When in 2014, Norman tennis player Charles Roche launched a tennis tournament in Rouen (Seine-Maritime), it was above all to return to his sport all the emotions that it had given him. A competition with no points to glean in the international rankings, but with men’s and women’s tables that his address book and his years on the professional circuit make it easier to fill.
He aims to pursue an honest career in the world of the little yellow ball as a professional player, present in the top 50 French players for six years, and which saw him beat Rafael Nadal in 2001 when the Spanish prodigy was “just” a gifted teenager. “I remember the first time I went to Roland-Garros with the departmental committee. I was very young. I came from the Eu-Le Tréport area. It was magical. And in the back of my mind, I always wanted to organize a tournament one day.”
Best French women’s international tournament 2025
Today, the years have passed. And here he is at the head of the Open Cap Finances-Rouen Métropole, a WTA 250 tournament which has just received the title of Best French International Women’s Tournament 2025 awarded by Pro Elle Tennis during the 8th edition of the Women’s Tennis Trophies.
“It rewards the work of a team mobilized all year round for the success of the event. It’s a collective victory,” appreciates its director, happy to have encountered during the last edition the winner of the first two Rouen tournaments, Jérémy Chardy, who became coach. “At the time, he was in the top 25 in the world. It was great to be able to see him play here. We remembered this time and we were able to appreciate the journey we have taken.”
A path that is still taken by around fifteen volunteers from the very beginning who experienced the beginnings of the adventure. Periods of doubt too, especially during Covid. “We had to cancel the 2020 edition after having tried everything to organize it in the best possible conditions. We didn’t know how we were going to bounce back,” continues Charles Roche. It will be with a 2021 final between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet with the victory of the first in front of almost 4,000 spectators.
The kiss of Gaël Monfils and his wife, Elina Svitolina
At the same time, he met Gaëtan Muller, better known in the world of basketball, but who is also president of Sport Plus Conseil, an events company. And above all a local child. Sharing the same desire to create a sporting event around tennis within Kindarena, the Rouen sports palace, they join forces to host a WTA 125 tournament (the very first level) in 2022. And win the award from 2024 of a more prestigious event to take place in April on clay. In 2026, it will be April 11-19.
“We refocused on women’s tennis, with a field of top world players. And at the same time we are organizing a wheelchair tennis tournament, details the former champion. And above all we try to maintain a certain proximity with the players, to make them feel at home for a week.” The secret undoubtedly to the success of an event which welcomed 22,000 spectators in 2025. And given beautiful images such as the kiss exchanged at the end of the final between the winner of the event, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, and the French champion Gaël Monfils, who came to encourage his wife.
But Charles Roche insists: “What certainly gives me the most pleasure is seeing the kids come and get autographs, having their eyes light up in front of these champions. It’s something they’ll remember.”
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