The French Open (also known as Roland-Garros) is one of the world’s foremost tennis tournaments, with fierce battles between the top players. This year’s open – May 20 to June 9, at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris—is the only tournament played on clay. It’s the second of four annual Grand Slam tournaments in the world, the others being the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Out of the four, the French Open is regarded as the most physically demanding tournament with the clay surface resulting in a slower pace, but a higher bounce to the ball.

THE CLAY CONUNDRUM

Many elite players of the past have never been able to conquer the French Open because of the clay court which slows down the ball and gives a heftier bounce than grass or hard courts. Big servers and serve-and-volleyers have a difficult time on clay. Pete Sampras, for instance, never won a French Open. The closest he ever came was getting to the semi-finals in 1996. Sampras was known for his mega serve. Many other elite players have won Grand Slam events, but never the French Open. They include:

• John McEnroe
• John Newcombe
• Frank Sedgman
• Venus Williams
• Stefan Edberg
• Boris Becker
• Lleyton Hewitt
• Jimmy Connors,
• Virginia Wade
• Louise Brough
• Martina Hingis

On the other hand, players known for doing better on slower surfaces had great outcomes in France. They include:

•  Rafael Nadal
• Björn Borg
• Ivan Lendl
• Mats Wilander
• Justine Henin
• Chris Evert

BIG NEWS

Familiar faces rewrote the history books and several players burst onto the scene. Novak Djokovic, despite the injuries, continues to win matches confidently. His former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, claimed; “When real Novak Djokovic arrives on the court, then the moment is nobody that can play with him.” Young Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils were a big surprise on the tennis court. This year will be very tense and challenging - will Novak Djokovic take the first place, or will youth win this time?

Although the tournament is reason enough to jet off to the City of Light, there are plenty of other reasons as well – the fine dining, the designer shopping, the museums, galleries and the list goes on…

There is one thing about which you never want to compromise and that is staying in first-class accommodations while in Paris. Townhouse La Maison on Ile Saint Germain in the middle of the Seine, is exclusively stunning and at the top of the list of Paris luxury homes. There is a vast reception room opening onto a large teak terrace. A focal swimming pool dominates the deck, embraced by lush gardens and Seine river access. A private boat directed by an experienced skipper beckons unforgettable moments.

At the same time, Penthouse Spencer belongs to the upscale Madeleine neighborhood of the famed eighth arrondissement. Its blend of contemporary chic luxury living and utmost comfort makes it an ideal vacation rental. A spacious rooftop terrace offers magical vistas of Paris’ most beloved cultural monuments and landmarks, where you can spend magical nights with a bottle of the finest wine. A serene private garden puts Penthouse Spencer in a league of its own, redefining luxury highlife living in the City of Lights. 

LVH can start planning for elite guests wishing to spend time in Paris for Roland Garros 2024. Not only will we arrange luxurious accommodations, but we will build a custom itinerary for you including VIP access to the French Open, whether you’re a die-hard tennis fan or just getting interested in the game. Spend quality time in one of the most romantic cities in the world. We invite you to reach out to one of our client relations team members to let them know what your Paris dreams are and they will go to work to start making them come true!