The French Tennis Federation asked media outlets to use 'Roland-Garros' rather than 'French Open'GETTY IMAGES
Things can get "complicated when it comes to deciding what to call the clay-court Grand Slam tournament being contested now on the southwestern edge of Paris," according to Dampf & Fendrich of the AP. English speakers tend to say “French Open,” but most of the rest of the world refers to it as "'Roland Garros,' the tournament facility named after a World War I fighter pilot." The French Tennis Federation "wants the world to use 'Roland Garros' -- or, more precisely, 'Roland-Garros,' owing to the country’s style of hyphenating places named after people." The federation asked media outlets to "use 'Roland-Garros,' rather than 'French Open.'" It is "Roland Garros" that is "stamped on the tennis balls and court walls." It is also "festooned on hats, shirts and other items sold in merchandise boutiques." The term "'French Open' derives from when Grand Slam tennis tournaments became 'open' to professionals" in '68, but it is "not found on-site in Paris." Tennis player Tommy Paul said, "When you watch it on TV in the States, it’s always ‘French Open’” (AP, 5/30).
