How did it all start?
Originally named the French Championships and confined to participants of an amateur status who were members of native tennis clubs, the competition we now know as the French Open first took place in 1891.
The inaugural winner of the tournament was British ex-patriate H. Briggs, a member of Paris’ Club Stade Français. Six years after its inception, the women’s singles event was introduced before mixed doubles (1902), women’s doubles (1907), and men’s doubles (1925) were subsequently added to the French Championships programme. In 1925, organisers announced that entrants no longer had to be affiliated with French clubs, enabling all international amateur players to compete.
Having been staged at four separate events throughout the first 37 years of its existence, the French Championships assumed its permanent home in 1928. Earlier that year, the Fédération Française de Tennis submitted a request to host the country’s largest tournament at the Stade de France in Porte d'Auteuil, which was duly granted on one condition. Stade de France President Emile Lesueur demanded that the venue be renamed Roland Garros, in honour of a fallen World War I fighter pilot.
Lesueur had attended business school with Garros, and was enamoured by his talent, determination, and swashbuckling personality. Having become the first person to fly across the Mediterranean Sea in 1913, Garros soon showcased his sharp aviation skills in the theatre of conflict. In addition to bravely fighting the Germans in the skies, the Réunion-born hero developed an innovative way for single-seater planes to harness onboard machine guns. Although Garros was unfortunately killed in action just over a month before the conclusion of the Great War, his legend lives on thanks to President Lesueur’s heartfelt tribute.
Following the outbreak of World War II, the French Championships were immediately put on hold. However, the unofficial Tournoi de France – a competition that the Fédération Française de Tennis refused to sanction – assumed centre stage at Roland Garros. Only five editions of the tournament took place, with Bernard Destremau and Yvon Petra dominating the men’s events and Luxembourg’s Alice Weiwers routinely sweeping aside her female peers.
In 1968, the French Championships became the first ‘major’ to permit both professionals and amateurs to compete, ushering in the ‘Open Era’ of tennis. The other three majors – located in Australia, England, and the U.S. – soon followed, as the sport entered a period of rapid commercialisation. Since then, the French Open has continued to be the planet’s most prestigious clay court tournament.
Although a 2010 announcement suggested Roland Garros would soon be relieved of its hosting duties, organisers subsequently decided to discard these plans. It’s perhaps just as well. The French Open is synonymous with Roland Garros, and any switch to an alternative venue could potentially undermine the spectacle of one of the most popular majors on the circuit.
Therefore, it seems the Stade Roland Garros will continue to provide residence to the second grand slam of the tennis season for many years to come.
Who are the most successful players in French Open history?
Many a gifted player has graced Roland Garros’ perfectly-preened courts, but just a small handful have managed to write themselves into French Open folklore. Although the competition has witnessed a healthy number of repeat champions, only six players across men’s and women’s singles divisions have accrued four or more titles at Roland Garros.
We take a look at the exploits of the French Open’s most successful male and female players, citing their key achievements and stand-out performances in Paris. We’ll also explore why their respective playing styles enable them to flourish on a clay court surface.
Please note that our analysis only extends to players who have competed in the Open Era, and therefore former French Championships participants have not been considered. Nevertheless, it’s perhaps worth giving a quick honourable mention to several tournament laureates.
No player won more French Championship crowns than Parisian Max Decugis, who triumphed eight times on home soil before the outbreak of the First World War. Double Wimbledon champion Henri Cochet then took over the mantle, winning on five occasions throughout the interwar period. Two years after securing his maiden French Championship title, Cochet claimed a silver medal in both the men’s singles and doubles events at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Adine Masson initially ruled the roost within the women’s division, winning the first three editions of the tournament before becoming champion on two further occasions after the turn of the century. Double Olympic gold medallist Suzanne Lenglen was the French Championships’ most successful female competitor, racking up six titles in as many years. In an illustration of her early influence on the competition, the French Open trophy was renamed the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 1979.
The following players can be considered Roland Garros royalty....
Rafael Nadal
The most decorated player in the tournament’s long and proud history, Rafael Nadal was a French Open champion on fourteen occasions throughout his highly decorated career. Thanks to his relentless aggression, immense stamina, and ability to consistently produce powerful bassline strokes, the legendary Spaniard was perfectly equipped for the Roland Garros surface, with many fans, peers, and pundits alike referring him to as the ‘King of Clay’
Almost two decades on from lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the first time following a four-set victory over fellow left-hander Mariano Puerta, the majestic Mallorcan fittingly earned the last of his 22 majors titles at Roland Garros. This final triumph came three years ago in 2022, as he swept aside Norwegian youngster Casper Ruud in straight sets.
After Spain’s elimination at the quarter-final stage of the Davis Cup last November, ‘Rafa’ retired from tennis as one of only four men to deliver a double Career Grand Slam. Although famed for his championship-winning exploits at various tournaments on the ATP tour, Nadal’s legacy will forever be entwined with his hegemonic dominance of the French Open. He is, by all accounts, the undisputed ruler of Roland Garros.
Björn Borg
One of the first tennis players to consistently and effectively use a heavy topspin stroke as an effective clay court weapon, Björn Borg was somewhat of a trailblazer at the French Open. The Swedish superstar secured six titles at Roland Garros throughout a glittering seven-year period, and may have added to his haul had he not been contracted to compete in the short-lived World Team Tennis League in 1977.
After defeating Manuel Orantes in his maiden French Open final appearance, Borg delivered straight-set thrashings of Argentinian Guillermo Vilas in both 1975 and 1978. Further successes came courtesy of wins over first-time finalist Víctor Pecci and off-court friend Vitas Gerulaitis, before the ‘Ice Man’ emerged victorious in an epic five-set encounter with Czech hero Ivan Lendl (who would later reign supreme at Roland Garros on three separate occasions) in the final season of his career.
Despite often being thought of as the first poster boy of Wimbledon, Borg actually won more frequently in Paris than he did at SW19. The fact that he also competed in four U.S. Open finals is a testament to his unerring adaptability, having mastered the varying challenges of grass, clay, and hard-court surfaces.
Novak Djokovic
Arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, Novak Djokovic has won every prize the sport has to offer on multiple occasions. Within his bustling personal trophy cabinet sits three French Open crowns, although the Serbian icon will be extremely eager to add a fourth this summer.
Over eight years on from winning his first major in Melbourne as a fresh-faced 20-year-old, Djokovic completed the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros by beating Andy Murray in a four-set tie. The ten-time Australian Open champion would have to wait a further five years before he could once again hoist the Coupe des Mousquetaires aloft, a moment which arrived after he recovered from two sets down to defeat Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 final.
Within fourteen months of overcoming Casper Ruud to clinch his third and most recent French Open title, Djokovic returned to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. By the conclusion of a nerve-shredding gold medal match at Roland Garros, the hard-court specialist had edged Carlos Alcaraz in two tiebreaker sets. Despite succumbing to his brilliance again at the quarter-final stage of this year’s Australian Open, the prodigious Spaniard may well be the one who blocks Djokovic’s path to further French Open glory.
Chris Evert
While occupying the number one spot in the world rankings throughout vast swathes of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Chris Evert accumulated a series of French Open titles. A substantial seven of her eighteen majors triumphs came in Paris, as the fleet-footed Floridian cemented her status as one of the first Open Era greats.
Having lost to Margaret Court in a thrilling final a year earlier, Evert avenged this disappointing defeat by landing two trophies on her return to Roland Garros. After joining forces with Olga Morozova to secure the women’s doubles title, Evert defeated her Soviet partner to take the honours in the singles event.
The American ace shared an intense rivalry with Martina Navratilova, with a decent handful of their many battles converging at the French Open. Although the Czech-born star prevailed in ten of the fourteen grand slam finals contested between the legendary pair, Evert claimed three victories over her long-term adversary in championship showdowns at Roland Garros.
Undoubtedly the best female clay court player the sport has ever seen, Evert won a record-breaking 125 consecutive matches on shale between August 1973 and May 1979, remarkably dropping just eight sets throughout this interval.
Steffi Graf
Only Serena Williams has acquired more majors titles than Steffi Graf, who was handed the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on a staggering six occasions throughout her iconic career. While the venerated German enjoyed more success at Wimbledon, Roland Garros will always have a special place in her heart having won her first and last grand slams in Porte d'Auteuil.
Her French Open success story could hardly have started with a more impressive first chapter, as Graf – just over a week before celebrating her eighteenth birthday – recorded a three-set victory over the imperious Martina Navratilova. This landmark achievement set the tone for her future efforts at Roland Garros, as the rising star picked up another four French Open crowns within the next decade.
Having already become just the second woman in history – after Australian luminary Margaret Court – to procure the holy grail of winning all four majors in the same calendar year – Graf retired soon after pipping Martina Hingis to the post in the 1999 French Open final.
Justine Henin
Despite (twice!) retiring at a very early age, Justine Henin managed to attain four titles in her nine appearances at Roland Garros.
Having put fellow prodigy and Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters to the sword in the 2003 French Open final, Henin – then assuming the surname of Henin-Hardenne following her marriage seven months earlier – became the first person from her country to win a major.
Two years later, and following on from capturing a gold medal in Athens, the Liège-born prodigy secured a second French Open triumph after obliterating Mary Pierce in two sets. Earlier on in the competition, Henin had survived a fourth-round duel with Svetlana Kuznetsova after her opponent failed to convert a match point opportunity (incredibly, Anastasia Myskina had become the first women to win the French Open after facing a match point against the same opponent in the same round twelve months prior).
Henin won in Paris again in 2006 after ousting the aforementioned Kuznetsova in the final, before repeating the feat against Ana Ivanović in the next edition of the competition. Although the former world number one controversially announced her retirement less than a fortnight before she was due to defend her French Open crown, Henin did grace Roland Garros with her presence in 2010. On this occasion, she was unfortunately unable to navigate beyond the fourth round.
Who just missed the cut?
Although the players referenced are deserved of their place in our esteemed list of French Open champions, several others could have easily been included.
It seems crazy to omit Roger Federer from any summary of modern greats, but the Swiss supremo could only muster one French Open crown despite his multi-championship-winning heroics in the three other majors. Talented trio Ivan Lendl, Gustavo Kuerten, and Mats Wilander have triumphed on as many occasions at Roland Garros as Novak Djokovic, but the Serbian’s longevity on the elite circuit is enough to give him an advantage over his esteemed peers.
Similarly, Iga Świątek has already amassed four French Open titles, matching Justin Henin’s bounty whilst still in the formative stage of her career. Henin’s unique technical capabilities elevate her above the Polish powerhouse, but Świątek is likely to overtake the two-time U.S. Open champion in the coming years.
Recent French Open Champions
Men’s singles
2024 – Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
2023 – Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2022 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2021 – Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2020 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2019 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2018 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2017 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2016 – Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2015 – Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)
2014 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2013 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2012 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2011 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2010 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2009 – Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2008 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2007 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2006 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2005 – Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2004 – Gastón Gaudio (Argentina)
2003 – Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain)
2002 – Albert Costa (Spain)
2001 – Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil)
2000– Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil)
Women’s singles
2024 – Iga Świątek (Poland)
2023 – Iga Świątek (Poland)
2022 – Iga Świątek (Poland)
2021 – Barbora Krejčíková (Czechia)
2020 – Iga Świątek (Poland)
2019 – Ashleigh Barty (Australian)
2018 – Simona Halep (Romania)
2017 – Jeļena Ostapenko (Latvia)
2016 – Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain)
2015 – Serena Williams (USA)
2014 – Maria Sharapova (Russia)
2013 – Serena Williams (USA)
2012 – Maria Sharapova (Russia)
2011 – Li Na (China)
2010 – Francesca Schiavone (Italy)
2009 – Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)
2008 – Ana Ivanović (Serbia)
2007 – Justine Henin (Belgium)
2006 – Justine Henin (Belgium)
2005 – Justine Henin (Belgium)
2004 – Anastasia Myskina (Russia)
2003 – Justine Henin (Belgium)
2002 – Serena Williams (USA)
2001 – Jennifer Capriati (USA)
2000 – Mary Pierce (France)