-guru.com/tennis/long-term-tennis-betting/french-open-2009/women/winner-2009|French Open Women’s[/odds]

As a grand slam event the French Open tennis tournament benefits from considerable media coverage, with a global audience tuning in to the event every year. The global interest in the French Open is reflected in the offers put up by online sportsbooks.

Fans can benefit from a wide selection of tennis bets during the French Open, including special ante-post tournament winner bets set up months prior to the event. Many online sportsbooks also offer great French Open betting specials, which give fans additional advantages when betting on this tournament.

French Open History

The French Open is traditionally known as the Roland Garros Tournament, in honour of the French World War 1 pilot of the same name. The first tournament was organised in 1891 as a national championship, with the games played on lawn.

By 1928 the French Open had moved onto clay and had started to draw an international field. In 1968 the annual tournament at the Stade de Roland Garros made history by becoming the first grand slam to feature professional players, marking the advent of the Open era.

French Open Winners

A French Open title is coveted by men’s and women’s tennis players alike. The complexities involved in winning on clay means that many players who dominate on other surfaces are unable to claim titles on clay.

As such, a win at the French Open is often the only thing standing between a top tennis player and a career Grand Slam of wins in all the biggest tournaments in tennis. Conversely, the French Open favours players who perform less well on the hard and fast surfaces used in other grand slams, with clay court specialists from Spain, France and Latin America doing particularly well in the tournament.

French Open Resources

Roland Garros
French Open Wikipedia
French Open Video Archives (French)