The Belgian won four tournaments in five years on the Parisian clay.
Highlights of the tournament
The 73rd edition of the tournament combines hot and sunny weather around the stadium with a veritable breath of fresh air around the courts. The singles champions, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Juan Carlos Ferrero, each win their maiden Grand Slam.
In the men’s, the Spaniard demonstrates throughout a perfect two-week campaign that he is indeed the best player in the world on clay. Dutchman Martin Verkerk, who comes into the tournament as a complete unknown who has never even won a Grand Slam match before, is the real surprise package, making it all the way into the final.
Justine Henin-Hardenne meanwhile defeats the No.1 (Serena Williams in the semi-finals) and No.2 seeds (Kim Clijsters in the final) to win her first title on the Paris clay.
Around the stadium, the Roland Garros Tenniseum is inaugurated on Sunday 25 May. This new generation tennis museum is designed to tell the history of tennis in France, and of French tennis.