Who Was Roland Garros ?

No, Roland Garros was not a famous tennis player. Roland Garros, born in Saint-Denis France, in 1888, was an inovative and respected aviator. He was the first pilot to make a non-stop flight across the Mediterranean Sea, from the south of France to Tunisia.

In the beginning years of World War I, Garros played a significant role in the development of a synchronization device that allows a machine gun to fire through the arc of a spinning propeller without the bullets striking the blades. Garros, is credited with being the first pilot ever, to shoot down an aircraft by firing through a propeller.

In 1915, Garros was shot down by German ground fire, landed behind German lines, and was taken prisoner. When Garros was shot down, German aircraft engineers examined the armored propeller on the French built plane and developed and improved, the interrupter gear, which let to them being able to shoot down Allied planes, and changed the tables against the Allies.

Escaping from the German prisoner of war camp in February 1918, Garros rejoined the French army, and on October 18 of the same year, was shot down and killed, one day before his thirtieth birthday.

Stade Roland Garros was built in 1928, and to tell the truth I have no idea why it was named for Roland Garros, I’ve searched the internet, and have not been able to come up with an answer.

There have been many changes and additions since that time, but the grounds still retain a special French atmosphere. Sponsor and merchandise booths, that line the walkways, resemble high end boutiques, the main court, Philippe Chatrier, is the most intimate of all the grand slams. As the slogan goes,

1:35PM
The seeds are starting to drop. Thirtieth seed Samantha Stosur has just taken out fourth seed Elena Dementieva, in three routine sets.

2:10 PM
Well, it looks like Arod might be learning to play in the dirt. For the first time in his career, the big serving American has made it past the third round! Congrats Andy!! High five Andy!! So far in his three matches, Roddick has served up 33 aces, nailed 90 winners, and not dropped a set. He’ll face either twenty fourth seed Jurgen Melzer, or 11th seed, Gael Monfils in the fourth round. He’ll have to keep his high level of play to defeat either of these clay court specialists, and if it’s Monfils, he’ll also have the French fans to contend with.

4:20 PM
Monfils just defeated Melzer so going to be Roddick against the wild Frenchman.
7:00 PM
Oh my word. Both the men’s and the woman’s fourth seeds lost today… is that an unlucky number? First Dementieva, now Djokovic lost is straights to Philipp Kohlschreiber.
9:00 PM
I’ve been here long enough... Going to post this and wrap it up for tonight.