French Open History: From 1891 to Today

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 09 July 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

See Full Bio

Twitter X

French Open History

• Interesting French Open Facts
• Roland Garros History
• French Open Trophies & Prizes
• Impressive French Open Records
• Legendary French Open Champions
• The Unique Clay Surface
• French Open Broadcasting

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a prestigious Grand Slam tennis tournament held each year in Paris, France. As one of the biggest events in the tennis calendar, the French Open attracts top players from around the world, all fighting for the trophy and a place in tennis history.

How much do you know about French Open history? Perhaps you want to know interesting French Open facts? This blog aims to show you how the French Open came to be – and why it’s such a prestigious event.

Interesting French Open Facts

The French Open, which takes place over two weeks in late May and early June, is the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. It is the only Grand Slam event played on clay courts, which significantly impacts the game’s pace and style.

The tournament’s main venue, the Stade Roland-Garros, features 20 courts, including three main showcourts: Court Philippe-Chatrier, Court Suzanne-Lenglen, and Court Simonne-Mathieu.

The French Open is known for its passionate fans, and it’s one of the most watched tennis events of the year. While there aren’t as many French Open traditions as you’d find at, say, Wimbledon, the tournament maintains a Parisian charm, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular!

In recent years, the tournament has undergone significant renovations, including the addition of a retractable roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier, allowing matches to continue during inclement weather. It’s also known for its fantastic food, with spectators enjoying traditional French dishes and pastries while watching the matches.

While this blog primarily focuses on Roland Garros history, don’t forget: if you’re looking to bet on the French Open tennis, our site offers the best sportsbook recommendations, so you can bet with complete peace of mind.

Roland Garros History

The French Open, originally known as the Championnat de France, was first held in 1891. Initially, the tournament was only open to members of French clubs, with H. Briggs, a Brit residing in Paris, winning the first men’s singles title. In 1897, the first women’s singles tournament was held, featuring just four entries.

The tournament continued to grow, and in 1925, it became a major championship open to international amateurs. It was renamed the French Open in 1968 when the event allowed professional players to compete alongside amateurs for the first time. This is one of the French Open facts not many people know about!

The tournament and its venue are named after Roland Garros, a famous French aviator who became the first person to fly solo across the Mediterranean Sea. In 1928, the Stade Roland-Garros was built to host the Davis Cup final, and it has been the venue for the French Open ever since.

Some of the best tennis players in history have played at the French Open, including icons like Henri Cochet, Björn Borg, Chris Evert, Rafael Nadal, and Steffi Graf. Looking for the best sportsbooks with tennis markets? Be sure to read our bookmaker reviews to find the best betting site for you!

French Open Trophies & Prizes

The French Open is renowned for its prestigious trophies and substantial prize pools. The men’s singles champion is awarded the Coupe des Mousquetaires, named in honor of France’s famous “Four Musketeers” of tennis: Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste. The trophy, made of pure silver, stands 40 cm high and weighs an impressive 14 kg.

The women’s singles champion receives the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, named after the legendary French tennis player who dominated the sport in the 1920s. The women’s trophy is a replica of a cup offered by the city of Nice to Lenglen and was first awarded in 1979.

In addition to the singles trophies, the French Open also presents the Coupe Jacques Brugnon to the men’s doubles champions and the Coupe Simone Mathieu to the women’s doubles champions. The mixed doubles winners receive the Coupe Marcel Bernard.

The French Open offers some of the largest prizes in the tennis world. In 2023, the prize pool reached a record-breaking €49.6 million! The men’s and women’s singles champions each received €2.2 million.

Unlike most tennis tournaments, the French Open’s prize money is distributed among all participants, including those who lose in the early rounds.

Impressive French Open Records

Most common Roland Garros facts center on the history of the tournament or recent winners – but rarely the records that were set there. This is surprising, as the French Open has been the stage for numerous remarkable achievements and records throughout its long history.

In the men’s singles, Spain’s Rafael Nadal holds the record for the most titles, having won an astounding 14 times between 2005 and 2022. His dominance on the clay courts of Roland-Garros is unrivaled, and he is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player of all time.

In the men’s doubles, Max Decugis of France holds the record with an impressive 13 titles, all won during the Amateur Era between 1902 and 1920. Australia’s Roy Emerson holds the record for the most consecutive men’s doubles titles in the Amateur Era, winning six straight from 1960 to 1965.

In the women’s singles, Chris Evert of the United States holds the record for the most titles, with seven wins between 1974 and 1986. Suzanne Lenglen and Steffi Graf both won the tournament six times, while Adine Masson and Margaret Court won it five times each.

In the women’s doubles, Martina Navratilova, representing both Czechoslovakia and the United States, holds the Open Era record with seven titles. She won with various partners, including Chris Evert, Anne Smith, Pam Shriver, and Andrea Temesvári. France’s Françoise Dürr holds the record for the most consecutive women’s doubles titles in the Open Era, winning five straight from 1967 to 1971.

Age records have also been set at the French Open. The youngest men’s singles champion is Michael Chang of the United States, who won the title in 1989 at the age of 17 years and 3 months. The youngest women’s singles champion is Monica Seles of Yugoslavia, who triumphed in 1990 at the age of 16 years and 6 months.

On the other end of the spectrum, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic became the oldest men’s singles champion in the Open Era when he won the title in 2023 at the age of 36 years and 20 days.

The French Open has also witnessed numerous other impressive feats. In 1999, Andre Agassi became the first male player in the Open Era to achieve a Career Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments at least once. In 2020, Rafael Nadal claimed his 13th French Open title, beating Martina Navratilova’s record of 12 singles titles at a single Grand Slam event.

The tournament has also seen some of the longest matches in tennis history. In 2004, Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clément played the longest match in French Open history, lasting 6 hours and 33 minutes!

Legendary French Open Champions

Throughout its history, the French Open has crowned numerous champions – many of whom attracted a significant viewer-base to the tournament and helped publicize it! In men’s tennis, Rafael Nadal is almost certainly the greatest French Open champion of all time. With a record 14 titles to his name, the Spanish superstar has dominated the clay courts of Roland-Garros like no other player in history.

His powerful topspin forehand and incredible stamina have made him a force to be reckoned with, and his matches against rivals like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic proved to be some of the best in Roland Garros history.

Other notable male champions include Björn Borg, who won six French Open titles in the 1970s and early 1980s, and Ivan Lendl, who claimed three titles in the 1980s and early 1990s.

In the women’s game, Chris Evert stands out as one of the most successful players in French Open history. With seven singles titles to her name, Evert’s groundstrokes – filled with raw power – made her a formidable opponent on the clay. Other legendary female champions include Steffi Graf, who won six titles in the late 1980s and 1990s, and Justine Henin, who claimed four titles in the 2000s.

More recently, players like Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Simona Halep have left marks on French Open history with almost all offering up memorable victories and impressive performances. As the French Open continues to attract the best tennis players from around the world, it’s likely we’ll see a lot more of these memorable moments in the future, too!

If you’re curious about recent French Open singles champions, check out the table below, which shows information from the last five years:

The Unique Clay Surface

One of the defining characteristics of the French Open is its unique clay court surface. The red clay used at Roland-Garros is made from a combination of crushed brick, stone, and other materials, creating a playing environment that is very different from other surfaces like grass and hard courts. The clay courts at the French Open are known for their slow pace and high bounce – significantly impacting the way the game is played.

Clay courts generally suit players who have excellent footwork, patience, and the ability to generate heavy topspin on their shots. The surface slows down the ball, giving players more time to retrieve shots and play long rallies.

The high bounce of the clay also benefits players who have a strong kick serve and can hit heavy groundstrokes, as it allows them to push opponents back behind the baseline and dictate play. Players like Rafael Nadal, known for his incredible topspin forehand, have used this to great effect, dominating the French Open for years.

However, the clay surface also presents unique challenges. The slow pace of the court can frustrate players who rely on powerful serves and quick points, as they may struggle to find the same level of effectiveness on clay.

Additionally, the clay surface is more prone to breaking up and forming uneven patches, which can lead to unexpected bounces and require players to adjust their footwork and shot selection accordingly.

French Open Broadcasting

The French Open has a global audience, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the action from Roland-Garros each year. The tournament’s broadcasting rights are held by various networks and streaming platforms around the world, ensuring that viewers can follow the matches no matter where they are located.

In France, the French Open is broadcast by France Télévisions, the country’s public national television broadcaster. The network provides extensive coverage of the tournament, with live matches, highlights, interviews, and analysis across its various channels. Additionally, Amazon Prime Video holds the rights to broadcast night sessions, which was a huge contract, and allowed tens of millions of people around the world to enjoy the tournament’s action.

In the United States, NBC Sports is the long-standing broadcaster of the French Open. The network’s coverage includes live matches, highlights, and analysis across its various platforms, including NBC, NBC Sports Network, and the NBC Sports app. Tennis Channel also provides extensive coverage of the tournament, offering viewers additional opportunities to follow the action.

In the United Kingdom, Eurosport holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the French Open. The network offers comprehensive coverage of the tournament, with live matches, highlights, and expert analysis throughout the two-week event. British viewers can also stream the action online via the Eurosport Player, although this is a paid subscription.

Other notable broadcasters and streaming platforms that cover the French Open include ESPN in Latin America and Australia, Sony Pictures Sports Network in India, and WOWOW in Japan. In recent years, the rise of online streaming services has further expanded the reach of the French Open, with streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Sling TV offering coverage in select markets.