What organization runs the French Open?

The French Tennis Federation runs the French Open. Known in French as the Fédération Française de Tennis, or FFT, it organizes the tournament at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris.

The FFT is France's national governing body for tennis. Its responsibilities extend beyond the two-week Grand Slam: it promotes tennis, coordinates French clubs and competitions, and manages France's national teams in international events. The federation's headquarters are also at Roland-Garros.

The tournament began in 1891 as the French Championships and was initially restricted to players who belonged to French clubs. It became an international major in 1925, while the modern Roland-Garros venue opened in 1928. The event is named after Roland Garros, the French aviator and early aviation pioneer.

The International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA are often confused with the organizer. The ITF is tennis's international governing body, while the ATP and WTA represent and administer the men's and women's professional tours. They are involved in the broader tennis structure, but the French Tennis Federation is the organization that stages the French Open.