TIER: International
PRIZE MONEY: $235,000
SURFACE: Clay
DIRECTOR: Denis Naegelen
Many players get their last bit of pre-French Open clay court work in at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Often referred to as IS, the event has been played the week before Roland Garros since its debut in 1987. Silvia Farina Elia, who was victorious from 2001 to 2003, and Anabel Medina Garrigues are tied for the most titles in IS history with three each.
Other past champions include superstars such as Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Steffi Graf, Jana Novotna and Maria Sharapova.
The only French champion so far was Aravane Rezai in 2009. "It's incredible. I'm so happy to win my first title in France," she said. "I've been working hard for so many years for this and it's hard to put into words what I feel. I want to come back here every year; I love this tournament." IS moved from HautePierre to the Tennis Club of Strasbourg - in front of the European Parliament and convenient to downtown - in 2011.
The event prides itself on being eco-friendly, adhering to a variety of green initiatives that among other benefits, have decreased CO2 emissions.
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