History of French Open in Timeline
Roland-Garros, or the French Open, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks in late May at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. Named after French aviator Roland Garros, it is the premier clay court championship and the only Grand Slam tournament on this surface. Chronologically, it is the second of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Roland-Garros is known for its demanding clay surface, best-of-five-set men's singles matches, and seven rounds needed to win, making it one of the toughest tennis tournaments.
1902: Mixed Doubles Added to French Championships
The mixed doubles event was introduced to the French Championships in 1902.
1907: French Championships Introduce Women's Doubles
In 1907, the French Championships expanded to include the women's doubles event.
1912: World Hard Court Championships: A Precursor to the French Open
In 1912, the World Hard Court Championships, considered by some as the true forerunner of the French Open due to its inclusion of international competitors, was established at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud.
1913: Tony Wilding Wins World Hard Court Championships
Tony Wilding, a world No. 1 player from New Zealand, claimed victory in the World Hard Court Championships in 1913.
1914: World Hard Court Championships Continues at Stade Français
The World Hard Court Championships continued to be held at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud in 1914.
1915: World War I Forces Cancellation of French Championships
Due to the outbreak of World War I, the French Championships were canceled from 1915.
1919: French Championships Resume after World War I
Following a four-year hiatus due to World War I, the French Championships resumed in 1919.
1921: Bill Tilden Wins World Hard Court Championships
American tennis star Bill Tilden, a world No. 1, emerged victorious in the World Hard Court Championships in 1921.
1923: World Hard Court Championships Held at Stade Français
The World Hard Court Championships was held at Stade Français in Saint-Cloud in 1923.
1924: French Championships Continue Until 1924 Across Four Venues
The French Championships, played across four different venues, continued until 1924.
1924: No World Hard Court Championships Due to Paris Olympics
The World Hard Court Championships was not held in 1924 as the tennis world's attention turned to the Paris Olympic Games.
1925: French Championships Open to International Amateurs
In 1925, the French Championships took a significant step by opening its doors to international amateur players, marking a key milestone in its growth and international recognition.
1926: Croix-Catelan Hosts French Championships
The Croix-Catelan of the Racing Club de France in Paris hosted the French Championships in 1926.
1927: French Championships Held at Stade Français
In 1927, the French Championships were held at Stade Français, a notable venue in the tournament's history.
1927: The Mousquetaires Win Davis Cup
In 1927, the French tennis quartet known as the Mousquetaires or Philadelphia Four (René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, and Jacques Brugnon) achieved a historic victory by winning the Davis Cup on American soil, prompting the decision to build a new stadium for the 1928 Davis Cup challenge.
May 24, 1928: French International Championships Moves to Stade Roland Garros
On May 24, 1928, the French International Championships moved to the newly constructed Stade Roland Garros, named after the World War I aviator hero, marking a significant milestone in the tournament's history.
1941: Tournoi de France Held Unofficially During World War II
From 1941 through 1945, the Tournoi de France took place, but these events are not officially recognized by the French Tennis Federation (FFT).
1945: Unofficial Tournoi de France Concludes
The unofficial Tournoi de France held during the war years concluded in 1945.
1946: French Championships Held After Wimbledon
In 1946, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon, making it the third Grand Slam tournament of the year, a departure from its usual chronological order.
1947: French Championships Remain Third Grand Slam
The French Championships continued to be held after Wimbledon in 1947, maintaining its position as the third Grand Slam event of the year.
1953: Introduction of Trophies
In 1953, the tradition of awarding trophies to the winners of the French Open was established. The trophies, crafted by the renowned Parisian jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller, are made of pure silver and have each winner's name engraved on the base.
1968: French Championships Becomes First Open Grand Slam Tournament
In a groundbreaking move coinciding with the French General Strike, the French Championships became the first Grand Slam tournament to embrace the open era, allowing both amateur and professional players to compete in 1968, marking a pivotal moment in the history of professional tennis.
1975: Roland-Garros Becomes the Last Major to Adopt Grass Courts
In 1975, Roland-Garros became the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments to transition to using grass courts as its primary playing surface.
1975: NBC's French Open Coverage Begins
NBC started broadcasting the French Open in 1975.
1978: Roland Garros Becomes Exclusively Clay
The US Open switched to hard courts in 1978, leaving the French Open as the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay courts.
1979: Coupe Suzanne Lenglen Introduced
The Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, named after the legendary French tennis player, was introduced as the trophy for the women's singles winner in 1979.
1981: BBC Begins French Open Coverage
BBC started broadcasting the French Open finals annually in 1981, a practice that continued until 2011.
1981: New Prizes Introduced at French Open
Starting in 1981, new awards were introduced at the French Open: the Prix Orange, Prix Citron, and Prix Bourgeon, recognizing sportsmanship, character, and emerging talent, respectively.
1981: New Design for Coupe des Mousquetaires
The Coupe des Mousquetaires, awarded to the men's singles winner, received a new design in 1981 by Mellerio dit Meller.
1985: Original Coupe Suzanne Lenglen Retired
The original Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, donated by Suzanne Lenglen's family, was awarded to winners from 1979 to 1985 before being retired and placed in the Musée National du Sport.
1986: New Coupe Suzanne Lenglen
A new Coupe Suzanne Lenglen was awarded for the first time in 1986, replicating a cup originally presented to Suzanne Lenglen by the city of Nice.
1988: Roland Garros's Central Court Renamed Court Philippe Chatrier
In 1988, the central court at Stade Roland Garros was renamed Court Philippe Chatrier in honor of the influential French tennis player and administrator.
1989: Eurosport Begins French Open Coverage
Eurosport began broadcasting the French Open in 1989.
1996: Sampras' Struggle on Clay
Pete Sampras, a 14-time Grand Slam champion known for his powerful serve, reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 1996, his best result in the tournament, highlighting the challenge clay courts pose to serve-and-volley players.
2004: Plans for Covered Stadium at Roland Garros
In response to complaints about rain delays, plans were developed from 2004 to build a covered stadium with a roof at Roland Garros, aiming to mitigate weather-related disruptions and ensure smoother tournament proceedings.
2006: French Open Begins on a Sunday
In 2006, the French Open made a scheduling change, moving its start date to a Sunday, with 12 singles matches played on the three main courts.
March 2007: Equal Prize Money for Men and Women at French Open
In a significant step towards gender equality in tennis, it was announced in March 2007 that the French Open would award equal prize money to both men and women in all rounds, setting a precedent for other Grand Slam tournaments.
2007: ESPN2's Sub-licensed Coverage Begins
ESPN2 started broadcasting morning matches of the French Open under a sub-licensing agreement with Tennis Channel in 2007.
2008: Proposals for Roland Garros Expansion or Relocation
Proposals were put forward to either expand Roland Garros or relocate the tournament to a new venue with 55 courts outside of Paris, reflecting the ongoing considerations regarding modernization and growth.
2010: Possible Move Away from Roland Garros Considered
In 2010, the possibility of relocating the French Open from Roland Garros was considered as part of a potential rejuvenation plan, although renovation and expansion plans ultimately took precedence, ensuring the tournament's continued presence at its historic venue.
2011: End of BBC's French Open Coverage
In 2011, the BBC ended its long-standing annual broadcast of the French Open finals.
2011: Decision to Maintain Tournament at Roland Garros
In 2011, the decision was made to keep the French Open at its existing location, Roland Garros, ending speculation about a potential move and paving the way for expansion and renovation plans.
2012: ITV Sport Takes Over UK Coverage
ITV Sport took over the UK broadcast rights for the French Open from 2012 to 2021.
May 2015: City Council Votes Against Roland Garros Expansion
In May 2015, the Paris City Council voted against the proposed expansion project for Roland Garros, citing concerns raised by environmental groups and other stakeholders, leading to a temporary setback for the renovation plans.
June 2015: Construction Permits Signed for Roland Garros Renovation
Despite earlier opposition, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the signing of construction permits for the Roland Garros renovation in June 2015, with work expected to begin in September and conclude in 2019, signaling a positive step towards modernizing the historic venue.
August 2015: ESPN Drops French Open Coverage
ESPN announced in August 2015 that they would discontinue their sub-licensing agreement with Tennis Channel and drop their French Open coverage starting in 2016, citing incompatibility with their coverage model for other Grand Slam tournaments.
December 2015: Renovation Work Halted by Administrative Court
Renovation work at Roland Garros faced another hurdle in December 2015 when the Administrative Court of Paris issued a halt order following legal challenges.
2016: End of ESPN2's French Open Coverage
In 2016, ESPN2's coverage of the French Open concluded following the termination of their sub-licensing agreement with Tennis Channel.
2017: Live Nationwide Coverage of Semifinals
From 2017 onwards, NBC began simulcasting the later men's and women's semifinals on NBCSN, allowing for live coverage across the nation.
2018: Roland Garros Renovation Begins
At the end of the 2018 French Open, significant renovations began, including redeveloped seating, a retractable roof for Court Philippe-Chatrier, and a new 5,000-seat Court Simonne-Mathieu.
2019: Impact of Indianapolis 500 on NBC Coverage
Since acquiring the rights to the Indianapolis 500 in 2019, NBC's French Open coverage begins on Memorial Day, the tournament's second day.
2019: Roland Garros Renovation Completion Target
The year 2019 was set as the target for completing the extensive renovation project at Roland Garros, encompassing the construction of a new stadium, expansion of existing facilities, and upgrades to the tournament village.
2020: Pandemic Impact and New Features
In 2020, the French Open was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and held with limited spectators. This year marked the first use of the new retractable roof over Philippe-Chatrier, and floodlights were installed enabling night matches for the first time.
2021: End of ITV Sport's French Open Coverage
In 2021, ITV Sport's coverage of the French Open concluded.
2021: Return to Traditional Schedule
The 2021 French Open returned to its traditional slot in late May and early June after the pandemic-related disruptions of the previous year.
2022: Eurosport Gains Exclusive UK Rights
From 2022 onwards, Eurosport acquired exclusive UK broadcast rights for the French Open.
2022: New Tiebreaker Format at French Open
The 2022 French Open saw the implementation of a new tiebreaker format. If a deciding set reaches six-all, the match is decided by a 10-point tiebreaker. If the tiebreaker score is tied at 9-all, the player who scores two consecutive points wins. This change, adopted by all four Grand Slams, aimed to create consistency in rules and enhance the experience for both players and fans.
2023: Previous Prize Money
In 2023, the French Open had a certain prize pool, which was later increased for the 2024 tournament.
2023: Ball Boys and Ball Girls Selection Process
In 2023, the selection process for the French Open's ball boys and ball girls, aged 11 to 16, involved approximately 4,000 applicants who were all licensed members of the French Tennis Federation.
2024: Ball Gatherers for 2024 Tournament
280 "ramasseurs de balles" (ball gatherers) are planned to be selected for the 2024 French Open.
2024: Prize Money Increase
The prize money for the 2024 French Open was announced to be €53.478 million, a 7.82% increase from the 2023 edition.
2027: Broadcast Rights in France
France Télévisions and Amazon Prime Video hold the broadcast rights for the French Open until 2027, with all 11 "night sessions" exclusive to Prime Video.
