In 2022 a new massive quote was installed on either side of Philippe Chatrier, the main stadium court at Roland Garros. On one side of the seating bowl, the quote appears in English, which is the official language of tennis. On the opposite side, the same quote appears in French… or does it? Language translation is an inexact art.
The venue of the French Open as well as the tournament itself, is named after a French aviator, Roland Garros. The quote that rings the court Philippe Chatrier was originally attributed to Napoleon, which Roland Garros later adopted as his own.
Quote attribution can be a challenging thing. There is actually no direct evidence that Napoleon actually said these precise words at all. The most likely original version of the quote in French is “La victoire appartient au plus persévérant.” Google translates that to “Victory belongs to the most persistent.”
An informational web page from the official Roland Garros website attributes a slightly modified quote to Napoleon. “La victoire appartient au plus opiniâtre.” That is the version that appears in the stadium as well. Google translates that to “Victory belongs to the most stubborn.” I can kind of see why the tournament organizers decided to go with “Victory belongs to the most tenacious.” That word bears significantly more positive connotations.
Roland Garros reportedly inscribed that quote on the propellers of his airplane. In fact, the Roland Garros tournament has an informational page with a picture of a wooden propeller with those words carved into it. I am an engineer who works in aviation. Consequently, I feel compelled to mention that it would have degraded the aerodynamic properties of the aircraft.
It seems apparent that the organizers of the French Open are attempting to define an iconic quote for their tournament. That prompts me to consider the quotes that are strongly associated with the other venues. Naturally, I am also inclined to do that in rank order.
- “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same…” This line from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If…” is displayed in the pre-match lobby at Wimbledon. It has been prominently in place since the early 1970s and is the clear origin of the practice.
- “Pressure is a Privilege.” This quote is the title of one of Billie Jean King’s autobiographies. It is inscribed on a plaque in the tunnel leading into Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open.
- “Victory belongs to the most tenacious.” This Roland Garros adopted Napolean quote accurately describes clay court tennis as a war of attrition. It explains to the fans why the sport is a necessarily long spectacle on that surface.
- Australian Open… doesn’t seem to have a signature quote. (Come on, Tennis Australia. You’re missing an opportunity here.)
I’m kind of partial to the “Victory belongs to the most stubborn” translation of the Ronald Garros quote.
- A Trailblazer for Aviation and a War Hero: Roland Garros, Roland Garros Informational Page, undated.
- QUI ÉTAIT ROLAND GARROS ? Roland Garros Informational Page, undated.
