21 Reasons For Tennis Virgins To Fall In Love With The French Open

Like Wimbledon, but with croissants and MUD.

1. The French Open, or 'Roland Garros', is the second major tennis event of the year

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There are a total of four "Grand Slams" every year: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.

2. For two weeks tennis descends on Paris and...gets dirty

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Save your tennis-whites for Wimbledon, this is all about getting covered in the red stuff. (Clay. It's clay.)

3. This annual tennis slip 'n slide is only for the sure-footed

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You can't just stand and swing - it's time to skid your way to victory.

4. Ain't nobody afraid of a few raindrops here

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"Hey, grass courts, you scared of our hose pipes?"

5. There's no 'Hawkeye' to make the calls for you

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It's all down to marks in the dust and a good old fashioned player vs. umpire face-off.

6. You really, really don't want to annoy the crowd...

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The Parisian crowd has been known to bring players to tears - best behaviour is advised.

7. ...unless you're willing to shout right back

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"Allez! Up your f***ing ass!" - Sharapova, Maria

8. Still, there will be a certain elegance about the affair

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This is the city of art and romance, after all.

9. Roland Garros is easily the most photogenic of the slams

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Red really is your colour, tennis.

10. For a decade, Rafael Nadal has reigned as King here

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Since 2005 he's only lost one match at Roland Garros...pretty good, Rafa.

11. Still, a lot of people think 2015 will be the year of Novak

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Novak Djokovic has won every major except this one - he REALLY wants it.

12. Andy Murray won the most clay titles this year but NOBODY thinks he'll win

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That would just be WEIRD on clay, okay? But it would be nice for him to get a prettier trophy than this...thing.

13. Maria "Claypova" Sharapova is the defending women's champion

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The woman who once described herself as a "cow on ice" on clay sure has gotten a feel for it.

14. She'll face stiff competition from her eternal nemesis, Serena Williams

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There's very few left who question that Serena is the greatest player to have ever graced the courts.

15. There's bound to be a few shock wins along the way, too

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You never know which young player might take their first step to stardom here

16. If you've never really fallen for tennis, this is where you should start...

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Lots of tennis fans were first hooked by the beauty and drama of Paris

17. ...because the tennis at Roland Garros is ALWAYS incredible

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Also it's often pretty dangerous, which makes it even more FUN.

18. No but really the tennis is as good as it gets

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Ah, the fabled 'tweener' - attempted by many, accomplished by few.

19. The players will keep trying even when they can walk no longer

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Nobody said it was easy chasing your dreams!

20. So you'd better limber up ready for the drama

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Roland Garros begins Sunday, May 24th and runs for two weeks

21. After two gruelling weeks, great champions will be crowned

Via welovetennis.fr

It's a truly magical thing.