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French Open

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A photo of Court Philippe Chatrier, a famous tennis stadium where major matches are held.

The French Open (French: Internationaux de France de tennis), officially branded Roland-Garros (French: [ʁɔlɑ̃ ɡaʁos]), is a tennis tournament organized by the French Tennis Federation annually at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It is the second of the four Grand Slam tennis events every year, held after the Australian Open and before Wimbledon and the US Open. It started in 1891 but became a Grand Slam event in 1925.

The French Open begins in late May and lasts for two weeks. The tournament and venue are named after the French aviator Roland Garros.

The French Open is the main clay court tournament in the world and the only Grand Slam played on this surface. Until 1975, the French Open was the only major tournament not played on grass. The clay surface makes the French Open a very challenging tournament.

History

Court Philippe Chatrier during the 2013 French Open

The French Open is officially called Internationaux de France de Tennis in French, but it is known as Roland-Garros in all languages. In English, we usually call it the French Open.

The French Open started in 1891 as the Championnat de France, and was first called the "French Championships" in English. At first, only members of French tennis clubs could play. The first winner was H. Briggs, a Briton living in Paris. The women’s singles began in 1897. The tournament did not happen between 1915 and 1919 because of World War I. In 1925, the French Championships opened to players from all over the world and became a major championship. The tournament moved to its current home, Stade Roland Garros, in 1928. During World War II, the tournament did not happen in 1940 and from 1941 to 1945, but these events are not counted by the French Tennis Federation. In 1968, the French Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to let both amateur and professional players compete.

Surface

The five different layers composing the clay courts

The French Open is special because it is the only major tennis tournament played on clay courts. Since 1978, the French Open has used slow clay courts, while other big tournaments use hard courts. The clay makes the ball bounce higher and slower, changing the game and helping some players.

Many famous players have won the French Open, showing they can play well on clay. The clay courts use human line judges, not fully automated calls. Players can ask the chair umpire to check close calls by looking at the marks left in the clay. The clay courts are made from red clay dust, crushed limestone, coal aggregate, crushed gravel, and drain rock fragments.

Trophies

Rafael Nadal holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires in 2006

The winners of the French Open receive special trophies made of pure silver, crafted by the Parisian jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller. Each winner’s name is added to the base of their trophy, and they also get a smaller replica to keep.

The men’s singles winner receives the Coupe des Mousquetaires, named after the "Four Musketeers". The women’s singles winner gets the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen (Suzanne Lenglen Cup), named after a famous tennis player. Both trophies are kept by the French Tennis Federation after the winners receive their replicas.

Prize money and ranking points

For the 2025 French Open, the prize money was 56.352 million. This is a little more than the 2024 edition.

Players earn points in the tournament. These points help decide their rankings. Both men and women have their own rules for getting points.

EventWinnerFinalistSemifinalsQuarterfinalsRound of 16Round of 32Round of 64Round of 128Q3Q2Q1
Singles€2,550,000€1,275,000€690,000€440,000€265,000€168,000€117,000€78,000€43,000€29,500€21,000
Doubles1€590,000€295,000€148,000€80,000€43,500€27,500€17,500—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Mixed doubles1€122,000€61,000€31,000€17,500€10,000€5,000—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Wheelchair singles€63,900€31,950€20,600€12,360€8,750—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Wheelchair doubles1€21,650€11,350€8,250€5,150—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Quad wheelchair singles€63,900€31,950€20,600€12,360—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Quad wheelchair doubles1€21,650€11,350€8,250—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
EventWFSFQFRound of 16Round of 32Round of 64Round of 128QQ3Q2Q1
Men's singles200013008004002001005010251680
Men's doubles0—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Women's singles78043024013070104030202
Women's doubles10—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a

Champions

The French Open, also called Roland-Garros, has had many champions over the years. Winners receive special trophies. The men's singles winner gets the Coupe des Mousquetaires. The women's singles winner gets the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. There are also trophies for men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. You can learn more about all the champions here.

2025 French Open
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2025 men's singles champion
Coco Gauff, the 2025 women's singles champion
Marcel Granollers was part of the winning men's doubles team in 2025.
Horacio Zeballos was part of the winning men's doubles team in 2025.
Sara Errani was part of the winning women's and mixed doubles team in 2025.
Jasmine Paolini was part of the winning women's doubles team in 2025.
Andrea Vavassori was part of the winning mixed doubles team in 2025.

Records

Rafael Nadal, the all-time record holder in men's singles

The French Championships started in 1891. At first, only members of French clubs could play. In 1925, the tournament opened to players from around the world. It became known as the French Open in 1968 when professional players were allowed to compete. For more details, see WHCC.

RecordEraPlayer(s)CountYears
Men since 1891
Most singles titlesOpen EraSpain Rafael Nadal142005–2008, 2010–2014, 2017–2020, 2022
Amateur EraFrance Henri Cochet41926, 1928, 1930, 1932
World Hard Court Championships: 1922
French Championships*France Max Decugis81903–1904, 1907–1909, 1912–1914
Most consecutive singles titlesOpen EraSpain Rafael Nadal52010–2014
Amateur EraUnited States Frank Parker
Egypt Jaroslav Drobný
United States Tony Trabert
Italy Nicola Pietrangeli
21948–1949
1951–1952
1954–1955
1959–1960
French Championships*France Paul Aymé41897–1900
Most doubles titlesOpen EraCanada Daniel Nestor
Belarus Max Mirnyi
42007 with Mark Knowles, 2010 with Nenad Zimonjić, 2011, 2012 with Max Mirnyi.
2005, 2006 with Jonas Björkman, 2011, 2012 with Daniel Nestor.
Amateur EraAustralia Roy Emerson61960, 1962 with Neale Fraser, 1961 with Rod Laver, 1963 with Manuel Santana, 1964 with Ken Fletcher, 1965 with Fred Stolle.
French Championships*France Max Decugis131902–1909, 1911–1914, 1920
Most consecutive doubles titlesOpen EraCanada Daniel Nestor32010–2012
Amateur EraAustralia Roy Emerson61960–1965
French Championships*France Maurice Germot101906–1914, 1920
Most mixed doubles titlesOpen EraFrance Jean-Claude Barclay31968, 1971, 1973 with Françoise Dürr.
Amateur EraAustralia Ken Fletcher31963–1965 with Margaret Court.
French Championships*France Max Decugis71904–1906, 1908–1909, 1914 and 1920 with Suzanne Lenglen.
Most Championships
(singles, doubles & mixed doubles)
Open EraSpain Rafael Nadal142005–2008, 2010–2014, 2017–2020, 2022 (14 singles)
French Championships*France Max Decugis281902–1920 (8 singles, 13 doubles, 7 mixed)
Women since 1897
Most singles titlesOpen EraUnited States Chris Evert71974–1975, 1979–1980, 1983, 1985–1986
French Championships*France Suzanne Lenglen61920–1923, 1925–1926
World Hard Court Championships: 1914, 1921–23
Most consecutive singles titlesOpen EraSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles
Belgium Justine Henin
Poland Iga Świątek
31990–1992
2005–2007
2022–2024
French Championships*France Jeanne Matthey
France Suzanne Lenglen
41909–1912
1920–1923
Most doubles titlesOpen EraCzech Republic/United States Martina Navratilova71975 with Chris Evert, 1982 with Anne Smith, 1984–1985, 1987, 1988 with Pam Shriver, 1986 with Andrea Temesvári.
French Championships*France Simonne Mathieu61933, 1934 with Elizabeth Ryan, 1936–1937, 1938 with Billie Yorke, 1939 with Jadwiga Jędrzejowska.
Most consecutive doubles titlesOpen EraUnited States Martina Navratilova
United States Gigi Fernández
51984–1985, 1987–1988 with Pam Shriver, 1986 with Andrea Temesvári.
1991 with Jana Novotná, 1992–95 with Natasha Zvereva.
French Championships*France Françoise Dürr51967–1971
Most mixed doubles titlesOpen EraFrance Françoise Dürr31968, 1971, 1973 with Jean-Claude Barclay.
French Championships*France Suzanne Lenglen71914, 1920 with Max Decugis, 1921–1923, 1925, 1926 with Jacques Brugnon.
Most Championships
(singles, doubles & mixed doubles)
Open EraCzech Republic/United States Martina Navratilova111974–1988 (2 singles, 7 doubles, 2 mixed)
French Championships*France Suzanne Lenglen151919–1926 (6 singles, 2 doubles, 7 mixed)
Wheelchair: singles and doubles since 2007, quads since 2019
Most singles titlesMenJapan Shingo Kunieda82007–2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022
WomenNetherlands Esther Vergeer62007–2012
QuadsAustralia Dylan Alcott32019–2021
Most consecutive singles titlesMenJapan Shingo Kunieda42007–2010
WomenNetherlands Esther Vergeer62006–2009
QuadsAustralia Dylan Alcott32019–2021
Most doubles titlesMenJapan Shingo Kunieda82007–2011, 2013–2015
WomenNetherlands Aniek van Koot92010, 2013, 2015, 2018–2022, 2024
QuadsUnited States David Wagner32019–2022
Most consecutive doubles titlesMenUnited Kingdom Alfie Hewett
United Kingdom Gordon Reid
52020–2024
2020–2024
WomenNetherlands Diede de Groot
Netherlands Aniek van Koot
52018–2022
2018–2022
QuadsUnited States David Wagner32019–2022
Miscellaneous
Unseeded championsMenSweden Mats Wilander
Brazil Gustavo Kuerten
Argentina Gastón Gaudio
1982
1997
2004
WomenUnited Kingdom Margaret Scriven
Latvia Jeļena Ostapenko
Poland Iga Świątek
Czech Republic Barbora Krejčíková
1933
2017
2020
2021
Youngest singles championMenUnited States Michael Chang17 years and 3 months (1989)
WomenSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles16 years and 6 months (1990)
Oldest singles championMenSerbia Novak Djokovic36 years and 20 days (2023)
WomenHungary Zsuzsa Körmöczy33 years and 10 months (1958)

Media coverage and broadcasting

France Télévisions and Amazon Prime Video show the French Open until 2027. All night sessions are only on Prime Video. In the United States, NBC first showed the tournament. Then Tennis Channel took over. Now, TNT Sports will show the matches starting in 2025. In the United Kingdom, the BBC used to show the finals. Now Eurosport has the rights. In India, Star Sports used to have the rights. Now Sony Pictures Sports Network shows the matches. Across Europe (except France), Eurosport broadcasts the tournament until 2030.

Brand identity

The logo of Roland-Garros shows an “RG” monogram with the tournament’s name. It uses a special font for all its pictures.

Since 1980, a new artist has made a poster for the tournament each year. The poster for 2026 was made by the artist JR. In 2014, Roland-Garros also added a sonic identity. This was made by the agency Sixième Son. It plays when players enter, when the trophy is given out, and when results are announced.

Ball boys and ball girls

Every year, 280 ball boys and ball girls help at the French Open. They are between 11 and 16 years old and wear special Lacoste shirts and shorts. To become a ball boy or girl, children must apply through the French Tennis Federation. Many children apply each year. After being chosen, they receive training before the tournament.

Images

Chris Evert enjoying a game of tennis at Camp David.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on French Open, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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