There are different opinions about the venues of the French Closed Championships, held from 1891 until 1924, and the precursor to today's French Open. The source for the facts presented here is the book " Tennis: A Cultural History" by Heiner Gillmeister. The tournament was open only to French nationals and to other players licensed by French tennis clubs. In 1925, the French Championships became open to all amateur players from all countries.

Île de Puteaux, Paris: 1891, 1893, 1895, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907

The first French Closed Championships were held on the courts of the club of the Cercle des Sports de Île Puteaux. The club's ten sand grounds were situated on the island of Puteaux in the Seine near the Bois de Boulogne. The Île de Puteaux hosted the tennis events at the 1900 Olympic Games.

Racing Club de France, Paris: 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910-1914, 1920-1924, 1926

In the early years, the two Parisian sports clubs, the Racing Club de France and Île de Puteaux, which had the largest number of courts and spectator stands, served as the primary venues for the first tennis tournaments. In the 1890s and early 1900s, competitions were held on the courts of these clubs in turn, culminating in the last tournament at the Racing Club de France in 1926, which was won by the legendary French tennis players Henri COCHET and Suzanne LENGLEN.

Societe Athletique de la Villa Primrose, Bordeaux: 1909

One of the oldest and most prestigious sports clubs in France was founded in 1897 in the provincial city of Bordeaux. The city's wealthy families, famous for their affluence, fell in love with the fashionable English sport and invested their money in tennis. Many important events took place on the club's courts. Still, the most memorable were the French Championship in 1909 and the France-Spain match with the "Mousquetaires" in 1922.

Stade Francais, Saint Cloud: 1925, 1927

In 1925, the French Championships became open to the best foreign players. It was held on clay courts at Stade Francais in Saint Cloud Park, Paris. In 1912-1914, 1920, 1921, and 1923, the local courts hosted the World Hard Court Championships, sometimes called another precursor to the French Open. It was an open tournament, unlike the French Closed Championships, and part of a series of three world championships.

Roland Garros, Paris: 1928 - present

Roland Garros Stadium was built in 1928, before France began its first Davis Cup defense against the US Team. After the sensational win over America in 1927, the French Tennis Federation and the Government combined efforts to release three hectares of land near the Porte d'Auteuil. In 1928, a new tennis stadium named for Roland Garros, a pioneer aviator and World War I hero, became a venue for the Davis Cup and French Open. Now the tennis complex consists of 20 courts, including three large-capacity arenas: Court Philippe Chatrier (formerly Court Central), Court Suzanne Lenglen (formerly Court A), and Court 1 with a 3,800-seat capacity, which was opened in 1980.

Roland Garros Stadium Map

Court Philippe Chatrier

Court Philippe Chatrier was built in 1928 and is the principal venue of the Roland Garros complex, with a seating capacity of 14,840 (reduced from 15,166 in 2010 to accommodate new press boxes). In May 2001, formerly known as Court Central, the arena was named in honor of Philippe Chatrier (2 February 1926 - 22 June 2000), long-time president of the French Tennis Federation. In 2008, Roland Garros Stadium celebrated its 80th anniversary, and the former stands A, B, C, and D of the Court Philippe Chatrier were renamed in honor of the famous Musketeers of French tennis: Jacques BRUGNON (stand A), Jean BOROTRA (stand B), Rene LACOSTE (stand C) and Henri COCHET (stand D). Traditionally, the Court Philippe Chatrier has a surface called red clay, made of crushed brick. It is the slowest court in the Grand Slam tournaments.

Court Philippe Chatrier Seating Map

Tribune Lacoste (South) is located behind the player's back on one side. The stand is traditionally where the most shade is found during the day.

Tribune Brugnon (North) is on the opposite side of Lacoste, behind the other baseline. Here are the president's box, VIP loges and the players' boxes.

Tribune Borotra (West) is along the sideline. The sun sits behind this stand after 4 pm, making it ideal for evening sessions.

Tribune Cochet (East) is located opposite the Borotra stand. This is where the players' benches, umpire chair and the best positions for photographers are designated.

Court Suzanne Lenglen

Court Suzanne Lenglen is the second arena of Roland Garros. It was inaugurated in 1994 and, initially named "Court A", later gained status as Court Suzanne Lenglen in honor of Suzanne LENGLEN, the French tennis star of the 1920s. The stadium, with a capacity of 10,068 spectators, has a red clay surface with an underground irrigation system, the first of its kind, to control moisture levels within its surface. In 1994, two main stadiums were connected by a walkway called Allee Marcel BERNARD, in honor of the first French Open champion in Men's Singles after World War II. In 2024, a retractable roof was installed on the second-largest court at the Roland Garros Stadium.

Court Suzanne Lenglen Seating Map

The Suzanne Lenglen Court often indicates orientation using the cardinal points (North, South, West and East) or staircase numbers (escaliers).

Loges. The closest seats to the court for VIPs. Spectators are seated one meter away from the players as they approach the towel box.

Category 1. Seats are located in the lower tier and in the first rows of the upper tier.

Category 2. Mid-level rows in the upper tier (upper circle) of all four stands provide a balanced panoramic view of the entire court, allowing a good view of both the net and the back line.

Category 3. Seats are located in the outermost rows of all four corner sectors of the stadium. Ticket prices here are the most affordable for visitors.