MAIN Recreation Sports Tennis 2008 Roland Garros

Less-than-optimum traction on the red clay surface (that also gives the ball its extra bounce) can be a special challenge for top professionals at Roland Garros stadium in Paris - the traditional home of the French Open.

Watch for the excitement to begin this year from Sunday, May 25, 2008 leading up to the men's final on Sunday, June 8.

Of course, the big story this year will keep viewers at the edge of their seats for the Clash of the Tennis Titans - as last year's winner Rafael Nadal once again goes up against Roger Federer, for the title of 'King of Clay".

In the U.S., the complete TV schedule is hosted by ESPN, and NBC Sports with top notch UK coverage at BBC Tennis.

Around the Web, check out additional news & updates, history, player profiles, and assorted French Open trivia, in this - the 2nd round of the 2008 Big Four Grand Slam championships...

Roland Garros - The official stadium site for the showdown of the world's top seeded male and female champions. And check out the virtual tour at the Roland Garros Stadium Visit.

Roland Garros - Grand Slam Tennis - The game's official site sponsored by IBM with a traditional showcase of breaking news and photos, audio feeds and video clips, feature stories, interviews, schedules and scores. In French, Spanish and English.

Yahoo! Tennis - Who's in and who's out, with all the latest headline news, pictures, opinion, schedule and results, and lists of how they rank.

Slam! Sports Tennis - French Open - Keeping up to date with the latest news as it happens with news highlights daily.

BBC Sport Academy | What It's Like to Play on Clay - In short, it ain't easy...with links to more descriptions of playing conditions at other major venues in the Grand Slam of tennis. And while you're here don't miss the BBC's look at French Open History.

French Open - Wikipedia - The free online encyclopedia with historical color commentary and info on men's and women's singles champions from 1925 - 2006 plus more on the Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

Tennis-Heroes.net - 190 photos of French Open champions of the past and present including vital stats, scores and trivia.

also see ->> Australian Open | U.S. Open | Wimbledon

also see -> Roger Federer | Lleyton Hewitt | Rafael Nadal

Andy Roddick | Marat Safin | Maria Sharapova

Serena Williams | Venus Williams