The French Open’s greatest matches are rarely decided by power alone. On its slow red clay, a short ball can become an invitation to attack—or a trap that gives an opponent time to turn defense into offense. That distinctive challenge has shaped the tournament for more than a century, from its modest beginnings as a French national championship to one of tennis’s four Grand Slam events.
From French championship to international tournament
The tournament began in 1891 as the French Championships, a men’s competition open to players who belonged to French clubs. Women’s singles was added in 1897. For decades, it remained a largely domestic event: foreign players could not enter simply because they were among the world’s best.
That changed in 1925, when the championships opened to international competitors. The change brought the tournament into a new era, and the French public soon had stars of its own to celebrate. The country’s famous “Four Musketeers”—Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and René Lacoste—helped France win the Davis Cup in 1927. The following year, a new tennis venue was built to host the team’s title defense.
That venue was Roland Garros, named for the French aviator and First World War pilot. Its name is now closely tied to the tournament, though Garros himself was not a tennis player. The stadium’s arrival also gave the French Championships a permanent home and a setting that would become famous for its red clay.
Becoming one of the Grand Slams
In 1968, the French Championships became the first of the four major tournaments to enter the Open Era, allowing professionals to compete alongside amateurs. This was a major shift: before then, the leading professional players had often been barred from the traditional championships. The event became known as the French Open, and elite tennis entered a more unified era.
The tournament paused during the Second World War. The official championships were not held from 1940 through 1945, though competitions took place in France during some of those years under occupation. Those events are not counted as official French Open editions. The tournament returned in 1946.
Today, the French Open is played on outdoor clay at Roland Garros in Paris, usually from late May into early June. The surface is made from a thin layer of crushed brick over other materials. It slows the ball and tends to produce a higher bounce than grass or hard courts. That gives players more time to reach shots, but it also makes it harder to hit a clean winner past a well-positioned opponent.
Why clay changes the game
Clay rewards patience, balance and tactical flexibility. A player who can slide into a shot, recover quickly and construct points from the baseline has a natural advantage. Topspin is especially useful: it pushes the ball high after the bounce, forcing an opponent to hit from an uncomfortable position. Players also need to know when to change direction, approach the net or step inside the baseline to take time away.
Rafael Nadal became the clearest example of how a player can master these demands. His heavy forehand, stamina and ability to defend from far behind the baseline made him exceptionally difficult to beat on the surface. He won the men’s singles title 14 times, an unmatched record at Roland Garros. His achievement also shows why a strong clay-court game is more than simply hitting long rallies: Nadal could defend patiently, then turn a point around with a single forceful shot.
Clay can also expose weaknesses. A player who relies on quick, flat winners may find that the surface takes pace off the ball and gives opponents time to respond. Longer points place a premium on fitness and concentration, while a slippery footing can make movement and shot selection feel different from what a player is used to on hard courts. The best clay-court players are rarely committed to one plan; they adapt their depth, spin and court position as a match unfolds.
Champions who shaped the tournament
Roland Garros has had different eras of dominance. Before the Open Era, Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen won six singles titles, becoming one of the sport’s defining early stars. In the modern women’s game, Chris Evert captured seven titles, the most in the tournament’s singles history. Steffi Graf won six, while Serena Williams won three.
In recent years, Iga Świątek has established herself as a leading force on the Paris clay, winning five women’s titles through 2025. On the men’s side, Björn Borg’s six titles set a benchmark before Nadal’s record-breaking run. Novak Djokovic has won three, and Roger Federer won once, in 2009, completing a career Grand Slam by adding the only major singles title missing from his collection.
| Player | Singles titles at Roland Garros | Why the record stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 14 men’s titles | The most singles titles won by any player at the tournament. |
| Chris Evert | 7 women’s titles | The women’s singles record, spanning victories from 1974 to 1986. |
| Björn Borg | 6 men’s titles | A dominant clay-court champion before Nadal’s run. |
| Suzanne Lenglen | 6 women’s titles | An early champion whose titles came before the Open Era. |
| Iga Świątek | 5 women’s titles through 2025 | A leading modern clay-court champion. |
How the tournament has changed
Roland Garros has modernized while keeping clay at its heart. A retractable roof over Court Philippe-Chatrier, completed in 2020, helps play continue when rain threatens. Night sessions began in 2021, giving the tournament a new atmosphere under the lights. In 2022, the Grand Slams introduced a 10-point tie-break at 6–6 in the deciding set, replacing the old advantage-set format in which play could continue without a set-ending tie-break.
Those changes affect how the event is staged, but they have not removed its central challenge. A match on Paris clay still tends to demand patience, careful movement and the ability to win points in several different ways. That is why the French Open often produces a different kind of suspense from the other majors: momentum can shift slowly, then suddenly, as a player finds a way to break through a stubborn defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the French Open begin?
The French Championships began in 1891 as a men’s tournament. Women’s singles was added in 1897, and the event opened to international players in 1925.
Why is the tournament called Roland Garros?
It takes its name from the Roland Garros stadium, which was built in 1928 and named for French aviator and First World War pilot Roland Garros.
Who has won the most French Open singles titles?
Rafael Nadal holds the men’s record with 14 titles. Chris Evert holds the women’s record with seven.
Why is the French Open played on clay?
Clay has been the tournament’s defining surface for generations. It slows the ball and produces a high bounce, encouraging longer rallies and rewarding movement, spin and point construction.
Final Thoughts
The French Open’s history is a story of change: a national championship became an international tournament, then one of the pillars of professional tennis. Yet its red clay still sets it apart. It asks champions to be patient without becoming passive, and to defend well without giving up the chance to attack. That blend of endurance and invention is what makes Roland Garros compelling—and why its champions are remembered long after the last ball lands.
