Anyone for tennis?

I’m talking about watching, not playing! Here in France, I’m glued to the French Open, which is held at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris. As we’re in the grip of a heatwave, I have a valid reason to stay indoors and enjoy the tennis!

Did you know?

• Roland-Garros is located in Boulogne-Billancourt, the 16th arrondissement of Paris. In comparison with the other grand slams, Australian, US, and Wimbledon, Roland Garros is the smallest in terms of overall size. Within a 21-acre complex, there are 21 courts, a garden, a restaurant, a bar complex, and a history of tennis museum.

• It is the only Slam played on clay courts. According to the official Roland Garros website, the courts consist of layers of stone, gravel, clinker (volcanic residue), limestone, and a thin layer of crushed brick about two millimeters thick, giving the courts their famous colour.

• Originally, the use of clay was purely a practical consideration. In 1880, the Renshaw Brothers used powdered terra cotta to cover grass courts that were wilting in the heat of Cannes. 

• The stadium opened in 1928 and was renovated a few years ago. It was named after a famous French aviator and war hero, Roland-Garros, not a famous tennis player. However, the three main courts are named after celebrated players, Phillipe Chatrier, Suzanne Lenglen, and Simonne Mathieu.

• Roland-Garros is the only Grand Slam tournament to still use line judges. Players are not allowed to use electronic replays to challenge human decisions. This is partly because the French Open wishes to maintain tradition and is unwilling to relinquish the control line judges currently hold.

We are now approaching the start of the second week of the tournament. I have found it entertaining and exciting, with several top seeds being eliminated. As always, there has been controversy, too!

Paris has always been known for its haute couture and fashion prowess, but not necessarily at the French Open! Naomi Osaka, the Japanese player known for her love of fashion, hit the headlines with a gold sequin dress for her first-round match. It was topped with a long black skirt and a corset style beaded bodice.

For her second-round match, Naomi wore a gold bomber jacket with an attached ivory train. She kept the gold sequined dress to play in. Naomi is very involved with the design of her Nike outfits, with designer Kevin Germanier.

Since I started this post, Osaka reached the fourth round of the French Open. She was beaten by the number one seed, Aryna Sabalenka. Interestingly, this was the first time since 2023 that a primetime night-session spot has been played by women on Court Philippe Chatrier.

What do you think of Naomi’s outfits? I have read comments suggesting that a tennis tournament is not a fashion show, but isn’t Paris celebrated for its fashion status? I’d be interested to know your thoughts!