The French Open has been serving up epic tennis moments for years, but have you ever wondered when it all started? Before the world knew Roland Garros as the clay-court battleground for legends, it had pretty humble beginnings. From its first matches to the rise of champions, this tournament has come a long way. Let’s rewind time and find out When Was the First French Open Played?

The First French Open – 1891

The very first French Open was played in 1891. Back then, it wasn’t called the French Open — it was known as the French Championships (Championnat de France). The event was held at the Société de Sport de l’Île de Puteaux, a sports club in Paris. It was a one-day tournament with only a handful of participants, and here’s the catch: only players who belonged to French tennis clubs could enter.

The first winner? A British man named H. Briggs, who lived in France and was a member of a local club. This little-known piece of trivia shows how international tennis roots were already taking shape, even in the tournament’s earliest days.

Going Global: The Big Change in 1925

For over three decades, the tournament remained a national event. But 1925 changed everything. That year, the French Championships opened its doors to international players, instantly gaining global attention.

This move marked the beginning of the tournament as a true Grand Slam event — joining the ranks of Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the US Open.

The Birth of Roland-Garros Stadium: 1928

With the tournament growing in popularity, a new venue was needed. In 1928, the event moved to the newly built Stade Roland-Garros, named after a World War I French fighter pilot and aviation pioneer.

Since then, the stadium has become synonymous with the French Open and is now one of the most iconic venues in tennis history.

Entering the Open Era: 1968

A major shift happened in 1968. The French Open became the first Grand Slam to allow both amateurs and professional players to compete, a revolutionary move that started what we now call the Open Era in tennis.

This decision transformed the tournament into a truly competitive event where the best players in the world could face off, regardless of their status.

Legacy of the French Open

From a small local championship in 1891 to a global sports spectacle today, the French Open has come a long way. It’s now:

• One of the four Grand Slam tournaments

• The only major played on clay courts

• Home to legends like Rafael Nadal, who has won it a record-breaking number of times

Final Thoughts

So, when was the first French Open played? The answer is 1891, and since then, it has evolved into one of the most exciting and historic tournaments in the world of tennis.

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