The French Open has not always been what we see on television today. It is so easy to forget the simple roots that most tennis tournaments started out with when we look at the glamorous and modern depictions that are more common today. Often, the simple history and heritage of a tournament is what leads to its prestige and its inherent meaning to players and spectators.

The legacy of the French Open begins in 1891, when the French Clay Court Championships was conceived, which was originally reserved for athletes who were members of the French tennis clubs. The women’s singles began six years later in 1897, and had only four entries. The tournament was played at several venues, the Stade Français, the Parc de Saint-Cloud and the Racing Club de France’s Croix-Catelan grounds.