AP PHOTOS: Colors from the French Open
Posted June 09, 2017 7:00 am
PARIS (AP) - The distinctive red clay. The quintessentially Parisian style. The French Open.
Not only is the tennis tournament at Roland Garros the zenith of the clay-court season, but it has a flair all its own, starting with the bright red surface it is played on.
Despite the concrete look from the outside, there is a sea of color on the inside. The red clay is the main attraction, but the unassuming deck chairs and even the chic uniforms of the hosts and hostesses add to the elegance.
Even some of the spectators wear complimentary Roland Garros Panama hats, a touch flair that would be lacking anywhere else.
It's not a new phenomenon. There's a glamour and flamboyance at the French Open that harks back to the days of Suzanne Lenglen -- a player held in such high esteem in France that the second court at Roland Garros was renamed in her honor 20 years ago.
Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the U.S. Open all have their own defining features, to be sure, but Roland Garros does have that certain "je ne sais quoi."
FILE - In this Tuesday, June 6, 2017 file photo workers remove water from the tarpaulin covering the court as rain showers suspended the quarterfinal match of Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Tuesday, June 6, 2017 file photo a hostess removes seat cushion as rain delays the play between France's Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, June 3, 2017 file photo spectators take cover under umbrellas as third round matches were suspended because of rain showers at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, May 28, 2017 file photo spectators sitting in folding chairs watch a match during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
The Associated Press
A woman attends the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 4, 2017 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, May 28, 2017 file photo spectators walk the stadium grounds during first round matches of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, June 4, 2017 file photo Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic returns the ball to Germany's Carina Witthoeft during their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Tuesday, June 6, 2017 file photo rainbow sits in the sky over covered courts as rain showers suspended the quarterfinal match of Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Tuesday, May 30, 2017 file photo ball girls look from the underground press area as Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia play Japan's Kei Nishikori during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
A woman strolls in the alleys during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 4, 2017 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, June 3, 2017 file photo a ball flies over the net as South Africa's Kevin Anderson plays against Britain's Kyle Edmund during their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
A Hostess and host wait to welcome spectators at the Roland Garros stadium where the French Open tennis tournament is taking place in Paris, France. Friday, June 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Wednesday, May 31, 2017 file photo Spain's Rafael Nadal prepares to serve against Netherlands' Robin Haase during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, May 28, 2017 file photo a spectator watches Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic playing Julia Boserup, of the U.S, during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Wednesday, June 7, 2017 file photo prints of the player's shoes are seen on the clay as France's Caroline Garcia, rear, plays against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
Visitors rest on deck chairs during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 4, 2017 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, June 4, 2017 file photo tennis lovers wait for players to exit courts during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Nadal won 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Monday, June 5, 2017 file photo Britain's Andy Murray serves against Russia Karen Khachanov during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
Spectators watch Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic playing Romania's Simona Halep during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, June 4, 2017 file photo spectators crowd around a bronze plaque of French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Friday, June 2, 2017 file photo Spain's Garbine Muguruza serves the ball to Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva during their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
Spectators gather in the stands on a court for a match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. Monday, June 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
A spectator applauds after Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko defeated Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Paris. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.