Upcoming Tournaments

Brussels Open

Brussels Open

Brussels, BELGIUM
May 20 - May 25
Internationaux de Strasbourg

Internationaux de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, FRANCE
May 20 - May 25
Roland Garros

Roland Garros

Paris, FRANCE
May 26 - Jun 08
Aegon Classic

Aegon Classic

Birmingham, GREAT BRITAIN
Jun 10 - Jun 16
NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNGSCUP

NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNGSCUP

NÜRNBERG, GERMANY
Jun 10 - Jun 15
Topshelf Open

Topshelf Open

, NETHERLANDS
Jun 16 - Jun 22
Roland Garros

Roland Garros

Paris, FRANCE
May 26 - Jun 08

Tournament Info

Tier: Grand Slams
Prize Money: $12,957,474
Surface: Clay
Director: Gilbert Ysern
In the last week of May, the greats of the tennis world descend upon Paris for the year's second Grand Slam and the climax of the European clay court season - the French Open.

Named after renowned French aviator Roland Garros, the tournament, under its various guises, dates back to 1891 and has long been viewed as one of the highlights on the tennis calendar. In its formative years the competition, then staged at the capital's Stade Français club, was open only to members of French clubs, and it was not until 1925 that the French Tennis Federation decided to open its doors to overseas entrants.

With this expansion, and the growth in popularity of the sport on the continent, came the need for a new site. And in 1928 the tournament made the short journey to Porte d'Auteuil, where it has stayed ever since. The newly internationalized event saw winners from nine countries in the inter- and post-war period, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany and, naturally, France. Another important milestone in the evolution of the tournament came in 1968, when Roland Garros ushered in the Open era by becoming the first Grand Slam to embrace professionalism. The 1970s and 1980s proved to be a golden period in the tournament's history, with seven-time champion Chris Evert, six-time winner Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova all vying for supremacy on the terre battue.

The following decades saw new names write themselves into French Open folklore, as Monica Seles, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Justine Henin all captured the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on multiple occasions. Maria Sharapova became the sixth player of the Open Era to capture the career Grand Slam with her run to the title in 2012. Other 21st century winners include Jennifer Capriati, Serena Williams and Li Na, who became the first Asian Grand Slam champion in 2011.

In 2006, the tournament furthered its reputation for breaking the mold by announcing that main draw action would commence on Sunday, as opposed to the usual Monday start day and to date remains the only Grand Slam that conducts play on three consecutive Sundays.
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Previous Winners

Year Draws Singles Doubles
2012 Maria Sharapova Roberta Vinci / Sara Errani
2011 Na Li Andrea Hlavackova / Lucie Hradecka
2010 Francesca Schiavone Venus Williams / Serena Williams
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual
2008 Ana Ivanovic Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual
Previous Winners

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News

  • Quotable Quotes: Serena, Maria & Vika

    May 25, 2013
    Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka met the press in Paris this week, discussing everything from Rafael Nadal's comeback, being defending champion and adjusting to clay.
  • French Open Draw Unveiled

    May 24, 2013
    Serena Williams begins her quest for a second French Open title against World No.83 Anna Tatishvili.
  • Stats Corner: Co-No.1s At Slams

    May 24, 2013
    Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci are seeking to become just the second pair of co-doubles No.1s to be victorious at a major.
  • French Open: Top 16 Seeds' Histories

    May 23, 2013
    World No.1 Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova lead the pack of contenders for the French Open title.
  • Maria Sharapova: Defending In Style

    May 22, 2013
    Maria Sharapova will defend her French Open title in style with her new Nike Premier Maria Dress and personally customized shoes. Learn more about what she will be wearing in Paris here.
  • CNN Open Court: Suzanne Lenglen

    May 21, 2013
    Once in a lifetime, there's an athlete who changes her sport - Suzanne Lenglen did that in the 1920s. Learn about the French tennis legend in the latest video feature from CNN Open Court.
  • CNN Open Court: Sharapova On Paris

    May 20, 2013
    Maria Sharapova discusses her newfound confidence on clay, how proud she is of her achievements, how far she has come and more in the latest feature from CNN Open Court. Watch it now!
  • Season Review: Part 2

    November 20, 2012
    A look back at the clay court season and Maria Sharapova's historic Roland Garros campaign.
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Photos

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Videos

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Previous Winners

Year Draws Singles Doubles
2012 Maria Sharapova Roberta Vinci / Sara Errani
2011 Na Li Andrea Hlavackova / Lucie Hradecka
2010 Francesca Schiavone Venus Williams / Serena Williams
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual
2008 Ana Ivanovic Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual
2007 Justine Henin Alicia Molik / Mara Santangelo
2006 Justine Henin Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur
2005 Justine Henin Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suarez
2004 Anastasia Myskina Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suarez
2003 Justine Henin Kim Clijsters / Ai Sugiyama
2002 Serena Williams Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suarez
2001 Jennifer Capriati Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suarez
2000 Mary Pierce Martina Hingis / Mary Pierce
1999 Steffi Graf Venus Williams / Serena Williams
1998 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Martina Hingis / Jana Novotna
1997 Iva Majoli Gigi Fernandez / Natasha Zvereva
1996 Steffi Graf Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernandez
1995 Steffi Graf Gigi Fernandez / Natasha Zvereva
1994 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Gigi Fernandez / Natasha Zvereva
1993 Steffi Graf Gigi Fernandez / Natasha Zvereva
1992 Monica Seles Gigi Fernandez / Natasha Zvereva
1991 Monica Seles Gigi Fernandez / Jana Novotna
1990 Monica Seles Jana Novotna / Helena Sukova
1989 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Larisa Neiland / Natasha Zvereva
1988 Steffi Graf Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1987 Steffi Graf Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1986 Chris Evert Martina Navratilova / Andrea Temesvari
1985 Chris Evert Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1984 Martina Navratilova Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1983 Chris Evert Rosalyn Nideffer / Candy Reynolds
1982 Martina Navratilova Martina Navratilova / Anne Smith
1981 Hana Mandlikova
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