French Open Tennis

French Open History

The very first French Championships were in 1891, and the tournament has since evolved into one of the four Grand Slams. However, the competition did not become an international event until 1925. And in 1928, the tournament was moved to its current home, Roland Garros.

The Early Years of the French Open

The first competition was a one-day national championship, which strangely enough had an English winner in the men's tournament. Without the participation of the world's best, the competition remained obscure until it became fully international 24 years later.
After the First World War, French tennis was on the crest of a wave, with Suzanne Lenglen winning six times between 1920 and 1926. Coupled with the need to host the Davis Cup after the winning it in 1927, the popularity of tennis in France precipitated the construction of a brand new tennis stadium at Porte D'Auteuil.
Following the Second World War, France's domination began to crumble and the Americans and Australians took over, with new young stars such as Ken Rosewall of Australia and America's Maureen Connolly. In 1956 the tournament was host to the first African-American Grand Slam winner, the American Althea Gibson.
Bjorn Borg In 1968, the Open era started when professionals were permitted to enter the French Open. Rosewall stepped up to claim the men's prize money, 15 years after taking his first title. Nancy Richey took the ladies prize.
Legends of the sport took trophy after trophy in the 70's and 80's, with Bjorn Borg winning six titles and Chris Evert taking home seven. The 80's also heralded the return of French success, with Yannick Noah capturing France's first title for 37 years.
The late 80's and early 90's saw the rise of the teenage stars. Michael Chang won the 1989 Championships at the age of 17 years and 3 months. Monica Seles brought her unique screaming style to the tournament in 1990 and won the title when still only 16.
The French Open will continue to develop as tennis evolves, and as the new century unfolds new legends are certain to be created. 

Prize money

In 2010, the prize money awarded in the men's and women's singles tournaments was equal and distributed as follows:

Final Standing	Prize Money
Winner	€1,120,000
Finalist	€560,000
Semi-finalist	€280,000
Quarter-finalist	€140,000
Fourth round	€70,000
Third round	€42,000
Second round	€25,000
First round	€15,000

Ranking points
Ranking points for the ATP and WTA have varied at the French Open through the years but presently singles players receive the following points:

Ranking points

	ATP	WTA
1st Round	10	5
2nd Round	45	100
3rd Round	90	160
4th Round	180	280
Quarter Finalist	360	500
Semi Finalist	720	900
Runner Up	1200	1400
Champion	2000	2000

Who has won the French Open?

Year	Men	Ladies
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891	Rafael Nadal Roger Federer Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal Gasón Gaudio Juan Carlos Ferrero Albert Costa Gustavo Kuerten Gustavo Kuerten Andre Agassi Carlos Moya Gustavo Kuerten Yevgueny Kafelnikov Thomas Muster Sergi Bruguera Sergi Bruguera Jim Courier Jim Courier Andres Gomez Michael Chang Mats Wilander Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl Mats Wilander Ivan Lendl Yannick Noah Mats Wilander Bjorn Borg Bjorn Borg Bjorn Borg Bjorn Borg Guillermo Vilas Adriano Panatta Bjorn Borg Bjorn Borg Ilie Nastase Andres Gimeno Jan Kodes Jan Kodes Rod Laver Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Tony Roche Fred Stolle Manuel Santana Roy Emerson Rod Laver Manuel Santana Nicola Pietrangeli Nicola Pietrangeli Mervyn Rose Sven Davidson Lewis Hoad Tony Trabert Tony Trabert Ken Rosewall Jaroslav Drobny Jaroslav Drobny Budge Patty Frank Parker Frank Parker Jozsef Asboth Marcel Bernard William Mcneill Donald Budge Henner Henkel Gottfried Von Cramm Fred Perry Gottfried Von Cramm John Crawford Henri Cochet Jean Borotra Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste Henri Cochet Rene Lacoste Jean Bototra Francois Blanchy Henri Cochet Jean Samazeuilh Andre Gobert Max Decugis Max Decugis Max Decugis Andre Gobert Maurice Germot Max Decugis Max Decugis Max Decugis Maurice Germot Maurice Germot Max Decugis Max Decugis M. Vacherot Andre Vacherot Paul Ayme Paul Ayme Paul Ayme Paul Ayme Andre Vacherot Andre Vacherot Andre Vacherot L. Riboulet J. Schopfer H. Briggs	Francesca Schiavone Svetlana Kuznetsova Ana Ivanovic Justine Henin-Hardenne Justine Henin-Hardenne Justine Henin-Hardenne Anastasia Myskina Justine Henin-Hardenne Serena Williams Jennifer Capriati Mary Pierce Steffi Graf Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Iva Majoli Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Arantxa Sanchez Steffi Graf Monica Seles Monica Seles Monica Seles Arantxa Sanchez Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Chris Evert-Lloyd Chris Evert-Lloyd Martina Navratilova Chris Evert-Lloyd Martina Navratilova Hana Mandlikova Chris Evert-Lloyd Chris Evert-Lloyd Virginia Ruzici Mima Jausovec Sue Barker Chris Evert Chris Evert Margaret Smith-Court Billie-Jean King Evonne Goolagong Margaret Smith-Court Margaret Smith-Court Nancy Richey Francoise Durr Ann Haydon-Jones Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ann Haydon Darlene Hard Christine Truman Zsuzsi Kormoczy Shirley Bloomer Athea Gibson Angela Mortimer Maureen Connolly Maureen Connolly Doris Hart Shirley Fry Doris Hart M. Osborne-Dupont Nelly Landry Patricia Todd Margaret Osborne Simone Mathieu Simone Mathieu Hilde Sperling Hilde Sperling Hilde Sperling Margaret Scriven Margaret Scriven Helen Wills-Moody Cilly Aussem Helen Wills-Moody Helen Wills Helen Wills Kornelia Bouman Suzanne Lenglen Suzanne Lenglen Diddie Vlasto Suzanne Lenglen Suzanne Lenglen Suzanne Lenglen Suzanne Lenglen Marguerite Broquedis Marguerite Broquedis Jeanne Matthey Jeanne Matthey Jeanne Matthey Jeanne Matthey Kate Gillou-Fenwick De Kermel Kate Gillou-Fenwick Kate Gillou-Fenwick Kate Gillou-Fenwick Adine Masson Adine Masson P. Girod Y. Prevost Adine Masson Adine Masson Adine Masson