Viva La Paris

I have a special love for the French Open, which is starting in a few weeks. Roland Garros is truly unique in that it is a beautiful, intimate club much like The West Side Tennis Club, the former home of The U.S. Open. It is a civilized place with exhilarating, strategic tennis aided by the slowed pace of the gritty court surface. The French Open represents the unofficial start to the summer, and after this last winter’s snow, I cannot wait!

The best men’s clay court player of the Open era, Rafael Nadal, will be the heavy favorite to tie Bjorn Borg’s record of six titles. The women’s side looks to be a bit more open.

My Top Five Men’s Clay Court Tennis Players of the Open Era:

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Bjorn Borg
3. Ivan Lendl
4. Gustavo Kuerten
5. Guillermo Vilas

My Top Five Women’s Clay Court Tennis Players of the Open Era:

1. Chris Evert
2. Stephanie Graff
3. Justine Henin
4. Monica Seles
5. (Tie) Martina Navratilova & Arantxa Shanchez-Vicario