HISTORY OF THE FRENCH OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP Believe it or not, the French Open, renowned for being played on slow red clay, was initially played on grass! The tournament was first played in Paris in 1891. In 1897, a women's singles was added as well. But it wasn't until 1925 that non-French players were allowed to compete. There were no official championships during the war years of 1939-45. The 1920's were glory days for French tennis. On the Female side there was the legendary Suzanne L.