Roland Garros brings fans from Europe, Africa and South America to Google

(AFP/JACQUES DEMARTHON)

Over the seven days prior to May 30, internet users from throughout Europe and in Tunisia and Argentina have been turning to Google for news of the world-famous Roland Garros tennis tournament.

The tournament, called the French Open but known by the name of the stadium in which it is played, is one of the most respected clay court tournaments in the world. The tournament is one of four annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments - with the others being the Australia Open, the US Open and Wimbledon. This year the competition runs from May 17 - June 6 in Paris.

Data from Google Insights shows that the search term "Roland Garros" increased by over 300 percent in the seven days prior to May 30; the majority of these searches originated in France, Belgium, Argentina and Tunisia. The phrase "Roland Garros" was also a popular search term in Switzerland, Croatia, the Netherlands, Spain, Romania and Portugal.

More information about the tournament and live radio coverage of the tournament, in both French and English, can be found via the official site at http://www.rolandgarros.com, the official iOS app at http://bit.ly/j25ZU3 and through Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/RolandGarros) and Twitter (@rolandgarros).

Other popular searches of the last seven days include "Joplin tornado" - following the tornado in Missouri, USA - the Brazilian school exam "enem" and televised talent contest " American Idol."

The search terms with the most significant growth worldwide in the last seven days as measured by Google Insights, recorded on May 30, are:

01.   joplin tornado (breakout*)
02.   enem (+550%)
03.   roland garros (+300%)
04.   american idol 2011 (+140%)
05.   oprah (+110%)
06.   weather channel (+80%)
07.   american idol (+70%)
08.   e okul (+70%)
09.   facebook en espagnol (+70%)
10.   imogen thomas (+70%)

*Breakout defines a search term that has experienced a change in growth greater than 5,000 percent.