The French Open is steeped in tradition (Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The French Open will be centre stage of the tennis world over the next fortnight.
The tournament remains the only Grand Slam to be played on clay and the usual cast of the best players in the world have assembled in Paris to contest the silverware – aside from the injured Rafael Nadal.
Those tuning into the action on TV from home will likely notice the tournament is often referred to as Roland-Garros.
But why exactly is the French Open known as Roland-Garros and what is the history behind the name?
Here is everything you need to know.
Why is the French Open known as Roland-Garros?
The French Open takes its name from French aviator Roland Garros, who was the first person to fly across the Mediterranean in 1913.
Having achieved his historic feat, Garros put his expertise to good use during the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and came up with a pioneering way of attaching machine guns to planes.
Garros made history in the skies (Picture: Branger/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Garros also flew in the war as a fighter pilot but he was captured in 1915.
He spent the next three years as a prisoner which saw him struggle with his health.
But upon his release, he returned almost immediately to the skies.
A brave decision it certainly was, but not too surprising given he had inscribed on his plane: ‘Victory belongs to the most persevering’.
However, Garros was killed in battle in October 1918 – agonisingly just weeks before the end of the war and only one day before his 30th birthday.
The tournament itself was established in 1928 to preserve France’s tennis heritage after the county won the Davis Cup the previous year.
Emile Lesueur, president of Stade Francais at the time, asked for the venue to be named after his former classmate Garros.
As such, the French Open is named after Garros in celebration of his innovation and determination.
Garros also has an airport named after him on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.
Catch coverage of the 2023 French Open on Eurosport 1 and 2. It is also available to stream for discovery+ members.
MORE : Martina Navratilova names three French Open favourites amid key injury update
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A touching tribute.
