France Open
In short
The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major annual tennis tournament played on red clay courts in Paris. It is the second Grand Slam event of the calendar year.
In plain words
It is one of the four biggest tennis competitions in the world. Players compete on slow, red clay surfaces which make the ball bounce higher and move slower than on grass or hard courts.
A simple example
A player might struggle to hit powerful winners because the clay surface slows down the ball, forcing them to play longer rallies.
Why it matters
Winning this tournament is one of the highest honours in professional tennis. It tests a player's physical endurance and ability to slide on the clay.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with Wimbledon, which is played on grass, or the US Open, which is played on hard courts.