The French Open 法國網球公開賽‏

All tennis fans know about the French Open. It is one of the four Grand Slams1, which are the biggest tennis championships in the world. Over the years, tennis stars have risen and fallen at the French Open. Older champions are beaten, and young new stars come on the scene and change tennis history. The French Open runs from late May through early June at the Roland Garros stadium2 in Paris. Players find it one of the most challenging tournaments3 because the courts are different from most.
所有網球迷都知道法國網球公開賽。它是世界上最盛大的網球冠軍賽――四大滿貫賽的其中之一。多年來，網球明星在法網竄升和隕落。舊的冠軍被擊敗，年輕的新星則紛紛冒出頭並改寫網壇歷史。法國網球公開賽於五月下旬到六月初在巴黎的羅蘭‧加洛斯球場舉行。由於其比賽場地與大部分的球場不同，因此選手們都認為它是最具挑戰性的錦標賽之一。
　　The courts at the French Open are clay4, which changes the way the game is played. Clay courts slow the ball down and make it bounce higher. This is an advantage for some players and a disadvantage for others. Take 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras for example. He was known for having a huge serve5 that was very hard to beat. However, on the infamous red clay at Roland Garros, he never managed to advance to the final round, much less win a title6.
法網為紅土場地，這也改變了比賽進行的狀況。紅土球場具有減緩球速、使球彈得更高的特性。這對某些選手來說是一項優勢，對其他選手則非常不利。就以囊括十四座大滿貫賽優勝獎盃的彼特‧山普拉斯為例好了。他素以超難回擊的強力發球聞名。不過在惡名昭彰的羅蘭‧加洛斯紅土球場上，他卻從未晉級決賽，更別提摘下冠軍頭銜了。
　　The first French Open, which was held in 1891, was only one day long. Although the tournament consisted of mainly French players, an Englishman7 happened to win it. The French Open was just beginning then, so it didn't attract the world's best players or much attention. In fact, it was only for players who belonged to French tennis clubs. That changed in 1925, when it became an international event open to all amateurs8.
首屆的法國網球公開賽於1891年舉行，整個賽程僅一天就結束了。雖然參加這個錦標賽的主要都是法國球員，但拿下冠軍的卻碰巧是一位英國男子選手。由於當時法網才剛開始舉辦，所以並沒有吸引到許多世界頂尖的球員前來參加，也沒有受到太多矚目。事實上，它僅開放給隸屬法國各家網球俱樂部的選手參加。不過這點在1925年卻有所改變，因為法網在那年成為一項開放給所有業餘好手前來參加的國際公開賽。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. bounce　vi. 彈，反彈
The ball bounced off the backboard and into the basket.
那顆球打板後彈進了籃框裡。
2. advantage　n. 有利條件，優勢
　 disadvantage　n. 不利條件，劣勢
Dan is at a disadvantage because he doesn't know how to use a computer.
阿丹的劣勢就在於他不會使用電腦。
3. infamous　a. 聲名狼藉的，惡名昭彰的
Hitler was infamous for killing millions of Jews.
希特勒因為殘殺數百萬名猶太人而惡名昭彰。
4. advance　vi. 繼續前進，發展；（運動）晉級
We have advanced greatly in our knowledge of the universe.
我們對於宇宙的認知已有大幅度的進展。

Phrases for Learning

1. come/be on the scene　　出現，到來
The band was on the scene as early as the 1960s and has remained popular to this day.
那個樂團早在1960年代就出現於樂壇中，而且至今仍十分走紅。
2. manage to + 原形動詞　　設法∕勉力完成……
They managed to find some dry wood and build a fire in the rain.
他們設法找到了一些乾木材，並在雨中生火。
3. much less...　　更不用說∕更談不上……
That little baby cannot crawl, much less stand up.
那個小寶寶還不會爬，更談不上站起來了。
4. happen to + 原形動詞　　碰巧……
Christopher's cellphone just happened to die when his client called.
當客戶打來時，克里斯多夫的手機剛好沒電了。

Extra Words

1. Grand Slam　n.（網球）大滿貫賽事（本文中亦作形容詞用）
2. stadium　n.（有看台且無屋頂的）體育場
3. tournament　n. 錦標賽
4. clay　n. 土，泥土（本文中亦作形容詞用）
5. serve　n.（網球、排球等的）發球
6. title　n.（重大體育賽事中的）冠軍
7. Englishman　n. 英國男子
8. amateur　n. 業餘人士

Grammar Check

...he never managed to advance to the final round, much less win a title.
（……他卻從未晉級決賽，更別提摘下冠軍頭銜了。）
much less...　　更不用說……
= let alone...
not to mention...　　更不用說……
= not to speak of...
注意:
在上列用法中，"much less"及"let alone"只能用於否定句，且因其具有連接詞作用，故其後應置與其前相同的詞類。而"not to mention"及"not to speak of"在肯定句與否定句中均可使用，且因分別含有及物動詞 mention 及介詞 of，故其後須接名詞或動名詞作受詞。此外，在使用這些詞類時，其前須置逗點與主要子句隔開。
Ed can't even speak English, let alone talk to foreigners.
（艾德連英文都不會說，更別提跟外國人交談。）
I don't have enough money to pay my bills, not to speak of my rent.
（我連繳帳單的錢都不夠了，更遑論付房租。）