Most people think Roland Garros was a tennis champion, but he was in fact a celebrated aviator in the early part of the 20th century.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Most people think Roland Garros was a tennis champion, but he was in fact a celebrated aviator in the early part of the 20th century.
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Garros at the controls of his first plane -- Santos-Dumont Demoiselle -- which he purchased in 1910. The following year he would pilot it to second place in the European Circuit race. The event had nine stages covering 1,600 kilometers (990 miles).
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Garros at the controls of his first plane -- Santos-Dumont Demoiselle -- which he purchased in 1910. The following year he would pilot it to second place in the European Circuit race. The event had nine stages covering 1,600 kilometers (990 miles).
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Garros (fourth from the right) poses among Spahis of the French army in front of the Morane-Saulnier plane which he piloted across the Mediterranean Sea on September 23, 1913.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Garros (fourth from the right) poses among Spahis of the French army in front of the Morane-Saulnier plane which he piloted across the Mediterranean Sea on September 23, 1913.
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Garros was a pioneering fighter pilot during World War One. "At the beginning of the war, he worked on a new system to open fire through the propeller and shot down three German planes," says Michael Guittard, from the French Tennis Federation. Sadly, Garros was shot down just five weeks before Armistice Day in November 1918.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Garros was a pioneering fighter pilot during World War One. "At the beginning of the war, he worked on a new system to open fire through the propeller and shot down three German planes," says Michael Guittard, from the French Tennis Federation. Sadly, Garros was shot down just five weeks before Armistice Day in November 1918.
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Rene Lacoste was a three-time winner of the French Open and played in the Davis Cup side that won the title match at the newly-inaugurated Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris in 1928.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Rene Lacoste was a three-time winner of the French Open and played in the Davis Cup side that won the title match at the newly-inaugurated Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris in 1928.
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Lacoste (second from right), along with compatriots Jacques Brugnon (far left), Henri Cochet (second from left) and Jean Borotra, were known as the "Four Musketeers" and won the Davis Cup six times for France between 1927 and 1932.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
Lacoste (second from right), along with compatriots Jacques Brugnon (far left), Henri Cochet (second from left) and Jean Borotra, were known as the "Four Musketeers" and won the Davis Cup six times for France between 1927 and 1932.
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The main Court Philippe Chatrier at Stade Roland Garros. The French Open -- the second grand slam tournament of the tennis season -- has been dominated by Rafael Nadal in recent years.
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
The main Court Philippe Chatrier at Stade Roland Garros. The French Open -- the second grand slam tournament of the tennis season -- has been dominated by Rafael Nadal in recent years.
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The Spaniard is gunning for a ninth French Open title in 10 years in 2014. Guittard says Nadal shows the qualities that Garros would have admired -- courage and determination: "Those two words are perfect for our champions."
Roland Garros: Pioneering pilot —
The Spaniard is gunning for a ninth French Open title in 10 years in 2014. Guittard says Nadal shows the qualities that Garros would have admired -- courage and determination: "Those two words are perfect for our champions."
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