The French Open usually begins in May. It is traditionally played in late May and continues into early June, making it the second Grand Slam tournament on the annual tennis calendar, after the Australian Open and before Wimbledon.
The tournament is held on outdoor clay courts at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. Its clay surface slows the ball and produces a high bounce, encouraging long rallies and making endurance especially important. Qualifying matches and preliminary activities generally begin before the main draw, while the main tournament lasts about two weeks.
May is the usual answer, but the exact starting date can move from year to year. The 2020 tournament was postponed until September because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 edition began one week later than normal. Historical scheduling has also varied: the 1946 and 1947 tournaments were held in July after Wimbledon.
The event is often called Roland-Garros in French and English, after the French aviator whose name was given to the stadium.