The oldest tennis tournaments began in the late 19th century, when lawn tennis was still a new sport. Wimbledon, first played in 1877, is the oldest tournament still running and the earliest of today’s four Grand Slams.
But Wimbledon is not the only event with a long history. The U.S. National Championships, the French Championships and the Australasian Championships all began before the modern professional era—and some of today’s best-known non-Grand Slam tournaments are also more than a century old. Here’s how their histories compare, and what “oldest” means in tennis.
Which Is the Oldest Tennis Tournament?
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament still held today. Its first championship took place in 1877 at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London. The event began as a men’s singles competition on grass, with 22 players taking part. Spencer Gore won the title.
The tournament was modest compared with today’s Wimbledon. It was organized in part to raise money for a broken lawn roller, and spectators paid to watch the final. The women’s singles event was added in 1884, the same year men’s doubles became part of the championships.
Wimbledon is also the oldest of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The other three have their own long-running histories, though their names, locations and eligibility rules have changed over time.
The Oldest Major Tennis Tournaments
| Tournament | First held | Early name or format | Today’s surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 1877 | Championships at the All England Club | Grass |
| U.S. Open | 1881 | U.S. National Championships | Hard court |
| French Open | 1891 | French Championships | Clay |
| Australian Open | 1905 | Australasian Championships | Hard court |
U.S. Open: Founded in 1881
The tournament now called the U.S. Open began as the U.S. National Championships in 1881. Its first edition was a men’s singles event held at the Newport Casino in Rhode Island. Women’s singles was added in 1887. The tournament later moved to Forest Hills, New York, before settling at its current home in Flushing Meadows in 1978.
Its name and format changed as tennis changed. The tournament became the U.S. Open in 1968, when it began welcoming both amateur and professional players at the start of the Open Era. It also moved from grass to clay for a short period before adopting hard courts. So while the competition traces its roots to 1881, today’s event is not identical to the first championship.
French Open: Founded in 1891
The French Championships started in Paris in 1891. At first, the event was restricted to members of French clubs, so it was not yet the international tournament tennis fans know today. Women’s singles followed in 1897, and players from outside France were allowed to compete from 1925.
The tournament moved to the Stade Roland-Garros in 1928, where it developed its lasting identity as a clay-court major. Clay slows the ball and often produces longer rallies, making patience and point construction especially important. That contrast with Wimbledon’s grass courts is one reason the two historic events demand such different approaches.
Australian Open: Founded in 1905
The Australian Open began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships. Its early editions were held in different cities around Australia and New Zealand, reflecting the tournament’s regional roots. The event became the Australian Championships in 1927 and adopted its current name in 1969.
It has also changed surfaces and homes. The tournament was played on grass for much of its history before moving to hard courts and, in 1988, to Melbourne Park. Those changes mean that the event’s 1905 starting point is older than its current name, venue and playing surface.
Other Historic Tournaments Worth Knowing
Not every old tennis event is a Grand Slam. Several long-running tournaments have built their own traditions, though their histories can be less straightforward because of pauses, relocations or changes in format.
- Canadian Championships: First held in 1881, the event that became the Canadian Open is one of the oldest national tennis championships. Its men’s and women’s competitions have not always been held together in the same city.
- Queen’s Club Championships: The London grass-court event began in 1890. It is a key Wimbledon warm-up, where players can adjust to the low bounce and quick points grass often brings.
- Monte-Carlo Masters: First held in 1897, this clay-court tournament has a long-standing place on the European spring circuit. Its coastal setting is famous, but the slow surface still rewards heavy topspin and strong defense.
- Cincinnati Open: Founded in 1899, the tournament is one of the oldest major events in the United States. It has changed venues and names over the years and is now a leading hard-court event before the U.S. Open.
Why Tournament Age Can Be Tricky to Compare
When people ask about the oldest tennis tournaments, they may mean the oldest event ever played, the oldest still held today, or the oldest tournament in its current form. Those answers can differ.
For example, Wimbledon’s first championship was in 1877, but the tournament has been interrupted during the World Wars and in 2020. Other events have paused, moved between cities or changed names. Some began as national competitions and only later opened to international fields. A tournament’s founding year is useful, but it does not mean every edition since then has followed the same format.
It also helps to separate the history of an event from the history of tennis itself. Lawn tennis grew quickly in the 1870s, and early competitions helped establish rules and traditions that still shape the sport. Today’s tournaments are far larger and more professional, but their roots remain visible in details such as Wimbledon’s grass courts and the French Open’s clay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest tennis tournament in the world?
Wimbledon is generally recognized as the oldest tennis tournament still held today. Its first championship was played in 1877.
Which Grand Slam tournament is the second oldest?
The U.S. National Championships, now the U.S. Open, began in 1881. The French Championships followed in 1891, and the Australasian Championships—the forerunner of the Australian Open—began in 1905.
Is the U.S. Open older than the French Open?
Yes. The U.S. National Championships began in 1881, ten years before the French Championships started in 1891.
Have the oldest tournaments been played every year?
No. Some editions were canceled or paused, including Wimbledon in 2020 and various events during the World Wars. Their founding dates refer to the first time the tournaments were held, not an unbroken annual run.
Final Thoughts
Wimbledon leads the list of the oldest tennis tournaments, but the sport’s history stretches across several major events. The U.S. Open traces its roots to 1881, the French Open to 1891, and the Australian Open to 1905. Each has changed over time, yet its early history still adds character to the modern game. When you watch a grass-court rally at Queen’s or a long clay-court battle in Paris, you’re seeing traditions shaped by more than a century of tennis.
