Why exactly people are always calling Roland Garros the French Open?

[LeoR]

I think it's strange.

It would be like calling Wimbledon the English Open. That does not sound right.

The US Open and the Australian Open are naming themselves like that, so that's their official name, while Roland Garros is named Roland Garros and never references itself as "the french open" other than a surname who is just a way to americanize the tournament and its name.

I think that a tournament so big and with its history should be named by its own name, like Wimbledon.

Not a big deal anyway, but just a question and a remark.

 

[Mustard]

Roland Garros is the name of the place where the tournament takes place, not the tournament itself. And the French Open could even move from Roland Garros in the near future if some rumours are to be believed.

 

[Limpinhitter]

If Mr. Garros were still alive, I think he'd be pretty pissed about it.

 

[Blinkism]

Wimbledon's name isn't officially "Wimbledon", either. It's "The Championships".

 

[LeoR]

Roland Garros is the name of the place where the tournament takes place, not the tournament itself. And the French Open could even move from Roland Garros in the near future if some rumours are to be believed.

No. The place is the stadium of Roland garros but the complete name of the tournament is "Internationaux de France de Roland Garros" in French, and it is always referred as Roland Garros.

French Open, or his french version, Open de France, does not exist really. It's the name of a golf tournament.

I just thought it was odd to call Roland Garros the french open while Wimbledon was not named the english open.

 

[Mustard]

Australian Open
French Open
Wimbledon
US Open

Those are the 4 majors in tennis, and there's absolutely no need to complicate things, whatever the "traditionalists" and "sponsors" say.

 

[LeoR]

Wimbledon's name isn't officially "Wimbledon", either. It's "The Championships".

Fair enough

 

[kishnabe]

I think it's strange.

It would be like calling Wimbledon the English Open. That does not sound right.

The US Open and the Australian Open are naming themselves like that, so that's their official name, while Roland Garros is named Roland Garros and never references itself as "the french open" other than a surname who is just a way to americanize the tournament and its name.

I think that a tournament so big and with its history should be named by its own name, like Wimbledon.

Not a big deal anyway, but just a question and a remark.

Australian Open-Oceanic Open
Roland Garros- French Open
Wimbledon- British Open
US open- American Championships

 

[OrangeOne]

Roland Garros is the name of the place where the tournament takes place, not the tournament itself.

Incorrect - it's the name of both. Just as Wimbledon is!

 

[Moose Malloy]

I think that a tournament so big and with its history should be named by its own name

It wasn't so big when they actually added a sponsor's name to it in the early 70s(much like the former Marlboro Australian Open. or the former Ford Australian Open)

 

[FedExpress117]

Well when I was actually there last month, the French were referring to it as Roland Garros. It makes sense to you guys because you all say it in English, but to the rest of the world, a universal name like Roland Garros might be more appropriate [similar to how anyone can say Wimbledon, but to say something like the US Open, you have to implement an English word if saying it from another language]. Just my two cents.

Plus, the actual place is called something like Roland Garros national tennis center..

 

[timnz]

Forest Hills

For many years (up to 1977) people referred to the US Open as 'Forest Hills'. You see in many historical biographies and old newsclipping about how so and so player did at 'Forest Hills'.

There is a tendency to name an event after the place it is played.

Wimbledon isn't the official name..... but it has been called Wimbledon because of the place name for so long - that people just refer to it as Wimbledon. Similarly in France - people just refer to the French Open as 'Roland Garros' - you will hardly hear of them calling it the 'French Open'. If the US Open was still played at Forest Hills - I am sure that you would still hear people referring to the event as 'Forest Hills'.

 

[namui]

Checked with www.frenchopen.org and www.frenchopen.com
and both turned out to be
www.rolandgarros.com (Roland Garros official page) and with web page titled "Roland Garros - The 2010 French Open - Official Site by IBM"

I think the host also called it both ways.

 

[meg0529]

For many years (up to 1977) people referred to the US Open as 'Forest Hills'. You see in many historical biographies and old newsclipping about how so and so player did at 'Forest Hills'.

There is a tendency to name an event after the place it is played.

Wimbledon isn't the official name..... but it has been called Wimbledon because of the place name for so long - that people just refer to it as Wimbledon. Similarly in France - people just refer to the French Open as 'Roland Garros' - you will hardly hear of them calling it the 'French Open'. If the US Open was still played at Forest Hills - I am sure that you would still hear people referring to the event as 'Forest Hills'.

The best part is that the US Open isn't played in Forest hills :lol:

 

[Grass_for_cows]

because it's in France.

 

[The Baseline]

its roland garros, the 3rd best major of the year.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Before "open" tennis in 1968, the U.S. Open was called The U.S. Nationals or The U.S. National Championship. Does anyone know what the French Open was called before 1968?

 

[meg0529]

Before "open" tennis in 1968, the U.S. Open was called The U.S. Nationals or The U.S. National Championship. Does anyone know what the French Open was called before 1968?

The French Championships! Do I get a prize?

 

[LeoR]

Australian Open-Oceanic Open
Roland Garros- French Open
Wimbledon- British Open
US open- American Championships

According to your list, Roland Garros is the only one called by his second name instead of its true name.

 

[LeoR]

Well when I was actually there last month, the French were referring to it as Roland Garros. It makes sense to you guys because you all say it in English, but to the rest of the world, a universal name like Roland Garros might be more appropriate [similar to how anyone can say Wimbledon, but to say something like the US Open, you have to implement an English word if saying it from another language]. Just my two cents.

Plus, the actual place is called something like Roland Garros national tennis center..

I see it like that. Roland Garros is a better name, like Wimbledon instead of English or British Open.

 

[sdont]

Fair enough

This. Roland Garros is the true name of the tournament.

For some reason, I think it's mainly in the US that people call it "the French Open".

 

[timnz]

US Open at Forest Hills - sure was

The best part is that the US Open isn't played in Forest hills :lol:

It was until 1977 - please read the whole quote.

 

[LeoR]

This. Roland Garros is the true name of the tournament.

For some reason, I think it's mainly in the US that people call it "the French Open".

Are they hating on the only non english speaking slam?

 

[OKUSA]

Roland Garros is such a cool name, don't know why you would want a bland "French Open" name

 

[yellow ball player]

maybe french open is easier to pronounce.

just that when i got to the US, i felt like i lost all my credibility because i never heard of the french open before."is this guy a joke?he is into tennis but doesn't know about one of the biggest tennis tournament in the world".that was wakward.

 

[BreakPoint]

The best part is that the US Open isn't played in Forest hills :lol:

Well, not anymore. The US Open was moved from Forest Hills to Flushing Meadows in 1978 when the USTA built the new National Tennis Center.

 

[ThreadintheNeedle]

French Open sounds rookie.

 

[meg0529]

It was until 1977 - please read the whole quote.

I wasn't making fun of you! lol, I missed the "until 1977" part. Selective reading

 

[meg0529]

Well, not anymore. The US Open was moved from Forest Hills to Flushing Meadows in 1978 when the USTA built the new National Tennis Center.

Thx! Got it!

 

[Murrayfan31]

Americans don't like the French and want to make it a more bland sound.

 

[meg0529]

Americans don't like the French and want to make it a more bland sound.

We don't do it w/o reason =D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmLwnSXNpFU&feature=related

Thsi also shows that even the french don't like the french. Why else would they give him the wrong answer?

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Phillipe Chartier in the house......?

....semantical "cluster phuck" between knee-jerk yank bashing and others (some) who possess an historical (learned) perspective (and knowledge) of tennis...

...carry on....

All who've "been there" ....OFTEN.....Roland Garros, French Open or otherwise?......pls., raise their hands?

... hmmm, I didn't think so.....

 

[r2473]

It's called:

"The Nadal Open"


(Formerly known as "The Borg Open")

 

[MasturB]

Most of ESPN's American tennis analysts will say Roland Garros...

I like the alliteration of "The Red Clay of Roland Garros".

Has a nice ring to it.

I think it's really a tradition thing.

The Championships at Wimbledon
Roland Garros, etc.

I mean here in the states we say "he won Indian Wells!". Nobody ever said Pacific Life or now BNP Paribas open. Some people say Key Biscayne or Miami, instead of Sony Ericcson Open.

They call it the Australian, but a lot of people refer to it as "he/she won down-under/Melbourne".

I've heard people say US Open mainly because it's faster and easier to say it than Flushing Meadows, but some people just say New York.

Me personally, I used to just call it "the French", but now I actually say Roland Garros, as it makes me sound more tennis intellectual.

 

[batz]

As a slight aside, it's interesting to note how societies change over the years. Can you imagine a new tennis facility today being named after a famous fighter pilot?

 

[MasturB]

As a slight aside, it's interesting to note how societies change over the years. Can you imagine a new tennis facility today being named after a famous fighter pilot?

lol yeah. If you have a new tennis facility, it pretty much has to be named after someone tennis-related... or unless it's a multi-millionaire who donated a bunch of money for the facility to be made.

 

[LeoR]

So we all agree now to call it Roland Garros?

 

[vortex1]

They should take away RG from France and give it to Spain. That way Rafa can finally get some respect as he's crushing clowns left and right on his way to a 6th title next year.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

They should take away RG from France and give it to Spain. That way Rafa can finally get some respect as he's crushing mugs left and right on his way to a 6th title next year.

can you actually write one sentence without using the word mug?

 

[vortex1]

can you actually write one sentence without using the word mug?

I edited my post to make you happy.

 

[LeoR]

They should take away RG from France and give it to Spain. That way Rafa can finally get some respect as he's crushing clowns left and right on his way to a 6th title next year.

Go away troll.

RG is owned by the french federation.

 

[rovex]

Huh? Roland Garros was the name of a soldier in world war 1 if i can remember.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

I edited my post to make you happy.

now that is much more respectfull way to treat millionaires like sod or berd.

thanks Tiger-Jordan-Scumacher-Messi

 

[Nuke]

Can you imagine a new tennis facility today being named after a famous fighter pilot?

I can imagine a stadium at the US Open named after musician Louis Armstrong.

 

[OKUSA]

la terre bateau

 

[rovex]

la terre battue

Why would you speak of beaten ground?

 

[LeoR]

la terre bateau

I think you meant battue. bateau = boat

 

[OKUSA]

you're right, i could never figure out how to spell it

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

If Mr. Garros were still alive, I think he'd be pretty pissed about it.

well, if his plane hadn't been shot down, the stadium would probably have been named differently...

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Around here, we just refer to it as "the French".

I think it's strange.

It would be like calling Wimbledon the English Open. That does not sound right.

The US Open and the Australian Open are naming themselves like that, so that's their official name, while Roland Garros is named Roland Garros and never references itself as "the french open" other than a surname who is just a way to americanize the tournament and its name.

I think that a tournament so big and with its history should be named by its own name, like Wimbledon...

Not read all the replies, so I don't know if this has already been said but Wimbledon is actually The Championships, Wimbledon. If you want to get technical, the FO (or RG) should be referred to as Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or as Tournoi de Roland-Garros. As these are both a mouthful, I'll just refer to it as "the French".