As tennis fans will know, throughout the year there are four Grand Slam tennis tournaments: the US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Each has a different court surface, requiring different skills from the players.

This year the French Open will be held in Paris from May 22^nd until June 5^th. Those who are lucky enough to go will be able to experience all the thrills and excitement that comes with this world-class sporting event. Get your  foreign currency (that’ll be Euros for France), pack your luggage and head to this beautiful city for your taste of the French Open.

Held at the Roland Garros Stadium in the capital of France, Paris; the tournament will play host to some of the most accomplished tennis players in the world. From Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic to Clijsters and the Williams sisters, it’s a chance to see the very best in the profession.

The surface on the Roland Garros Stadium is distinctive red clay, said by many to be the hardest of courts to play on due to the fact the ball moves more slowly but bounces higher. The clay is made from crushed brick packed tightly together and then covered with a loose layer, and surprisingly it needs to be watered just as often as grass. Different surfaces suit players differently; clay requires patience as rallies are often longer on this surface and shots are often won by wrong-footing your opponent.

Visitors to Paris are spoiled by a wide choice of accommodations as well as a mind-boggling array of restaurants to experience some of that famous French cuisine. Some tour operators offer packages that include your accommodation, plus flights, transfers and tickets to the French Open matches.

ATP World Tour (2011). Tournaments.

Road Trip (2011). French Open.

BBC Sport Academy (2011). Find out what it’s like to play on clay.