Roland Garros: Everything you need to know on the French Open from past winners to prize money

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Roland Garros is an annual tennis tournament often also called the French Open and is one of the sport’s four Grand Slam events, so here is everything that you need to know.

Winning Roland Garros secures a player their spot in tennis history and can count towards a Grand Slam. It is one of just four major events on the ATP and WTA Tours with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Roland Garros also falls as the second major each year.

The best male and female tennis players head to Roland Garros from late May to early June every year to compete for the French Open. It is even tennis’ only major event to be played on a clay court, with Roland Garros providing a unique challenge for any of the competitors.

Tennis greats have even descended on France to play at Roland Garros ever since 1891. The 2025 edition is the 129th running of the tournament, which became a Grand Slam event in 1925. So, with that in mind, here is everything that you need to know about Roland Garros.

Where is Roland Garros? Where is the French Open held?

Roland Garros or as it is often referred to as the French Open earns its nickname as it is held in Paris. The tournament also takes place at the Stade Roland Garros, which is a collection of courts that are located in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, Bois de Boulogne, in the city’s west.

History of Roland Garros

Roland Garros has been the traditional second major event of the tennis schedule each year since 1987. But the tournament itself dates back to 1891 with the first men’s championship. The first women’s championship at Roland Garros did not follow suit until the 1897 edition.

The French Open also closed its doors between 1915 and 1919 due to World War I. But the tournament did take place during WWII. However, the editions between 1941 and 1945 did not receive endorsement by the French Tennis Federation which organises the actual event.

It was also not until 1928 that the French Open found its home at the Stade Roland Garros, to which it earns its predominant name now. Organisers originally took the French Open to the Racing Club de France and to the Stade Francais of Paris in alternative years until 1927.

Early editions of the French Open prior to WWI are not considered toward a player’s Grand Slam record, as well. The tournament was first run as a French club members-only event. It only invited players from the 1925 edition and it did not see a foreign champion until 1927.

Men’s title winners at Roland Garros earn a replica of the Coupe des Mousquetaires, while the women’s champions receive the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. French Open champions have received the trophies since 1953 but the designs have also been adapted through the years.

La Maison Mellerio, a Parisian jewellers with roots in the 17th century, produces the Roland Garros trophies. Additionally, the Coupe des Mousquetaires became the Musketeers’ Cup in 1981 as it pays tribute to Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste.

Similarly, the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen earned its current name in 1979 in honour of six-time Roland Garros champion, Suzanna Lenglen. It is almost identical to the trophy that Lenglen received from the City of Nice throughout a dominant period between 1920 through 1926.

Why is Roland Garros played on a clay court?

Roland Garros is the only major tennis event played on a clay court, with Wimbledon going alone with a grass court compared to the Australian Open and US Open taking hard courts.

Clay courts are more common in central European and Latin American countries owing to its superior ability to withstand warmer climates. Yet clay was at first initially used as a practical measure above all else in 1880 to cover grass courts that had started to wilt due to the heat.

Organisers of Roland Garros use a total of five layers totalling nearly 80 centimetres thick for the clay courts. The first layer is made of stones for drainage, followed by at least 30cm of crushed gravel, 7-8cm of clinker (volcanic coal residue), 6-7cm of crushed white limestone and 1-2mm of crushed red brick dust. The last layer is also what gives the courts’ ochre hue.

Roland Garros also opts to go alone with clay courts to provide a unique challenge. The clay surface is slower than grass or hard courts and also changes the way and direction a tennis ball bounces. It can also produce greater spin and encourages top spin, slice and drop shots.

Players who are raised playing on clay courts often enjoy the most success at Roland Garros, as well. But the courts demand a lot of maintenance with organisers sweeping them before, during and after games, as well as watering them after games and intensively in the evening.

Who has won the most Roland Garros titles?

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has won the most men’s Roland Garros titles in the Open Era with 14. He took the Coupe des Mousquetaires home after winning the French Open in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Henri Cochet, meanwhile, won the most men’s Roland Garros titles in the Amateur Era with four. The Frenchman won in 1926, 1928, 1930 and 1932. Max Decugis also won eight times whilst it was the French Championships between 1903 and 1914 with three dominant runs.

American tennis great Chris Evert has won the most women’s titles at Roland Garros in the Open Era with seven. She won the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1986. Suzanne Lenglen won the most titles as the French Championships with six.

Who is the youngest person to ever win Roland Garros?

Michael Chang became the youngest person to win a men’s title at Roland Garros to date in 1989. The American won the tournament three months after celebrating his 17th birthday.

Monica Seles also became the youngest person to win a women’s title at Roland Garros thus far in 1990. The Yugoslavian won the tournament at the age of 16 years and six months old.

Who is the oldest person to ever win Roland Garros?

Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic became the oldest person to win a men’s title at Roland Garros in 2023. The Grand Slam legend won his third French Open at 36 years and 20 days.

Zsuzsa Kormoczy remains the oldest person to win a women’s title at Roland Garros. She set the record way back in 1958 when the Hungarian won at the age of 33 years and 10 months.

What is the prize money for Roland Garros 2024?

The prize money available for the players at Roland Garros increases year-on-year, with the pool available at the 2024 edition marking an increase of 7.8% on 2023. It stood at €53.5m (£46m) in 2024, but the figure includes the prize money available for all players competing.

The men’s and women’s singles champions each received €2.4m (£2m) and the defeated finalists also made €1.2m (£1m). The championship-winning teams in the men’s doubles and women’s doubles also received €590k (£505k) per team for winning at Roland Garros 2024.

Men’s and women’s singles prize money at Roland Garros 2024

Who are the previous men’s singles champions of Roland Garros?

Here is a list of every men’s champion at Roland Garros, including when it was run as the French Championship from 1891 until 1967 and as the French Open from 1968 to today.

1891 – H. Briggs

1892 – Jean Schopfer

1893 – Laurent Riboulet

1894 – Andre Vacherot

1895 – Andre Vacherot

1896 – Andre Vacherot

1897 – Paul Ayme

1898 – Paul Ayme

1899 – Paul Ayme

1900 – Paul Ayme

1901 – Andre Vacherot

1902 – Marcel Vacherot

1903 – Max Decugis

1904 – Max Decugis

1905 – Maurice Germot

1906 – Maurice Germot

1907 – Max Decugis

1908 – Max Decugis

1909 – Max Decugis

1910 – Maurice Germot

1911 – Andre Gobert

1912 – Max Decugis

1913 – Max Decugis

1914 – Max Decugis

1920 – Andre Gobert

1921 – Jean Samazeuilh

1922 – Henri Cochet

1923 – Francois Blanchy

1924 – Jean Borotra

1925 – Rene Lacoste

1926 – Henri Cochet

1927 – Rene Lacoste

1928 – Henri Cochet

1929 – Rene Lacoste

1930 – Henri Cochet

1931 – Jean Borotra

1932 – Henri Cochet

1933 – Jack Crawford

1934 – Gottfried von Cramm

1935 – Fred Perry

1936 – Gottfried von Cramm

1937 – Henner Henkel

1938 – Don Budge

1939 – Don McNeill

1941 – Bernard Destremau

1942 – Bernard Destremau

1943 – Yvon Petra

1944 – Yvon Petra

1945 – Yvon Petra

1946 – Marcel Bernard

1947 – Jozsef Asboth

1948 – Frank Parker

1949 – Frank Parker

1950 – Budge Patty

1951 – Jaroslav Drobny

1952 – Jaroslav Drobny

1953 – Ken Rosewall

1954 – Tony Trabert

1955 – Tony Trabert

1956 – Lew Hoad

1957 – Sven Davidson

1958 – Mervyn Rose

1959 – Nicola Pietrangeli

1960 – Nicola Pietrangeli

1961 – Manuel Santana

1962 – Rod Laver

1963 – Roy Emerson

1964 – Manuel Santana

1965 – Fred Stolle

1966 – Tony Roche

1966 – Roy Emerson

1968 – Ken Rosewall

1969 – Rod Laver

1970 – Jan Kodes

1971 – Jan Kodes

1972 – Andres Gimeno

1973 – Ilie Nastase

1974 – Bjorn Borg

1975 – Bjorn Borg

1976 – Adriano Panatta

1977 – Guillermo Vilas

1978 – Bjorn Borg

1979 – Bjorn Borg

1980 – Bjorn Borg

1981 – Bjorn Borg

1982 – Mats Wilander

1983 – Yannick Noah

1984 – Ivan Lendl

1985 – Mats Wilander

1986 – Ivan Lendl

1987 – Ivan Lendl

1988 – Mats Wilander

1989 – Michael Chang

1990 – Andres Gomez

1991 – Jim Courier

1992 – Jim Courier

1993 – Sergi Bruguera

1994 – Sergi Bruguera

1995 – Thomas Muster

1996 – Yevgeny Kafelnikov

1997 – Gustavo Kuerten

1998 – Carlos Moya

1999 – Andre Agassi

2000 – Gustavo Kuerten

2001 – Gustavo Kuerten

2002 – Albert Costa

2003 – Juan Carlos Ferrero

2004 – Gaston Gaudio

2005 – Rafael Nadal

2006 – Rafael Nadal

2007 – Rafael Nadal

2008 – Rafael Nadal

2009 – Roger Federer

2010 – Rafael Nadal

2011 – Rafael Nadal

2012 – Rafael Nadal

2013 – Rafael Nadal

2014 – Rafael Nadal

2015 – Stan Wawrinka

2016 – Novak Djokovic

2017 – Rafael Nadal

2018 – Rafael Nadal

2019 – Rafael Nadal

2020 – Rafael Nadal

2021 – Novak Djokovic

2022 – Rafael Nadal

2023 – Novak Djokovic

2024 – Carlos Alcaraz

Who are the previous women’s singles champions of Roland Garros?

Here is a list of every women’s champion at Roland Garros, including when it was run as the French Championship from 1897 until 1967 and as the French Open from 1968 to today.

1897 – Adine Masson

1898 – Adine Masson

1899 – Adine Masson

1900 – Yvonne Prevost

1901 – Suzanne Girod

1902 – Adine Masson

1903 – Adine Masson

1904 – Kate Gillou

1905 – Kate Gillou

1906 – Kate Gillou-Fenwick

1907 – Comtesse de Kermel

1908 – Kate Gillou-Fenwick

1909 – Jeanne Matthey

1910 – Jeanne Matthey

1911 – Jeanne Matthey

1912 – Jeanne Matthey

1913 – Marguerite Broquedis

1914 – Marguerite Broquedis

1920 – Suzanne Lenglen

1921 – Suzanne Lenglen

1922 – Suzanne Lenglen

1923 – Suzanne Lenglen

1924 – Julie Vlasto

1925 – Suzanne Lenglen

1926 – Suzanne Lenglen

1927 – Kea Bouman

1928 – Helen Wills Moody

1929 – Helen Wills Moody

1930 – Helen Wills Moody

1931 – Cilly Aussem

1932 – Helen Wills Moody

1933 – Margaret Scriven Vivian

1934 – Margaret Scriven Vivian

1935 – Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling

1936 – Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling

1937 – Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling

1938 – Simonne Mathieu

1939 – Simonne Mathieu

1941 – Alice Weiwers

1942 – Alice Weiwers

1943 – Simone Iribarne Lafargue

1944 – Raymonde Jones Veber

1945 – Lolette Payot

1946 – Margaret Osborne duPont

1947 – Patricia Canning Todd

1948 – Nelly Adamson Landry

1949 – Margaret Osborne duPont

1950 – Doris Hart

1951 – Shirley Fry

1952 – Doris Hart

1953 – Maureen Connolly

1954 – Maureen Connolly

1955 – Angela Mortimer

1956 – Althea Gibson

1957- Shirley Bloomer

1958 – Zsuzsa Kormoczy

1959 – Christine Truman – Zsuzsa Kormoczy

1960 – Darlene Hard

1961 – Ann Haydon

1962 – Margaret Court

1963 – Lesley Turner

1964 – Margaret Court

1965 – Lesley Turner

1966 – Ann Haydon Jones

1967 – Francoise Durr

1968 – Nancy Richey

1969 – Margaret Court

1970 – Margaret Court

1971 – Evonne Goolagong

1972 – Billie Jean King

1973 – Margaret Court

1974 – Chris Evert

1975 – Chris Evert

1976 – Sue Barker

1977 – Mima Jausovec

1978 – Virginia Ruzici

1979 – Chris Evert

1980 – Chris Evert

1981 – Hana Mandlikova

1982 – Martina Navratilova

1983 – Chris Evert

1984 – Martina Navratilova

1985 – Chris Evert

1986 – Chris Evert

1987 – Steffi Graf

1988 – Steffi Graf

1989 – Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

1990 – Monica Seles

1991 – Monica Seles

1992 – Monica Seles

1993 – Steffi Graf

1994 – Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

1995 – Steffi Graf

1996 – Steffi Graf

1997 – Iva Majoli

1998 – Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

1999 – Steffi Graf

2000 – Mary Pierce

2001 – Jennifer Capriati

2002 – Serena Williams

2003 – Justine Henin

2004 – Anastasia Myskina

2005 – Justine Henin

2006 – Justine Henin

2007 – Justine Henin

2008 – Ana Ivanovic

2009 – Svetlana Kuznetsova

2010 – Francesca Schiavone

2011- Li Na

2012 – Maria Sharapova

2013 – Serena Williams

2014 – Maria Sharapova

2015 – Serena Williams

2016 – Garbine Muguruza

2017 – Jeļena Ostapenko

2018 – Simona Halep

2019 – Ashleigh Barty

2020 – Iga Swiatek

2021 – Barbora Krejcukova

2022 – Iga Swiatek

2023 – Iga Swiatek

2024 – Iga Swiatek