Roland-Garros in India: places won and a brand new tournament is born

Siddhant Banthia and Rashmikaa S Bhamidiptay were the two players to book places at the final phase of the 2018 Roland-Garros Junior Wild Card Competition, respectively winning the boys’ and girls’ competitions at the Indian qualifiers, held on the clay courts of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association. The courts were built in 2016 by the All India Tennis Association with the support of the French Tennis Federation (FFT).

The “Rendez-Vous at Roland-Garros” is now in its fourth year. Banthia won the Indian leg of last year’s competition but missed the final phase through injury, while Bhamidiptay will be making her first trip to Paris, where she will soak up the atmosphere of a major tournament. The grand final takes place on 26 May at Roland-Garros, with the prize for the winners a wild card in the main draws of French Open junior boys’ and girls’ singles competitions. Both players will be hoping to emulate their compatriot Abhimanyu Vannemreddy, the winner of the 2017 boys’ wild card.

India has also seen the launch of a new international tournament: the Roland-Garros Amateur Series by Longines. As its name suggests, it is open to all participants, regardless of their playing ability, with entrants fighting it out for a trip to Paris to watch the French Open.

Held in Bangalore, the tournament attracted over 100 young players. Brother and sister Fardeen Qamar and Farat Aleen Qamar took the honours in the boys’ and girls’ competitions respectively and will travel together to the French capital to savour the magic of Roland-Garros.