The French Open, the second of four Grand Slams on the tennis calendar and the only Major played on clay, gets underway in late May each year.
It is held over a two-week period across May and June each year and is widely regarded as the most physically demanding competition on the professional circuit, given the challenging characteristics of the clay courts.
| What | 2024 French Open |
| Where | Paris, France |
| When | Sunday, May 26th - Sunday, June 9th, 2024 |
| How to watch | RDS, TSN |
| Odds | Men: Carlos Alcaraz +150, Novak Djokovic +225, Rafael Nadal +400 Women: Iga Swiatek +100, Aryna Sabalenka +700, Elena Rybakina +1000 |
When is the French Open?
The next edition of the French Open will get underway on Sunday, May 26th, 2024 and conclude with the men's final on Sunday, June 9th, 2024.
The women's section of the draw will conclude with the final on Saturday, June 8th.
The main singles draws for both men and women will feature 128 players, 16 of which will have come through qualifying.
Where is the French Open?
The second Grand Slam of the season will be held in Paris, France, and it is the only Major to be played on outdoor clay courts.
The venue was first constructed in 1928 to host France's first defence of the Davis Cup and the complex in the 16th arrondissement French capital contains 20 courts, including three large-capacity stadiums.
Can I watch the French Open?
All the action from Paris will be available to watch for Canadian viewers on RDS or TSN.
How many times has the French Open taken place?
This will be the 128th edition of the tournament, with the event first established in 1891 and having originally been known as the French Championships.
The tournament was only open to French players or foreign players who were members of a French club during the first 34 years of its existence. Therefore, it was understandably dominated by home players, particularly Max Decugis, who won it eight times from 1903 to 1914.
Who has won the French Open on the most occasions?
Rafael Nadal is the most decorated player in the history of the French Open, having won it 14 times. His first success came in 2005 and his most recent in 2022, when he easily outclassed Casper Ruud, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.
Former Swedish number one Bjorn Borg won it six times between 1974 and 1981 and by some distance is the second most decorated male player of the Parisian event in the Open Era.
American ace Chris Evert is the most successful female player in French Open history, with seven title triumphs, while Steffi Graf won it six times and Justine Henin four.
However, current women's world number one Iga Swiatek has already won the French Open three times despite being only 22 years of age, so Evert's record could soon be under threat.
Who are the favorites for the French Open?
Despite his unprecedented domination in Paris, Nadal is currently third favourite in the betting to add to his 14 titles, with Carlos Alcaraz priced as favorite at +150 to reign supreme.
Nadal was forced to miss his title defence in 2023 and although now 37 years of age, the legendary Spaniard is +400 to regain his crown in 2024.
Novak Djokovic capitalized in the absence of Nadal to take last season's French Open title, defeating Alcaraz in a blockbuster semi-final.
That was Djokovic's third French Open success and saw him become the most decorated male player of all-time with 23 Grand Slam wins. The Serb is +225 to follow up.
Elsewhere, rising Danish star Holger Rune is an +800 chance, while 2021 runner-up Stefano Tsitsipas is available at +1000.
In the women's event, clay's dominant force Swiatek is +100 to record her third straight French Open success and that would be her fourth victory in Paris in total.
The biggest challenge to the 22-year-old's supremacy may stem from Aryna Sabalenka, who claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023 and is +700 to win next season's French Open.
The other notable danger in the betting comes from Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022.
The 23-year-old was forced to withdraw injured prior to her French Open third-round clash with Sara Sorribes Tormo in 2023, but is +1000 to make amends next season.
