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The French Open, officially the Tournoi de Roland-Garros (English: Roland Garros Tournament), is a tennis event held from the middle of May to the beginning of June in Paris, France, and is the second of the world's Grand Slam tournaments.

The French Open began as a national tournament in 1891. In 1925, the French Championships opened itself to international competitors with the event held on a grass surface alternatively between the Racing Club de France and the Stade Français. For the 1928 Davis Cup challenge, a new tennis stadium was built at Porte d’Auteuil. Named for a hero of World War I, the new Stade Roland Garros was built with a red clay ( terre battu ) playing surface, one which alters the ball's bounce and the player's approach to the match vis-à-vis grass courts. As such, over the years, clay court specialists have evolved who often succeed here whilst higher ranked players may struggle like the great champion Pete Sampras who won every other Grand Slam several times but never the French Open.

In 1968 the French championship became the first Grand Slam tournament to go "open," allowing both amateurs and professionals to compete.

Men's record holders for most open-era wins:

• All competitions: Henri Cochet (France), 9 titles (4 singles, 3 doubles, 2 mixed doubles titles)
• Singles: Björn Borg (Sweden), 6
• Consecutive singles titles: Björn Borg, 4
• Doubles: Roy Emerson (Australia), 6

Ladies' record holders for most open-era wins:

• All competitions: Margaret Smith Court (Australia), 13 (5 singles, 4 doubles, 4 mixed doubles titles)
• Singles: Chris EvertChristine Marie Evert (born December 21, 1954) is a professional tennis player. Born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, her father was a professional tennis player who encouraged her to play the game. Under her father's tutelage, she developed her skills quickly (USA), 7; Steffi GrafStefanie Maria Graf (born June 14, 1969), known almost universally as Steffi Graf is a former German pro tennis player, and is considered one of the greatest female players in history. Born in Mannheim, she won 22 Grand Slam titles in her great career. (Germany), 6
• Consecutive singles titles: Helen Wills MoodyHelen Wills Moody ( October 6, 1905 January 1, 1998) was one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time, dominating the 1920s and 1930s. She won 31 major titles (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) over her career, including seven U. singles cham (USA), Hilde Sperling (Germany) and Monica SelesMonica Seles (born December 2, 1973), originally Monika Sele is an accomplished female tennis player winner of many competitions including nine Grand Slam titles. Seles was born in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Vojvodina, Serbia and Montenegro). She is an eth (Yugoslavia), 3
• Doubles: Martina NavratilovaMartina Navratilov (born October 18, 1956) is a Czech-born American tennis player. She played on the WTA Tour, competing in singles from 1973 until 1994. She won 18 major singles titles from 1978-1990 (including nine at Wimbledon, winning six in a row fro (Czechoslovakia/USA), 7