The debut tournament in 1915 being contested on one of two clay courts belonging to the Gstaad Palace Hotel, then known as the “Royal Hotel, Winter & Gstaad Palace”.
(Sammlung Gottlieb von Siebenthal)
Sammlung Gottlieb von Siebenthal
Messieurs Martin and Barde en route to winning the doubles title in 1916. The couple chatting in the top-left corner aren’t making the most of their excellent seats…
(Keystone/Photopress)
Keystone
A match in 1948, the year stands are extended to accommodate 100 more spectators.
(Sammlung Gottlieb von Siebenthal)
Sammlung Gottlieb von Siebenthal
Gstaad residents Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton watch the action in 1971.
(Keystone/Photopress)
Keystone
Not everyone can afford the best seats.
(RDB)
RDB
Don’t try this at home: ball-boys get out the sponges to try to get rid of rainwater in 1961; 13 years earlier someone had decided it would be a good idea to burn off the water using petrol. Apparently it worked.
(RDB)
RDB
Rain stops play in the Roy Emerson stadium in 2008
(Keystone)
Keystone
Roger Federer and doubles partner Marat Safin from Russia prepare for a practice session on the courts of the Palace Hotel in 2001.
(RDB)
RDB
Yannick Noah, who won the French Open in 1983, never managed to win the title in Gstaad; Rod Laver, on the other hand, lifted the trophy in 1962, the year this photo was taken. It was one of a record 22 singles titles he won that season.
(Sammlung Gottlieb von Siebenthal/RDB)
RDB
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka faces a local challenger in 2012.
(Keystone)
Keystone
Gstaad resident Julie Andrews makes her way to the podium, guided by cabinet minister Pierre Aubert (left), to present the trophy in 1983. She had already done so several times as a favour to tournament director Köbi Hermenjat, who was also her tennis coach.
(Keystone)
Keystone
Romanian player Ilie Nastase signs autographs after winning the tournament in 1973, the year he also won the French Open.
(RDB)
RDB
Mush! Roger Federer and friends on a glacier above Gstaad in 2002.
(Keystone)
Keystone
Boris Becker and Swiss skier Bruno Kernen help themselves at a buffet in 2006. Becker never won at Gstaad.
(RDB)
RDB
Spanish players Albert Costa (left) and Alex Corretja – who won in Gstaad two times and three times respectively – enjoy an al fresco whey bath in 2002.
(Keystone)
Keystone
The Swiss Open, held in the mountain village of Gstaad, is celebrating its centenary. A look at some of the players, spectators and views which have made the event one of the most popular in the tennis calendar.
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(Images: Keystone / RDB / from the book “Gstaad – a journey into the past” by Gottlieb von Siebenthal)
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.