The sporting event that captures the imagination of the entire world every year is back. From May 24th to June 7th the French Open tennis tournament at the Stade Roland Garros will present the titans of the tennis world clashing in matches of breathtaking skill and almost superhuman endurance as they strive for the glory of emerging triumphant on one of the world’s great sporting occasions. Book your seats and then allow the team of the Best Western Quartier Latin Pantheon to offer you an outstanding welcome and a tranquil place to relax from all the excitement.
Don’t miss this world class sporting event at Roland Garros
The Stade Roland Garros is one of the world’s finest tennis stadia. Built in 1928 as a venue for the famed Four Musketeers of French tennis, Jacques "Toto" Brugnon, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and René Lacoste, to defend the Davis Cup against the Americans, the stadium has been at the heart of tennis in France ever since. Named after the pioneering aviator who was the first to fly non-stop across the Mediterranean and who later died in aerial battle in the closing days of the First World War, the Stade Roland Garros embodies a wealth of history and has a fabulous atmosphere.
The excitement of the French Open
Although the French Open can trace its history all the way back to 1891, it wasn’t until the mid-1920s that it became the championship we know today. It is unique among the Grand Slam events of the tennis world in that it is played on clay. This carefully maintained surface is notorious for stretching players to the very limits of their capabilities and stamina. The ball slows and bounces high on this surface, favouring lengthy points and long matches, and thereby increasing the excitement for the spectators.
Rafael Nadal has dominated the Men’s Singles competition at Roland Garros for a decade. Known as the King of Clay, he is supreme on this surface, and has won eight out of the last nine finals here. However, this year his mastery is being beset by doubts. Now in his late 20s, he has recently struggled to overcome injury and illness. Can someone else seize his crown in 2015? Could it be Novak Djokovic who will finally bring the Spaniard low, or someone else entirely? The drama is about to begin. Make sure that you have a seat at courtside to watch the progress through the championships of the world’s greatest players.
While you’re at the Stade Roland Garros, you should not miss the Tennis Museum. If you’re at all interested in the history of tennis, you will love it. Amongst the permanent exhibits are the French Open perpetual trophies, an engrossing history of the stadium, a display of tennis attire and racquets dating back to the mid-19th century and a huge collection of photographs, films, documents and posters.
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French Open tennis tournament Rolland Garros :
01 47 43 51 11
Subway : Line 9 : Mairie de Montreuil - Pont de Sèvres (stations Michel-Ange Auteuil ou Michel-Ange Molitor)
Line 10 : Gare d'Austerlitz - Boulogne (stations Porte d'Auteuil ou Boulogne Jean-Jaurès)
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Picture copyright holder : Mathieu Lebreton on flickr.com
Best Western Quartier Latin Panthéon Hotel, a 3 star hotel Paris