See main article: 1997 French Open. Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernández were the defending champions, but played this year with different partners. Davenport teamed up with Jana Novotná and lost in third round to Conchita Martínez and Patricia Tarabini, while Fernández teamed up with Lisa Raymond, losing in the final.
Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva won the title, defeating Fernández and Raymond 6–2, 6–3 in the final. It was the 6th Fren Open title, 16th Grand Slam title and 68th overall doubles title for Fernández, and the 6th French Open title, 17th Grand Slam title and 66th overall doubles title for Zvereva, in their respective careers.