History of the Australian Open starts in 1905 on the lawns of the Warehousemans Cricket Club. In 1927 tennis tournament became known as Australian Championships and only in 1969 it got his official title - Australian Open. In 1905-1927 Championships hold five Australian cities - Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and two New Zealand cities - Christchurch (1906), Hastings (1912). The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne became the next home of the Australian Open in 1972-1987.

In 1988 Australian Open established a new home at Flinders Park (since 1996 - Melbourne Park) and attendance increase almost twice. In 2000 Centre Court got name of Australian tennis legend - Rod Laver Arena.

All time Australian Open Winners

The first tennis tournament was held on the courts of l'Ile de Puteaux in Paris in 1891 as one-day national championship. Only French players and players from Francais clubs took part in tournament, but first winner was H. BRIGGS from England. In 1925 French Tennis Federation decided to open the championship for the best foreign players. When in 1927 the French Musketeers, Jacques BRUGNON, Jean BOROTRA, Henri COCHET and Rene LACOSTE beat USA in The Davis Cup it was required a new stadium to be built to host the following year's return match.

The French Tennis Federation allocated the area of three hectares near Porte d'Auteuil and their requirement was to name the new stadium as Roland Garros in honor of the former member of the Stade Francais club, aviator, who was the first man who flew over the Mediterranean.

In 1968 French Open became the first Grand Slam tournament of tennis's Open Era and the first Open Era champions became Ken ROSEWALL and Nancy RICHEY. In 2001 centre court got name of the former president of the French Tennis Federation - Court Philippe Chatrier.

All time French Open Winners

In 1877 on the area of the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club the history of the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world began. It's first ground was situated off Worple Road, Wimbledon. The competition had only 22 male participants and the first winner was Spencer GORE. The Men's Doubles event was added in 1879, Women's Singles in 1884, and the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles in 1913. In 1905 May SUTTON of the United States became the first Women's Singles overseas winner and Norman BROOKES of Australia in 1907 won first Men's Singles as international player.

In 1922 new ground in Church Road was opened by King George V. New Centre Court had a capacity of 14 thousand people. The Royal Box of Centre Court seats 75 people and is used for royalty and celebrities, who got official invitation from the Chairman of the Club. In 2009 the new retractable roof was built on Centre Court which enable all weather play during The Championships. In 2010 the longest match in tennis history took place at Wimbledon. John ISNER of USA beat Nicolas MAHUT of France 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 after a record 11 hours, 5 minutes spread over three days.

All time Wimbledon winners

The first tennis tournament for men was held at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1881 and was known as U.S. National Championships. Only players from clubs who were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. In 1887 the first official U.S. Women's National Singles Championship was held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Men and women competed at different cities before 1968 when five major events - Men's and Women's Singles, Men's and Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles moved to new location - West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.

Since 1968 Championship became known as U.S. Open. In 1978 tournament moved to its current location - USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.

The Centre Court is located at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, named after tennis player who won men's final of the US Open in 1968.

All time US Open Winners