List of French Open men's singles champions explained

French Open Men's Singles Champions
Bar Color:
  1. FF915F;
City:Paris
Country:France
Venue:Stade Roland Garros
Governing Body:Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT)
Created:1891 (established)
1925 (Grand Slam event)
Editions:128 events (2024)

57 events (Open Era)
Surface:Red clay (since 1908)
Sand / Clay (1892–1907)
Grass (1891)
Trophy:Coupe des Mousquetaires
Most Titles:14: Rafael Nadal
Current Champion:Carlos Alcaraz
(First title)

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is an annual tennis tournament held over two weeks in May and June. Established in 1891 and played since 1928 on outdoor red clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France,[1] the French Open is (since 1925) one of the four Grand Slam tournaments played each year, the other three being the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Organised by the Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT), the French Open is the second of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the year to be played.[2] In 1968, it was the first Grand Slam tournament to open to non-amateur players.

The winner of the men's singles event receives the Coupe des Mousquetaires, named after The Four Musketeers of French tennis: Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste.[3] The event was not held from 1915 to 1919 because of the First World War and was held unofficially as the Tournoi de France under German occupation from 1941 to 1944, during the Second World War.[4]

Rafael Nadal has won 14 French Open titles which is a record for any player, male or female, in any major tournament. He also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the Open Era, with five from 2010 to 2014.[5] Max Decugis won eight French Championships prior to the Open Era.[6] Michael Chang became the youngest player in the Open Era to win the French Open when he took the title in 1989 at .[7] In contrast, Novak Djokovic is the oldest champion of the Open Era, who won the 2023 French Open at 36 years, twenty days.[8] French players have won the most French Open men's singles titles, with 38 victories, followed by players from Spain (20) and Australia (11). The current champion is Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Alexander Zverev in the 2024 final.[9]

History

The French Open was established in 1891 and was originally known as the French Championships.[10] The tournament was only open to French players or foreign players who were a member of a French club during the first 34 years of its existence.[11] The first winner of the Championship was the British player H. Briggs, a member of Club Stade Français which entitled him to compete. Matches were played as the best-of-three sets format until 1902 or 1903, when best-of-five sets was adopted. French players were dominant in the early stages of the tournament, in particular Max Decugis, who won eight titles before the outbreak of the First World War.[12]

Between 1924 and 1932 the title was won by a member of The Four Musketeers. The championship started to attract the best players after it became an international event in 1925, which was won by René Lacoste. France's victory in the 1927 Davis Cup increased interest in the tournament and required a new stadium to be built. Previously the tournament had alternated between Racing Club and Stade Français at La Faisanderie, before the Stade Roland Garros was built in 1928.[13] Henri Cochet won the first tournament at the new venue.[14]

Jack Crawford's victory in 1933 was the first time a foreign player had won the tournament since 1891. Following his victory, no French players won the title up until 1940, when the tournament was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War. Don Budge's victory in 1938 was notable, as he won all of the Grand Slam tournaments during the year.[15] Though the event was suspended in 1940, it was held unofficially under the guise of the Tournoi de France. Bernard Destremau won the first two events, while Yvon Petra won three from 1942 to 1945. These results are not recognised by the FFT or other major international organisations and are considered unofficial. Marcel Bernard won the first event after the end of the war in 1946; he was the only Frenchman to win the event before the advent of the Open era in 1968.

No one player dominated the event during this period. Only five players, Frank Parker, Jaroslav Drobný, Tony Trabert, Nicola Pietrangeli and Roy Emerson, won multiple titles. The tournament became an Open in 1968, as professional players were allowed to compete with amateurs, previously only amateurs could compete in the Grand Slam tournaments.[16] The tournament, won by Australian Ken Rosewall, was the first Grand Slam tournament to be played in the Open era.[17]

Swede Björn Borg won the majority of the tournaments in the early years of the Open era. He won consecutive titles in 1974 and 1975, before winning four successive titles from 1978 to 1981.[18] Yannick Noah became the first Frenchman to win the event since 1946, when he won in 1983.[19] Ivan Lendl won his first title in 1984, before losing the following year to Wilander in the final and won two consecutive titles in 1986 and 1987. Michael Chang became the youngest man to win the French Open when he beat Stefan Edberg in 1989.[20]

American Jim Courier won consecutive titles in 1991 and 1992 before Spaniard Sergi Bruguera repeated the feat in 1993 and 1994.[21] [22] Gustavo Kuerten won three titles in 1997, 2000 and 2001. 2005 marked Rafael Nadal's first French Open; he won four consecutive titles from 2005 to 2008.[23] Nadal was beaten in the round of 16 of the 2009 tournament by Robin Söderling who lost to Roger Federer in the final.[24] Nadal regained the title in 2010 and defended his crowns in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In the 2015 event, he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Novak Djokovic, who eventually lost in the final to Stan Wawrinka.[25] Nadal would again win four straight titles from 2017 to 2020.

Finals

Key
†   A French club members only tournament called the French Championships. Non-Grand Slam event.
††  Disputed champions: Not sanctioned or recognised by the FFT. Non-Grand Slam event.

French Championships

YearCountryChampionCountryRunner-upScore in the final[26]
French Championships – Non Grand Slam event
1891 (1/1) † 6–3, 6–4
1892 (1/1) † 6–2, 1–6, 6–2
1893 (1/1) † 6–3, 6–3
1894 (1/4) † 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
1895 (2/4) † 9–7, 6–2
1896 (3/4) † 6–1, 7–5
1897 (1/4) † 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1898 (2/4) † 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1899 (3/4) † 9–7, 3–6, 6–3
1900 (4/4) † 6–3, 6–0
1901 (4/4) †
1902 (1/1) † 6–4, 6–2
1903 (1/8) † 6–3, 6–2
1904 (2/8) † 6–1, 9–7, 6–8, 6–1
1905 (1/3) †
1906 (2/3) † 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1907 (3/8) †
1908 (4/8) † 6–2, 6–1, 3–6, 10–8
1909 (5/8) † 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1910 (3/3) † 6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1911 (1/2) † 6–1, 8–6, 7–5
1912 (6/8) †
1913 (7/8) †
1914 (8/8) † 3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
1915No competition (due to World War I)
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920 (2/2) † 6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–3
1921 (1/1) † 6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5
1922 (1/5) † 8–6, 6–3, 7–5
1923 (1/1) † 1–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–2
1924 (1/2) † 7–5, 6–4, 0–6, 5–7, 6–2
Grand Slam event (1925–1939)
(1/3)7–5, 6–1, 6–4[27]
(2/5)6–2, 6–4, 6–3
(2/3)6–4, 4–6, 5–7, 6–3, 11–9
(3/5)5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–3
(3/3)6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 2–6, 8–6
(4/5)3–6, 8–6, 6–3, 6–1
(2/2)2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
(5/5)6–0, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
(1/1)8–6, 6–1, 6–3
(1/2)6–4, 7–9, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3
(1/1)6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–3
(2/2)6–0, 2–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–0
(1/1)6–1, 6–4, 6–3
(1/1)6–3, 6–2, 6–4
(1/1)7–5, 6–0, 6–3
1940No competition (due to World War II)
Tournoi de France – Unofficial tournament (1941–1945)
1941 †† 6–4, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4
1942  ††5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 6–1[28]
1943  †† 6–3, 6–3, 6–8, 2–6, 6–4[29]
1944  †† 6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–2[30]
1945  †† 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
Grand Slam event (1946–)
(1/1)3–6, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3
(1/1)8–6, 7–5, 6–4
(1/2)6–4, 7–5, 5–7, 8–6
(2/2)6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
(1/1)6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 5–7, 7–5
(1/2)6–3, 6–3, 6–3
(2/2)6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–4
(1/2)6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
(1/2)6–4, 7–5, 6–1
(2/2)2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–2
(1/1)6–4, 8–6, 6–3
(1/1)6–3, 6–4, 6–4
(1/1)6–3, 6–4, 6–4
(1/2)3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–1
(2/2)3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
(1/2)4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2
(1/2)3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–2
(1/2)3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
(2/2)6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 7–5
(1/1)3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3
(1/1)6–1, 6–4, 7–5
(2/2)6–1, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2

French Open

YearCountryChampionCountryRunner-upScore in the final
Australia (2/2) Australia6–3, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2
Australia (2/2)6–4, 6–3, 6–4
(1/2)6–2, 6–4, 6–0
(2/2)8–6, 6–2, 2–6, 7–5
Spain (1/1)4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
Romania (1/1)6–3, 6–3, 6–0
Sweden (1/6)2–6, 6–7(4–7), 6–0, 6–1, 6–1
Sweden (2/6)6–2, 6–3, 6–4
Italy (1/1)6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–3)
Argentina (1/1)6–0, 6–3, 6–0
Sweden (3/6)6–1, 6–1, 6–3
Sweden (4/6)6–3, 6–1, 6–7(6–8), 6–4
Sweden (5/6)6–4, 6–1, 6–2
Sweden (6/6)6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Sweden (1/3)1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–0, 6–4
France (1/1)6–2, 7–5, 7–6(7–3)
(1/3)3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5
Sweden (2/3)3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
(2/3)6–3, 6–2, 6–4
(3/3)7–5, 6–2, 3–6, 7–6(7–3)
Sweden (3/3)7–5, 6–2, 6–1
United States (1/1)6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Ecuador (1/1)6–3, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
United States (1/2)3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4
United States (2/2)7–5, 6–2, 6–1
Spain (1/2)6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Spain (2/2)6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–1
Austria (1/1)7–5, 6–2, 6–4
Russian Federation (1/1)7–6(7–4), 7–5, 7–6(7–4)
Brazil (1/3)6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Spain (1/1)6–3, 7–5, 6–3
United States (1/1)1–6, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Brazil (2/3)6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(8–6)
Brazil (3/3)6–7(3–7), 7–5, 6–2, 6–0
Spain (1/1)6–1, 6–0, 4–6, 6–3
Spain (1/1)6–1, 6–3, 6–2
Argentina (1/1)0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6
Spain (1/14)6–7(6–8), 6–3, 6–1, 7–5
Spain (2/14)1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Spain (3/14)6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Spain (4/14)6–1, 6–3, 6–0
(1/1)6–1, 7–6(7–1), 6–4
Spain (5/14)6–4, 6–2, 6–4
Spain (6/14)7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1
Spain (7/14)6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5
Spain (8/14)6–3, 6–2, 6–3
Spain (9/14)3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–4
(1/1)4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Serbia (1/3)3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
Spain (10/14)6–2, 6–3, 6–1
Spain (11/14)6–4, 6–3, 6–2
Spain (12/14)6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1
Spain (13/14)6–0, 6–2, 7–5
Serbia (2/3)6–7(6–8), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
Spain (14/14)6–3, 6–3, 6–0
Serbia (3/3)7–6(7–1), 6–3, 7–5
Spain (1/1)6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2

Statistics

Multiple champions

Playerscope=colAmateur Erascope=colOpen Erascope=colAll-timescope=col class="unsortable"Years
scope=row014142005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
scope=row8 08 1903, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1912, 1913, 1914
scope=row06 6 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
scope=row5 05 1922, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1932
scope=row4 04 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901
scope=row4 04 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900
scope=row3 03 1905, 1906, 1910
scope=row3 03 1925, 1927, 1929
scope=row03 3 1982, 1985, 1988
scope=row03 3 1984, 1986, 1987
scope=row03 3 1997, 2000, 2001
scope=row03 32016, 2021, 2023
scope=row202 1911, 1920
scope=row2 02 1924, 1931
scope=row2 02 1934, 1936
scope=row20 2 1948, 1949
scope=row2 0 2 1951, 1952
scope=row1 1 2 1953, 1968
scope=row2 0 2 1954, 1955
scope=row2 0 2 1959, 1960
scope=row2 0 2 1961, 1964
scope=row1 1 2 1962, 1969
scope=row2 0 2 1963, 1967
scope=row0 2 2 1970, 1971
scope=row02 2 1991, 1992
scope=row02 21993, 1994

Champions by country

scope=col width="190"Countryscope=colAmateur Erascope=colOpen Erascope=colAll-timescope=colFirst titlescope=colLast title
scope=row381 371983
scope=row2 2123
scope=row9 2 11 1969
scope=row7 4 11 1999
scope=row1 9 10 1988
scope=row0 5 5 1987
scope=row3 0 3 1937
scope=row2 1 3 1976
scope=row0 3 3 2001
scope=row0 3 3 2023
scope=row20 21935
scope=row2 0 2 1952
scope=row0 2 2 2004
scope=row0 2 2 2015
scope=row1 0 1 1947
scope=row0 1 1 1973
scope=row0 1 1 1990
scope=row0 1 1 1995
scope=row0 1 1 1996

See also

French Open other competitions

Grand Slam men's singles

Other events

Footnotes

General

Specific

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Origins of the Tournament . Roland Garros . 25 July 2015 . 10 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910114140/http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/content/rg_spirit/the_origins_of_the_tournament.html . live .
  2. Web site: Grand Slam Overview . International Tennis Federation (ITF) . 23 July 2015 . 13 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613072338/https://www.itftennis.com/about/grand-slam%C2%AE/overview.aspx . live .
  3. Web site: The New Musketeers . Davis Cup . 27 February 2009 . 16 July 2015 . Chris . Bowers . 6 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121006102054/http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/the-new-musketeers.aspx . live .
  4. News: The French Open During World War II: A Hidden History . The Atlantic . 6 June 2011 . 23 July 2015 . Henry D. . Fetter . 10 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910125504/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/the-french-open-during-world-war-ii-a-hidden-history/239974/ . live .
  5. News: Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win ninth French Open title . BBC Sport . 8 June 2014 . 15 July 2015 . Piers . Newbery . 7 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150907054621/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27753534 . live .
  6. News: A Century Ago, a French Title Collection to Rival Rafael Nadal . The New York Times . 22 May 2014 . 15 July 2015 . Christopher . Clarey . 12 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612182856/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/sports/tennis/a-century-ago-a-french-title-collection-to-rival-rafael-nadals.html?_r=0 . live .
  7. News: Rafael Nadal the youngest French Open winner? . ESPN . 29 May 2015 . 15 July 2015 . Steven . Lynch . 16 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150716031845/http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/12973322/rafael-nadal-youngest-french-open-winner . live .
  8. Web site: 2023-06-11 . Novak Djokovic wins French Open, record 23rd Grand Slam men’s singles title . 2023-06-11 . OlympicTalk NBC Sports . en-US . 2023-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230611172931/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2023/06/11/novak-djokovic-french-open-grand-slam-record/ . live .
  9. News: Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud to win Paris title and claim 23rd major . BBC Sport . 11 June 2023 . 13 June 2023 . Jonathan . Jurejko . 13 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613103657/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/65873164 . live .
  10. Web site: fft.fr. Fédération Française de Tennis. Past Winners and Draws. 2009-07-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070808145713/http://www.fft.fr/rolandgarros/default_en.asp?id=1575. 2007-08-08.
  11. News: French Open History . Tennis . Tennis Media Company . 16 August 2012 . 18 July 2015 . 22 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150722021851/http://www.tennis.com/tournaments/2012/08/french-open-history/16928/#.VapIjUukRZh . live .
  12. News: Roland Garros past single winners . CNN . 23 May 2008 . 19 July 2015 . 24 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150724111810/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/05/23/singles.wnners/index.html?iref=24hours . live .
  13. News: French Open History . BBC Sport . 23 May 2002 . 21 July 2015 . Gabrielle . Lewis . 15 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070915045218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/french_open/1947109.stm . live .
  14. News: Henri Cochet is dead; French Tennis Leader . The New York Times . 3 April 1987 . 26 July 2015 . 8 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140108130140/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/03/obituaries/henri-cochet-is-dead-french-tennis-leader.html . live .
  15. News: Donald Budge . The Guardian . 28 January 2000 . 26 July 2015 . Michael . Gray . 9 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140509041803/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jan/28/guardianobituaries . live .
  16. News: Reform to an Open status altered the course of tennis history . ESPN . 12 October 2008 . 27 July 2015 . Bonnie D. . Ford .
  17. News: Now I'd choose tennis . The Observer . 15 June 2008 . 25 July 2015 . Jon . Henderson . 10 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170710082722/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jun/15/tennis.rugbyunion . live .
  18. Web site: Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl and the seven kings of clay . Sky Sports . 22 May 2015 . 25 July 2015 . 15 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150615020854/http://www1.skysports.com/tennis/french-open/news/32458/9856688/kings-of-clay . live .
  19. News: Noah captures French crown . The New York Times . 6 June 1983 . 5 August 2015 . Jane . Gross . 24 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150524135007/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/06/sports/noah-captures-french-crown.html . live .
  20. News: Chang's 'underhand' tactics stunned Lendl and made Tennis history . CNN . 8 June 2012 . 25 July 2015 . Paul . Gittings . 1 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150801001631/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/08/sport/tennis/tennis-chang-underhand-service-french-open-lin/index.html . live .
  21. News: Topics of The Times – An American in Paris . The New York Times . 10 June 1992 . 25 July 2015 . 22 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222225054/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/10/opinion/topics-of-the-times-an-american-in-paris.html?src=pm . live .
  22. News: Bruguera towers above tired Berasategui . The Independent . 6 June 1994 . 25 July 2015 . John . Roberts . 25 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925232823/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis--french-open-bruguera-towers-above-tired-berasategui-the-baseliner-from-barcelona-scales-new-hights-in-the-mens-final-of-the-french-open-to-defeat-his-compatriot-1420822.html . live .
  23. News: Nadal storms to fourth French win . BBC Sport . 8 June 2008 . 25 July 2015 . Piers . Newberry . 17 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917081933/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7441733.stm . live .
  24. News: Federer claims historic Paris win . BBC Sport . 7 June 2009 . 25 July 2015 . David . Ornstein . 14 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8087015.stm . live .
  25. News: Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win first French Open title . BBC Sport . 5 June 2016 . 5 June 2016 . 5 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605205521/http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/36455423 . live .
  26. Web site: Tennis - French Open men's singles - Grand Slam tournament . live . https://archive.today/20220915133456/https://www.sport-histoire.fr/en/Sport/Tennis/French_Open_Men_singles.php . 2022-09-15 . www.sport-histoire.fr .
  27. Web site: French Open Men's Singles. Grand Slam History. 2009-11-04. 2015-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20150815203109/http://grandslamhistory.com/index.php?menu=winners&act=GetWinnersTGSU&id_tour=2&id_event=1&id_nation=0. live.
  28. Web site: Le Matin : derniers télégrammes de la nuit du 3 août 1942 (Numéro 21244). fr. gallica.bnf.fr. 3 August 1942. BnF. 2020-04-23. 2020-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621235900/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5874830/f2.zoom. live.
  29. Web site: Le Matin : derniers télégrammes de la nuit du 2 août 1943 (Numéro 21551). fr. gallica.bnf.fr. 2 August 1943. BnF. 2020-04-23. 2020-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20200622095836/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5877904/f4.zoom. live.
  30. Web site: Le Matin : derniers télégrammes de la nuit du 7 août 1944 (Numéro 21862). fr. gallica.bnf.fr. 7 August 1944. BnF. 2020-04-23. 2020-06-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20200628124934/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k588101t/f2.item.zoom. live.