The French Open at the Roland Garros in Paris is held annually and is one of tennis’s most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments. To win the title, players need to showcase their best tactical skills, stamina, and focus. Here, with that, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Greatest French Open Men’s Singles Champions of All Time.
Over the decades, the tournament has witnessed many historic moments. Many players are making their name in the world of tennis. The legacies of such players always leave a mark on the world. As well as inspire many young talents to perform on the big stage.
Top 10 Greatest French Open Champions of All Time
This is a list of the top 10 greatest men’s singles champions who left a mark on the French Open at Roland Garros. They helped to build the standards that young talent now look up to. The names of the players are as follows:
1. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of the top players in the tennis world, but he is the greatest at the French Open. He has won an incredible 14 titles at the Roland Garros. Rafael has dominated on clay with his unmatched performances. His fighting spirit and unshakable focus have made him unbeatable in Paris. He is known as the “King of Clay.”
| Full Name | Rafael Nadal Parera |
| Date of Birth | June 3, 1986 |
| Place of Birth | Manacor, Mallorca, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Professional Debut | 2001 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 22 |
| French Open Wins | 14 (Record) |
| Olympic Gold | 2008 (Singles), 2016 (Doubles) |
| ATP Titles | 92 |
| Longest Win Streak | 81 matches on clay |
| Retirement | November 19, 2024 |
2. Bjorn Borg
Bjorn Borg was a legend on the clay court in the 1970s. At the French Open, he has won the title six times, including four straight from 1978 to 1981. His dominance on the court was excellent. He was famous for his calm style and strong two-handed backhand. Bjorn’s success helped popularize tennis around the world.
| Full Name | Bjorn Rune Borg |
| Date of Birth | June 6, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Professional Debut | 1973 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 11 (6 French Open, 5 Wimbledon) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, two-handed backhand |
| ATP Titles | 66 |
| Davis Cup Victory | 1975 |
| Retirement | 1983 (initial), attempted comeback in 1991 |
| Legacy | Tennis Hall of Fame inductee (1987) |
3. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has won over three titles at the French Open. He is the only one to beat the legendary Nadal twice at the Roland Garros. Djokovic is known for his excellent flexibility, stamina, and mental toughness. Novak is also the only player to win all four Grand Slams at least three times. This reflects how good of a player Novak is.
| Full Name | Novak Djokovic |
| Date of Birth | May 22, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Professional Debut | 2003 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 24 (Record for men) |
| Australian Open Wins | 10 (Record) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, known for exceptional defense and precision |
| Major Rivalries | Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray |
| ATP Titles | Over 100 |
| Olympic Medals | Gold (2024), Bronze (2008) |
| Legacy | Considered one of the greatest players of all time |
4. Gustavo Kuerten
Gustavo Kuerten is one of the great players in tennis. He has won three French Open titles. He shocked the world by winning the 1997 tournament as an unseeded player. Gustavo is one of the best one-handed backhand players on the clay. His win and growth helped grow tennis in Brazil.
| Full Name | Gustavo Kuerten |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1976 |
| Place of Birth | Florianopolis, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Professional Debut | 1995 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 3 (French Open: 1997, 2000, 2001) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Highest Ranking | No. 1 (December 4, 2000) |
| ATP Titles | 20 singles, 8 doubles |
| Retirement | 2008 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2012) |
5. Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl was a powerful, consistent clay-court player. During the 1980s, Ivan won three French Open Titles. Ivan’s strong groundstrokes and fitness helped him a lot to outlast his opponents. His steady growth and progressive success made him a key figure in tennis’s modern era.
| Full Name | Ivan Lendl |
| Date of Birth | March 7, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) |
| Nationality | Czech-American |
| Professional Debut | 1978 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 8 (Australian Open: 2, French Open: 3, US Open: 3) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, known for his powerful forehand and baseline play |
| Major Rivalries | John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors |
| ATP Titles | 94 |
| Highest Ranking | No. 1 (270 weeks, fourth-most in history) |
| Davis Cup Victory | 1980 |
| Retirement | 1994 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2001) |
6. Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander won his first French Open at just 17 years old. He went on and won the tournament three times after that. Mats was a smart and steady tennis player, which helped him grow. He was one of the top Clay players of the 1980s.
| Full Name | Mats Arne Olof Wilander |
| Date of Birth | August 22, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Vaxjo, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Professional Debut | 1979 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 7 (Australian Open: 3, French Open: 3, US Open: 1) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, two-handed backhand |
| Highest Ranking | No. 1 (September 12, 1988) |
| ATP Titles | 33 singles, 7 doubles |
| Davis Cup Wins | 1984, 1985, 1987 |
| Retirement | 1996 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2002) |
7. Jim Courier
Jim is one of the fiercest competitors on the Clay. He won back-to-back French Open titles in 1991 and 1992. Jim Courier has a powerful forehand and excellent technique. He often wore down his opponents with strong, consistent play. He was the top-ranked player in the world during the peak of his career.
| Full Name | James Spencer Courier |
| Date of Birth | August 17, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Sanford, Florida, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Professional Debut | 1988 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 4 (Australian Open: 2, French Open: 2) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, two-handed backhand |
| Highest Ranking | No. 1 (February 10, 1992) |
| ATP Titles | 23 singles, 6 doubles |
| Davis Cup Wins | 1992, 1995 |
| Retirement | 2000 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2005) |
8. Roger Federer
Roger Federer won the French Open once in 2009. It was the only Grand Slam he hadn’t won until then. Federer tried hard and reached the final four times, but often lost to Nadal. His elegant style and all-court game made him a great clay player. His 2009 win completed his career Grand Slam.
| Full Name | Roger Federer |
| Date of Birth | August 8, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Basel, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Professional Debut | 1998 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 20 (Australian Open: 6, French Open: 1, Wimbledon: 8, US Open: 5) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Major Rivalries | Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic |
| ATP Titles | 103 |
| Olympic Medals | Gold (2008 – Doubles), Silver (2012 – Singles) |
| Retirement | September 23, 2022 |
| Legacy | Considered one of the greatest players of all time |
9. Andres Gimeno
Andres Gimeno won the French Open in 1972. He was 34 years old when he won the title, making him the oldest first-time Grand Slam Champion. Gimeno had a strong clay-court game built on his skills and patience. His victory was a big milestone for Spanish tennis.
| Full Name | Andres Gimeno Tolaguera |
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1937 |
| Place of Birth | Barcelona, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Professional Debut | 1960 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 1 (French Open: 1972) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Highest Ranking | No. 9 (1969) |
| ATP Titles | 41 (11 in the Open Era) |
| Davis Cup Performance | Represented Spain in multiple editions |
| Retirement | 1974 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2009) |
10. Yannick Noah
Yannick Noah won the French Open in 1983. He is the last Frenchman to win the tournament. His serve-and-volley style thrilled everyone around the world. Noah’s win was emotional and was celebrated across France. He remains a beloved figure in French Tennis.
| Full Name | Yannick Simon Camille Noah |
| Date of Birth | May 18, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Sedan, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Professional Debut | 1977 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 1 (French Open: 1983) |
| Playing Style | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Highest Ranking | No. 3 (July 7, 1986) |
| ATP Titles | 23 singles, 16 doubles |
| Davis Cup Wins | Captain of winning teams (1991, 1996, 2017) |
| Retirement | 1996 |
| Legacy | Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2005) |
