Steffi Graf Stadium Berlin, Germany 📅 June 14-22, 2025

Source: https://www.berlintennisopen.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/berlintennisopen/

The Berlin Tennis Open boasts a long and rich history, dating back to 1896. It’s considered one of the oldest tennis tournaments for women. Here’s a breakdown of its evolution:

Early Years and Name Changes:

1896-1914: Founded as a combined men’s and women’s event called the Championships of Berlin.
Post WWI – 1938: Known as the Berlin Championships.
Post WWII – 1968: Rebranded as the West Berlin International Championships.
1969-1983: Officially known as the West Berlin Open. During this period, the women’s tournament ceased in 1973, with the men’s event continuing until 1983.

Modern Era (German Open / WTA Event):

1896 – 1978: While the Berlin Open has its own distinct history, the “German Open” which is closely linked, was held in Hamburg during this period, often as a combined event.
1979 – 1990: The German Open (WTA) moved to West Berlin, played on clay courts.
1986-1996: This era was famously dominated by German tennis legend Steffi Graf, who won the tournament an incredible nine times within eleven years.
1988 – 2008: The tournament was classified as a Tier I event on the WTA Tour.
1991 – 2008: Following German reunification, the tournament continued to be held in Berlin on clay.
2009-2020: The tournament experienced a hiatus from the WTA calendar.
2021-Present: The event returned to the WTA Tour, now classified as a WTA 500 tournament, and significantly, it transitioned from clay to grass courts, serving as a crucial warm-up event for Wimbledon. It has also undergone various naming changes in this recent period, including “bett1open” and “ecotrans Ladies Open,” and is currently known as the “Berlin Tennis Open by HYLO.”

The Berlin Tennis Open, throughout its various iterations, has consistently attracted top talent and remains an important fixture on the international tennis calendar.