First Grand Slam tennis tournament to offer prize money

The first Grand Slam tournament of the open era – the French Open of 1968, played on the clay courts at Stade Roland Garros in Paris between 27 May and 9 June – was also the first tournament to offer prize money. By today’s standards, the £26,150 (309,940 francs; $62,345) up for grabs for the winners of the singles and doubles draws was a drop in the ocean… the 2020 French Open offered a total prize pot of 38 million euros ($44.9 million, or £34.4 million)! Australia’s Ken Rosewall, the men’s singles champion, took home 15,000 francs ($3,017; £1,265) after defeating Rod Laver in four sets, to become the first player to win prize money at a Grand Slam singles tournament. He also pocketed some extra cash by winning the men’s doubles with Fred Stolle. Women’s singles winner Nancy Richey (USA) should have won 5,000 francs ($1,005.77; £421.86) for seeing off Britain’s Ann Haydon-Jones in the final but was unable to claim the prize money, under the rules of the US Tennis Association, as she was still an amateur.