Inverdale looks forward to ‘rebellious’ Roland Garros

The French Open boasts one of the unorthodox atmoshpheres in tennis, believes commentator John Inverdale, who will be fronting the coverage of the year's second Grand Slam from Paris as ITV begins its first coverage of Grand Slam tennis.

“I think the people watching at home will be amazed,” Inverdale said. “The etiquette that most people in this country are used to just doesn’t seem to apply at Roland Garros, and if the fans over there don't like something they let the players know.

“I love that, it's much more gladiatorial. Tere's an unruly element in the crowd that likes its voice to be heard and that always gives it a certain flavour.”

Having attended the French Open for much of the past two decades, Inverdale has his own favourites to keep an eye on.

“You want to be watching when [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga plays, in fact any French person, because the crowds will be shamelessly partisan,” he said. “But you'd probably be brave and foolhardy to tip anyone other than [Rafael] Nadal to win the men’s.”

And amid talk that Andy Murray could end Great Britain’s long wait for a Grand Slam champion, Inverdale says he travels to Paris more in hope than expectation.

“When Murray is sitting in the dressing-room and Nadal is next door, and Murray's thinking how to win, I'm not sure what answers he'll find for himself,” Inverdale said.

“But I've been a tennis fan all my life, and wherever - if it's Roland Garros or elsewhere - I'd love to be there to see the first British Grand Slam winner in 70 years.”

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The 2012 French Open begins on Sunday, 27 May and ITV Sport will be in Paris every step of the way, showing 150 hours of live coverage on ITV1 or ITV4, plus live scores, results, match highlights and a host of other features on ITV.com/frenchopen.