After waiting 365 long and trying days, the French Open has finally arrived once again. From May 24 to June 7, the Open will take place and a (possibly new) champion will be crowned. You may love the sport of tennis and keep up with the French Open on a daily basis or you may have accidentally stumbled upon the Open while flipping through the channels looking for when "Catfish" is on. If you're new to the sport of tennis or even a long-time tennis fan, you don't want to miss the action at Le Stade Roland Garros.

Here are seven reasons why you should give your undivided attention to the city of Paris for just two weeks out of the year for the prestigious event known as the French Open:

1. Maria Sharapova

Just look at her. She alone should be the reason why you wake up and start your day. On a real note, Maria Sharapova of Russia is the 2012 and 2014 French Open winner. What makes Sharapova a fearsome opponent is her intensity. Every year the field of competitors gets deeper in terms of talent, but Sharapova never fails to prove why she is the world No. 2. She's won the title at Roland Garros twice and is looking to repeat her Roland Garros title run after a tough loss to Serena Williams at the Australian Open. Be on the lookout for Maria as she makes her run for the French Open crown.

2. Genie Bouchard

Eugenie Bouchard of Canada is currently ranked No. 6 in the world. The best she's ever done at a Grand Slam was second in Wimbledon last year when she lost in straight sets to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. Genie made her run at the French Open last year a memorable one. She made it to the semis before losing to the eventual winner, Sharapova, in three sets. Genie is looking to seek her vengeance and win the title this year. She's beloved by all in Canada. Her only flaw is to actually admitting that she had a crush on Justin Bieber after a post-game interview at the Australian Open last year.

3. Ana Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia hasn't been consistent throughout the previous years. She hasn't won a major since the 2008 French Open. She also made it to the finals of the 2008 Australian Open. Since then, her best result at a major was in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Aussie. This year she was eliminated after the first round of the Australian. She is currently the seventh seed at the French Open. She won her opening match against Yaroslava Shvedova in three sets after losing the first set. Ivanovic is looking to redeem herself this year and prove why she is a force to be reckoned with. Although she is an inconsistent player, if she's on fire there won't be many players that will be able to handle her offensive playing style.

4. The Tradition and History

The French Open is one of the most prestigious opens in the sport of tennis. Winning the French Open is no easy task, but if an athlete is able to do so it will prove that they are a star. The Open first started in 1891, but was only open to men at the time. Women were allowed to play at the Open in 1897 with the women's double event being added in 1907. Mixed doubles was added in 1902. In 1925, international players were allowed to compete.

In 1928, the tournament was moved to a new stadium which was named after Roland Garros, a French aviator who was the first to successfully cross the Mediterranean in 1913. The French Open was the first Grand Slam that became an open tournament; an open refers to allowing both pros and amateurs to be able to participate. Many milestones in the sport have been witnessed at Roland Garros. In 2011, Li Na becomes the first Chinese to win a Grand Slam. In 2012, Rafael Nadal of Spain beat out Novak Djokovic of Serbia and sets a new record in winning his seventh French Open title. As of now, Nadal has won the French Open nine times.

5. The Clay Is the Enemy

The French Open is without a doubt the most grueling Grand Slam out there. The reason? It is the only Grand Slam played on clay. Clay courts are much more difficult than grass or hard courts. Playing on a clay court takes away the advantages many of the big hitters and servers in the sport dominate with because it slows down the ball and produces a higher bounce compared to its grass and hard court counterparts (that's why many of the tuneup events before the French Open are played on clay courts so the athletes are used to playing on the clay). A primary example of a dominant player not flourishing at the French Open would be Pete Sampras. Pete won 14 Grand Slam titles, but he was never able to win one at Roland Garros. The current two most dominant players on the clay would have to be Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, with Nadal being the much more dominant one.

6. The Rivalries

Who doesn't love a good rivalry? The French Open has it all. Federer versus Nadal, Nadal versus Federer, Djokovic versus Nadal, Murray versus Federer, Serena Williams versus Maria Sharapova, Stephen Sloan versus Serena Wiliams, Bouchard versus Sharapova, you name it. There are countless rivalries within the sport. Each match has its own unique backstory and vibe. It helps a bit knowing who's who in the sport. But even if you are just casually watching the Open to pass the time, you can definitely tell the intensity each player possesses. Perhaps a new friendly rivalry will emerge at this year's French Open.

7. Watching History In the Making

Rafael Nadal is looking to keep his French Open streak alive. He's on a hot streak at Roland Garros. He has won the Open nine total times with five of them being consecutive title wins from 2010 through 2014. Can Nadal push through and win his 10th overall French Open title? The men's field is getting better and better each year and Nadal has a huge target on his back. Nadal is the king of the clay, but will he be able to hold onto his crown this year?

This year's French Open is an event you don't wanna miss. It's underway now through June 7. Be sure to catch it on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, or you can even stream it live online.

Here's another Sharapova picture from her one of her shoots with Esquire Magazine ... for the road.