Why is French Open played on clay?

The French Open uses clay courts, the only Grand Slam tournament to do so. Although less expensive to construct than other types of tennis courts, the maintenance costs of clay are high as the surface must be rolled to preserve flatness.

Is Roland Garros clay court?

The tournament and venue are named after the French aviator Roland Garros. The French Open is the premier clay court championship in the world. It is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments. The other three are the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

What is under the clay at Roland Garros?

The earth is covered with a total of five layers each around 80 centimetres in depth: the first is made up of stones, followed by gravel, clinker (volcanic residue), limestone and finally a thin layer of crushed brick about two millimetres thick, giving the courts their ochre hue.

Who is the best clay court tennis player of all time?

Immediately before Rafa Nadal began to shatter all sorts of clay court records, the best clay-court player in the world was a Brazilian named Gustavo Kuerten. Kuerten was almost unbeatable on the red clay in the late 90s and early 2000s. In all, he claimed three French Open titles; 1997, 2000, and 2001.

Why is the French Open played on clay?

The French Open takes place at the end of May through to early June and marks the end of the “clay court season”; a period during which a number of European clay court tournaments are held. Clay is a much slower playing surface than the alternatives, a factor that leads to generally longer matches and more physically intense battles.

Which is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held on clay?

It is the premier clay court tennis championship tournament in the world and the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments, the other three being the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. The French Open is currently the only Grand Slam tournament held on clay, and it is the conclusion of the spring clay court season.

Where was the first French Open tennis tournament held?

Another clay court tournament, called the World Hard Court Championships, is sometimes considered the true precursor to the modern French Open as it admitted international competitors. This was held at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud, Paris from 1912 to 1914, 1920, 1921 and 1923, with the 1922 event held in Brussels, Belgium.

When does the French Open start and end?

The French Open takes place at the end of May through to early June and marks the end of the “clay court season”; a period during which a number of European clay court tournaments are held.