1927: four French tennis players, Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste all achieved the feat of winning the Davis Cup on American soil. Their glory was immediate, and they were thus called the “Four Musketeers”, honoring their triumph and cementing tennis as a sport in which the French performed exceedingly well. The Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT) thus decided to construct a sports arena worthy of its heroes. While it was the Stade Français that then hosted the French Open, they ceded ground to the FFT in the end. With six acres in the heart of Paris, the only condition was that this new stadium bear the name of Roland Garros, a club member and pioneer in the field of aviation. His claim to fame was being the first to cross the Mediterranean in 1913. The FFT accepted, and the Roland Garros stadium would thus be built.
This story unites Louis Vuitton with tennis and the heroes and adventurers of yesteryear. This manufacturer has always accompanied explorers to the four corners of the Earth. After creating the Malles Trophées trunk for the America’s Cup and the FIFA World Cup, the illustrious French trunkmaker is now creating one for Roland Garros this year. An original, emblematic, and iconic piece that’s immediately associated with the grandeur of France, this Louis Vuitton trunk is a fitting representation of French excellence and savoir-faire. “Louis Vuitton always accompanied these four great explorers and pioneers on their travels, including Roland Garros and Suzanne Lenglen themselves. By pairing elegance with innovation, Louis Vuitton has been able to ceaselessly reinvent traveling, just like what Roland Garros did for aviation and Suzanne Lenglen did for tennis. After transporting the most prestigious trophies in football, rugby, and sailing around the world, we’re very proud to participate in this 2017 edition,” announced Michael Burke, president of Louis Vuitton.
Roland Garros’ two legendary trophies are thus being housed in Louis Vuitton trunks. These two custom cases are made of poplar wood, just like a number of other iconic trunks. With the Monogram canvas, these trunks are both equipped with brass on the corners and at the fastener. With incomparable artisanal quality, the interior is a terracotta color, a nod to the tournament’s clay courts. On the front side, a V recalls the lines of a tennis court. These two Malles Trophées trunks, both hand-made in Louis Vuitton’s historic workshops in Asnières, France, house the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen and the Coupe des Mousquetaires respectively. “Louis Vuitton and Roland Garros is a win for France; it’s France that inspires us here. The association of two of the most beautiful French brands is a symbol that will ravish champions over the 15 days of the tournament. Our trophies have never been so beautiful as in their new and magnificent home,” gushed Bernard Guidicelli, president of the FFT. We’ll just have to wait for Saturday the 10th for the women’s match and Sunday the 10th for the men’s match to determine which hero will make off with the precious goods: Wawrinka or Nadal? Halep or Ostapenko?