History of French Open in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is one of the four prestigious Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held annually in Paris, France. Established in 1891, it is uniquely recognized as the world's premier clay-court championship. The event is characterized by the physical demands of playing on red clay, which slows down the ball and favors players with high endurance and strategic movement. It attracts the globe's top professional athletes, who compete in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories over a two-week period. Rafael Nadal holds the record for the most men's singles titles, often dubbed the 'King of Clay' for his dominance at this venue. The tournament serves as a cornerstone of the professional tennis season, blending rich historical tradition with elite modern competition, and remains a definitive test of mental and physical fortitude for all participants.

1902: Addition of Mixed Doubles

In 1902, the French Championships expanded its competitive categories by officially adding the mixed doubles event to the tournament schedule.

1907: Inauguration of Women's Doubles

The French Championships continued to broaden its tournament scope in 1907 with the formal introduction of the women's doubles event.

1912: Inauguration of World Hard Court Championships

In 1912, the World Hard Court Championships were held at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud, marking the beginning of a tournament series that served as a precursor to the modern French Open.

1913: Anthony Wilding wins World Hard Court Championships

During the 1913 World Hard Court Championships, world No. 1 player Anthony Wilding from New Zealand secured a victory at the event held in Saint-Cloud.

1914: Anthony Wilding repeats as champion

In 1914, Anthony Wilding successfully defended his title at the World Hard Court Championships held at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud.

1915: Tournament Suspension Begins

Due to the onset and progression of World War I, the French Championships ceased tournament organization starting in 1915.

1919: Tournament Suspension Concludes

Following the conclusion of World War I, the hiatus for the French Championships tournament reached its end in 1919 after no events were held during the war years.

1920: World Hard Court Championships resumed

The World Hard Court Championships returned to the Stade Français in Saint-Cloud in 1920 after a hiatus.

1921: Bill Tilden wins World Hard Court Championships

In 1921, American tennis player and world No. 1 Bill Tilden won the World Hard Court Championships hosted at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud.

1922: Brussels hosts World Hard Court Championships

In 1922, the World Hard Court Championships took place in Brussels, Belgium, representing an exception to the event's typical location in Saint-Cloud.

1923: Return to Saint-Cloud

The World Hard Court Championships returned to their traditional venue at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud in 1923.

1924: Cancellation of World Hard Court Championships

In 1924, the World Hard Court Championships were not held because the Paris Olympic Games in Colombes hosted the tennis competition instead.

1924: End of Initial Venue Era

The year 1924 marked the conclusion of a specific era for the French Championships, during which the tournament had utilized four distinct venues for its matches.

1925: French Championships Open Internationally

In 1925, the French Championships underwent a significant transformation by opening to all international amateurs and receiving official designation as a major championship from the International Lawn Tennis Federation. The tournament took place on clay courts at the Stade Français in Saint-Cloud.

1925: French Open Attains Grand Slam Status

In 1925, the French Open officially reached Grand Slam tournament status, marking a major turning point in its history after being established decades earlier in 1891.

1926: Croix-Catelan Hosts French Championships

During the 1926 season, the tournament was hosted by the Croix-Catelan of the Racing Club de France in Paris, utilizing the site that previously held the exclusive French club members-only tournament on clay courts.

1927: The Mousquetaires win the Davis Cup

In 1927, the French team known as the Mousquetaires, or Philadelphia Four, consisting of René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, and Jacques Brugnon, achieved a historic victory by winning the Davis Cup on American soil.

1927: Tournament Held at Stade Français

The French Championships returned to the clay courts of the Stade Français in Saint-Cloud in 1927, maintaining its status as a premier major tournament.

May 1928: The French International Championships move to Stade de Roland Garros

On 24 May 1928, the French International Championships officially relocated to the newly constructed Stade de Roland Garros at Porte d'Auteuil, a venue which has hosted the tournament continuously since that date.

1940: Cancellation of the Tournoi de France

In 1940, the Tournoi de France was not held due to the impact of World War II.

1941: Non-recognized French Championships

Starting in 1941, the tournament took place on the traditional grounds, though these events are not recognized by the Fédération Française de Tennis.

1945: Conclusion of non-recognized tournament era

The period of non-recognized events held by the tournament organizers ended in 1945.

1946: French Championships schedule adjustment

In 1946, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon, positioning the tournament as the third Grand Slam event of the year.

1947: French Championships as the third Grand Slam

Continuing the scheduling change in 1947, the French Championships remained the third Grand Slam event held following Wimbledon.

1953: Standardization of French Open Trophies

Starting in 1953, the French Open officially began awarding the current design of trophies, which are crafted from pure silver by the renowned Parisian jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller. As of 1953, winners have had their names engraved on the base of these trophies, and custom-made silver replicas have been presented to the champions by the president of the French Tennis Federation.

1968: The French Championships go open

In 1968, during the French General Strike, the French Championships became the first Grand Slam tournament to allow both amateur and professional players to compete.

1975: End of French Open as the Only Non-Grass Major

In 1975, a significant milestone occurred in tennis history when the French Open ceased being the only major tournament not held on a grass surface, marking a shift in the standard venues for Grand Slam events during that year.

1978: French Open becomes the sole clay court major

In 1978, the French Open became the only major tennis tournament played on clay courts after the US Open transitioned its surface to hard courts.

1981: Creation of the current Coupe des Mousquetaires design

In 1981, the jewelry house Mellerio dit Meller designed the current version of the Coupe des Mousquetaires, which serves as the official trophy for the men's singles champion at the French Open.

1981: Introduction of New Tournament Prizes

Starting in 1981, the French Open introduced three distinct awards to recognize players: the Prix Orange for sportsmanship, the Prix Citron for personality, and the Prix Bourgeon for the top rising talent of the year.

1996: Pete Sampras achieves best French Open result

In 1996, Pete Sampras recorded his career-best performance at the French Open by reaching the semi-final stage of the tournament.

2001: Renaming of the central court to Court Philippe Chatrier

In 2001, the central court at the Stade de Roland Garros was officially renamed Court Philippe Chatrier to honor the legacy of the tennis official.

2004: Initiation of Roof Stadium Proposals

Starting in 2004, organizers began developing plans to construct a covered stadium with a roof to address ongoing issues regarding match delays caused by weather conditions.

2004: End of Big Three Finalist Dominance Streak

The year 2004 serves as the benchmark year representing the last time a French Open final occurred without the presence of at least one member of the Big Three, a streak that concluded in 2024.

2006: Schedule Expansion to Sunday Start

In 2006, the tournament changed its format to begin on a Sunday, officially opening the competition with 12 singles matches distributed across the event's three main courts.

March 2007: Achievement of Equal Prize Money

In March 2007, organizers announced a major milestone for gender equality by confirming that men and women would receive identical prize money across all rounds of the tournament.

2008: Continuation of Venue Expansion Planning

By 2008, the development plans for the stadium evolved to include various proposals for expanding the current facility or potentially relocating the tournament to a new 55-court site outside of Paris.

2010: Consideration of Relocation and Renovation Plans

During 2010, tournament officials considered moving the French Open to a new venue as part of a modernization effort, though these plans were ultimately replaced by a commitment to renovate and expand the current Roland Garros site.

2011: Finalization of Venue Modernization Plan

In 2011, a decision was made to keep the French Open at its existing location, accompanied by a comprehensive overhaul plan that included adding a retractable roof to Court Philippe-Chatrier, replacing Court No. 1 with a public viewing hill, and expanding the venue into the Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil.

May 2015: City Council Opposition

In May 2015, the local city council officially voted against the proposed French Open expansion project due to legal and environmental concerns.

June 2015: Construction Permits Signed

On 9 June 2015, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the approval and signing of construction permits for the tennis facility, setting a timeline for work to begin in September 2015.

December 2015: Administrative Court Intervention

During December 2015, the Administrative Court of Paris issued a stop-work order regarding the renovations, though the French Tennis Federation successfully appealed the decision to continue the project.

2018: Commencement of Venue Renovation

In 2018, extensive renovation work began at the French Open venue, which included the development of retractable roofing and upgraded seating for Court Philippe-Chatrier, alongside the construction of the greenhouse-encased Court Simonne-Mathieu.

2019: Scheduled Conclusion of Renovations

Following the resolution of legal challenges, the construction project was scheduled to reach its conclusion in 2019.

2020: Postponement and Operational Changes due to Pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the French Open was delayed until late September and early October, featuring limited spectators and the inaugural use of the new retractable roof and floodlights to enable night matches.

2021: Return to Traditional Scheduling

In 2021, the French Open successfully returned to its traditional tournament calendar slot, taking place during the late May and early June period.

2022: Introduction of New Tiebreaker Format

In 2022, the Grand Slam Board implemented a standardized 10-point tiebreaker format for the deciding set of matches at all four Grand Slam tournaments to ensure consistency and improve the experience for players and fans.

2024: Big Three Finalist Absence

During the 2024 French Open, for the first time since 2004, none of the members of the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic—appeared in the tournament final.

2025: Wimbledon Adoption of Automated Line Calls

In 2025, Wimbledon transitioned to using fully automated line calls, highlighting a contrast with the French Open, which remains the only Grand Slam tournament to continue utilizing human line judges as of 2025.

25 May 2025: Farewell Ceremony for Rafael Nadal

On May 25, 2025, the French Open held a special retirement ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier to honor Rafael Nadal. The tribute included videos, a standing ovation, and appearances by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. The event concluded on May 25, 2025, with the unveiling of a permanent commemorative marble plaque featuring his name, the Coupe des Mousquetaires, and a footprint in the clay.