Roland Garros (October 6, 1888 – October 5, 1918) was a French fighter pilot who is still erroneously called the world’s first fighter ace. (That honor went to another French airman, Adolphe Pegoud.)
Garros was already a noted aviator before the war. In 1913 he gained fame for making the first nonstop flight across the Mediterranean. The next year he joined the French army at the outbreak of World War I. After several missions he decided that shooting and flying at the same time was too difficult, so he fitted a machine gun to the front of his plane so the tasks became one and the same. In order to protect the propeller from the bullets, he fitted metal wedges to the prop. He soon shot down three German planes and quickly garnered an excellent reputation.
On April 18th, 1915, he was shot down and glided to a landing on the German side of the lines. After examining his plane Anthony Fokker designed an improved system known as the interrupter gear. Soon the tables were reversed with Fokker’s planes shooting down every plane they met, leading to what became known as the Fokker Scourge.
Garros managed to escape from Germany and joined the French army again. On October 5th, 1918, he was shot down again and killed near Vouziers.
In the 1920s, a tennis centre was named after the pilot, Stade de Roland Garros. The stadium accommodates the French Open, one of tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments. Held from the middle of May to the beginning of June in Paris, France, what is popularly and officially called Roland Garros, is the second of the world’s Grand Slam in tennis tournaments.
The tournament itself started on 1891 and has been held every year since.
The most unique characteristic of the French Open is the red clay surface, one which alters the ball’s bounce and the player’s approach to the match.
Winners :
| Year held | Singles Men | Singles Women |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 |
Gaston Gaudio Juan Carlos Ferrero Albert Costa Gustavo Kuerten Gustavo Kuerten Andre Agassi Carlos Moya Gustavo Kuerten Yevgeny Kafelnikov Thomas Muster Sergi Bruguera Sergi Bruguera Jim Courier Jim Courier Andres Gomez Michael Chang Mats Wilander Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Mats Wilander Ivan Lendl Yannick Noah Mats Wilander Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Borg Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas Adriano Panatta Björn Borg Björn Borg Ilie Nastase Andres Gimeno Jan Kodes Jan Kodes Rod Laver Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Tony Roche Fred Stolle Manuel Santana Roy Emerson Rod Laver Manuel Santana Nicola Pietrangeli Nicola Pietrangeli Mervyn Rose Sven Davidson Lew Hoad Tony Trabert Tony Trabert Ken Rosewall Jaroslav Drobny Jaroslav Drobny Budge Patty Frank Parker Frank Parker Joseph Asboth Marcel Bernard Yvon Petra Yvon Petra Yvon Petra Bernard Destremau Bernard Destremau not held Don McNeill Don Budge Henner Henkel Gottfried von Cramm Fred Perry Gottfried von Cramm John Crawford Henri Cochet Jean Borotra Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste |
Anastasia Myskina Justine Henin-Hardenne Serena Williams Jennifer Capriati Mary Pierce Steffi Graf Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Iva Majoli Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Steffi Graf Monica Seles Monica Seles Monica Seles Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Chris Evert Chris Evert Martina Navratilova Chris Evert Martina Navratilova Hana Mandlikova Chris Evert Chris Evert Virginia Ruzici Mima Jausovec Sue Barker Chris Evert Chris Evert Margaret Smith Court Billie Jean King Evonne Goolagong Margaret Smith Court Margaret Smith Court Nancy Richey Francoise Durr Ann Haydon Jones Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ann Haydon Darlene Hard Christine Truman Zsuzsi Kormoczy Shirley Bloomer Althea Gibson Angela Mortimer Maureen Connolly Maureen Connolly Doris Hart Shirley Fry Doris Hart Margaret Osborne dupont Nelly Landry Patricia Todd Margaret Osborne not held not held not held not held not held not held Simone Mathieu Simone Mathieu Hilde Sperling Hilde Sperling Margaret Scriven Margaret Scriven Helen Wills Moody Cilly Ausem Helen Wills Moody Helen Wills Helen Wills Kea Bouman Suzanne Lenglen Suzanne Lenglen |