French Open: About records, statistics and all the glory

Defending champions Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek. Pictures/ AFP

The French Open 2021 season is all set to begin on May 30, Sunday with many mouth-watering clashes to look forward to. The French Open 2020 defending champions Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek will look to retain their men's and women's singles titles respectively.

The French Open, which is also famously known as Roland Garros (named after the French aviator), is one among the four top Grand Slams in the annual year; the other being - Wimbledon, Australian Open and US Open. The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that is held on a clay surface.

Record talk

• Rafael Nadal holds the record for the most number of men's singles French Open titles with 13 to his name.
• Rafael Nadal holds the record for most consecutive French Open men's singles titles with 5 (2010-2014).
• Nadal also has the most number of overall French Open titles (singles and doubles) with 13.
• Chris Evert holds the record for the most number of women's singles French Open titles with 7.
• Martina Navratilova holds the record for the most number of women's doubles French Open titles with 7.
• Roy Emerson holds the record for the most number of men's doubles French Open titles with 6.

The stats and the stakes

'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal and 'The Swiss Gentleman' Roger Federer are currently the joint-record holders of most Grand Slams in men's singles with 20 each. Nadal and Federer will look to win their 21st Grand Slam to become an outright leader in the division.

Meanwhile, Federer and Novak Djokovic will be eyeing another record at the French Open 2021 season. Federer and Djokovic will aim to be the first male tennis player to earn a double career Grand Slam in the Open Era.

Australian tennis star and Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka will be gunning for the number one ranking spot. Current WTA world number one Ashleigh Barty will be looking to retain her ranking. All Barty needs to do is reach the finals at Roland Garros, irrespective of where Osaka is placed.

Meanwhile, world number 2 Naomi Osaka is also in contention for the WTA number one ranking and will be looking to achieve that with an impressive show on the clay court. She too would need to reach the finals for the same.

Grand Slam star Serena Williams will be gunning for her record-equalling 24th Major Grand Slam title this year at Roland Garros. Serena has 23 Grand Slams and will look to equal Margaret Court's record of 24.

German tennis star Angelique Kerber will also look to win the French Open and also, her first career Grand Slam.

The 2021 French Open is shaping up to be just the tournament that the fans need. For the players, the tournament has everything to play for.

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