There are four grand slam tournaments being played on the annual tennis calendar each year and the second of them is the Roland Garros competition, also known as the French Open. It’s said that this is the most challenging of the four grand slams, played on clay courts in Paris since 1908, after being played on sand / clay between 1891 and 1907.
Established in 1891, this is among the oldest tennis championships in the world, earlier known as the French Championships, where only French national players were allowed to participate. Over time, the competition and its rules have evolved and it was officially renamed to the French Open from 1968 onwards. Keep reading for our complete list of men’s singles French Open winners from start till date…
Roland Garros winners list (men’s singles)
H Briggs won the first ever French Championships in 1891 when he beat P Baigneres in the final. Since then through the amateur era, Max Decugis was the most successful player in this competition, winning as many as eight (8) titles here during his professional career. Including both the eras, the most successful player at the French Open grand slam is Rafael Nadal, who owns fourteen (14) of these titles.
Only two players have managed to win titles across both the amateur as well as the open eras and both of them are Australian tennis greats in Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. So far, 126 successful editions of the French Open have been completed with only a few editions skipped because of World Wars I and II. Today, the tournament takes place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris every year.
SEE ALSO: List of top online sports betting websites
Nadal’s greatness in this tournament includes four consecutive titles between 2005-2008, then five consecutive titles between 2010-2014, and then four more consecutive titles between 2017-2020. It’s not for nothing that he was given the title of ‘King of Clay’ and you can check our complete French Open winners list (updated 28th May 2024 at the start of French Open 2023) below:
List of all men’s singles French Open winners
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Score |
1891 | H Briggs | P Baigneres | Great Britain | 6-3, 6-4 |
1892 | Jean Schopfer | Francis L Fassitt | France | 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 |
1893 | Laurent Riboulet | Jean Schopfer | France | 6-3, 6-3 |
1894 | André Vacherot | Gérard Brosselin | France | 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
1895 | André Vacherot (2) | Laurent Riboulet | France | 9-7, 6-2 |
1896 | André Vacherot (3) | Gérard Brosselin | France | 6-1, 7-5 |
1897 | Paul Aymé | Francky Wardan | France | 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
1898 | Paul Aymé (2) | Paul Lebreton | France | 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 |
1899 | Paul Aymé (3) | Paul Lebreton | France | 9-7, 3-6, 6-3 |
1900 | Paul Aymé (4) | André Prévost | France | 6-3, 6-0 |
1901 | André Vacherot (4) | Paul Lebreton | France | – |
1902 | Marcel Vacherot | Max Decugis | France | 6-4, 6-2 |
1903 | Max Decugis | André Vacherot | France | 6-3, 6-2 |
1904 | Max Decugis (2) | André Vacherot | France | 6-1, 9-7, 6-8, 6-1 |
1905 | Maurice Germot | André Vacherot | France | – |
1906 | Maurice Germot (2) | Max Decugis | France | 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 |
1907 | Max Decugis (3) | Robert Wallet | France | – |
1908 | Max Decugis (4) | Maurice Germot | France | 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 10-8 |
1909 | Max Decugis (5) | Maurice Germot | France | 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
1910 | Maurice Germot (3) | François Blanchy | France | 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 |
1911 | André Gobert | Maurice Germot | France | 6-1, 8-6, 7-5 |
1912 | Max Decugis (6) | Andre Gobert | France | – |
1913 | Max Decugis (7) | Georges Gault | France | – |
1914 | Max Decugis (8) | Jean Samazeuilh | France | 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
1915 | World War I | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1916 | World War I | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1917 | World War I | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1918 | World War I | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1919 | World War I | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1920 | André Gobert (2) | Max Decugis | France | 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
1921 | Jean Samazeuilh | Andre Gobert | France | 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 |
1922 | Henri Cochet | Jean Samazeuilh | France | 8-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
1923 | François Blanchy | Max Decugis | France | 1-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 |
1924 | Jean Borotra | René Lacoste | France | 7-5, 6-4, 0-6, 5-7, 6-2 |
1925 | René Lacoste | Jean Borotra | France | 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 |
1926 | Henri Cochet (2) | René Lacoste | France | 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 |
While the tournament was dominated by the Frenchmen in the early days, it became quite the spectacle when it was open to the rest of the world. In the Open Era, only one French national has managed to win the French Open and that was Yannick Noah who won in 1983, with the last Frenchman to win the title coming way back in 1946. Currently, it’s 40 years since a local has won this grand slam now…
SEE ALSO: List of best fantasy sports websites in India
Talking about personal records, there was a certain Michael Chang from USA who won the French Open 1989 men’s singles title. He beat Stefan Edberg in the final and went on to become the youngest ever men’s singles champion in this competition, at the age of 17 years and 109 days. The record stands till date (34 years later) and that remained Chang’s only grand slam victory of his career.
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Score |
1927 | René Lacoste (2) | William Tilden | France | 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 11-9 |
1928 | Henri Cochet (3) | René Lacoste | France | 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 |
1929 | René Lacoste (3) | Jean Borotra | France | 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, 2-6, 8-6 |
1930 | Henri Cochet (4) | William Tilden | France | 3-6, 8-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
1931 | Jean Borotra (2) | Christian Boussus | France | 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 |
1932 | Henri Cochet (5) | Giorgio de Stefani | France | 6-0, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 |
1933 | Jack Crawford | Henri Cochet | Australia | 8-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
1934 | Gottfried von Cramm | Jack Crawford | Germany | 6-4, 7-9, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 |
1935 | Fred Perry | Gottfried von Cramm | Great Britain | 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
1936 | Gottfried von Cramm (2) | Fred Perry | Germany | 6-0, 2-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 |
1937 | Henner Henkel | Bunny Austin | Germany | 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 |
1938 | Donald Budge | Roderich Menzel | USA | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
1939 | Donald McNeill | Bobby Riggs | USA | 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 |
1940 | World War II | CANCELLED | NA | NA |
1941 | Bernard Destremau | Robert Ramillon | France | 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
1942 | Bernard Destremau (2) | Christian Boussus | France | 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 |
1943 | Yvon Petra | Henri Cochet | France | 6-3, 6-3, 6-8, 2-6, 6-4 |
1944 | Yvon Petra (2) | Marcel Bernard | France | 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 |
1945 | Yvon Petra (3) | Bernard Destremau | France | 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 |
1946 | Marcel Bernard | Jaroslav Drobný | France | 3-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 |
1947 | József Asbóth | Eric Sturgess | Hungary | 8-6, 7-5, 6-4 |
1948 | Frank Parker | Jaroslav Drobný | USA | 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 |
1949 | Frank Parker (2) | Budge Patty | USA | 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
1950 | Budge Patty | Jaroslav Drobný | USA | 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 |
1951 | Jaroslav Drobný | Eric Sturgess | Egypt | 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 |
1952 | Jaroslav Drobný (2) | Frank Sedgman | Egypt | 6-2, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 |
1953 | Ken Rosewall | Vic Seixas | Australia | 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 |
1954 | Tony Trabert | Arthur Larsen | USA | 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 |
1955 | Tony Trabert (2) | Sven Davidson | USA | 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 |
1956 | Lew Hoad | Sven Davidson | Australia | 6-4, 8-6, 6-3 |
1957 | Sven Davidson | Herbert Flam | Sweden | 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 |
1958 | Mervyn Rose | Luis Ayala | Australia | 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 |
1959 | Nicola Pietrangeli | Ian Vermaak | Italy | 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 |
1960 | Nicola Pietrangeli (2) | Luis Ayala | Italy | 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 |
1961 | Manuel Santana | Nicola Pietrangeli | Spain | 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 |
1962 | Rod Laver | Roy Emerson | Australia | 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7, 6-2 |
1963 | Roy Emerson | Pierre Darmon | Australia | 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
1964 | Manuel Santana (2) | Nicola Pietrangeli | Spain | 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 |
1965 | Fred Stolle | Tony Roche | Australia | 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 |
1966 | Tony Roche | István Gulyás | Australia | 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 |
1967 | Roy Emerson (2) | Tony Roche | Australia | 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 |
Experts always talk about how playing at Roland Garros is the most most physically challenging task for both men and women, and that’s proved by the fact that living legend Roger Federer has only one French Open title to his name. For someone who has dominated world tennis and has a total of 20 grand slam single’s titles to his name, he only managed to win once in Paris.
French Open men’s single’s winners list
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Score |
1968 | Ken Rosewall (2) | Rod Laver | Australia | 6-3, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 |
1969 | Rod Laver (2) | Ken Rosewall | Australia | 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
1970 | Jan Kodeš | Željko Franulović | Czechoslovakia | 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 |
1971 | Jan Kodeš (2) | Ilie Năstase | Czechoslovakia | 8-6, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 |
1972 | Andres Gimeno | Patrick Proisy | Spain | 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 |
1973 | Ilie Năstase | Nikola Pilic | Romania | 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 |
1974 | Bjorn Borg | Manuel Orantes | Sweden | 2-6, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 |
1975 | Bjorn Borg (2) | Guillermo Vilas | Sweden | 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 |
1976 | Adriano Panatta | Harold Solomon | Italy | 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 |
1977 | Guillermo Vilas | Brian Gottfried | Argentina | 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 |
1978 | Bjorn Borg (3) | Guillermo Vilas | Sweden | 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 |
1979 | Bjorn Borg (4) | Victor Pecci | Sweden | 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 |
1980 | Bjorn Borg (5) | Vitas Gerulaitis | Sweden | 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 |
1981 | Bjorn Borg (6) | Ivan Lendl | Sweden | 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 |
1982 | Mats Wilander | Guillermo Vilas | Sweden | 1-6, 7-6, 6-0, 6-4 |
1983 | Yannick Noah | Mats Wilander | France | 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 |
1984 | Ivan Lendl | John McEnroe | Czechoslovakia | 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 |
1985 | Mats Wilander (2) | Ivan Lendl | Sweden | 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 |
1986 | Ivan Lendl (2) | Mikael Pernfors | Czechoslovakia | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
1987 | Ivan Lendl (3) | Mats Wilander | Czechoslovakia | 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 |
1988 | Mats Wilander (3) | Henri Leconte | Sweden | 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 |
1989 | Michael Chang | Stefan Edberg | USA | 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
1990 | Andres Gomez | Andre Agassi | Ecuador | 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
In terms of countries to have done well here, it’s obviously France who leads the men’s singles titles count with 38 titles here (37 in amateur era + 1 in open era). On the other hand, Spain is second on the list with as many as 22 titles over the years, including 20 of them in the open era. Australia and USA are join third on the list with 11 titles each by players from these nations.
Players from Hungary, Romania, Russia, Austria, and Ecuador have all won the titles once each. While there were many iconic players to have won titles at French Open over the years, Bjorn Borg from Sweden was another legend here, winning it four consecutive times between 1978-1981, and a total of 6 career men’s Roland Garros titles.
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Score |
1991 | Jim Courier | Andre Agassi | USA | 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
1992 | Jim Courier (2) | Petr Korda | USA | 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 |
1993 | Sergi Bruguera | Jim Courier | Spain | 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 |
1994 | Sergi Bruguera (2) | Alberto Berasategui | Spain | 6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 |
1995 | Thomas Muster | Michael Chang | Austria | 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 |
1996 | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | Michael Stich | Russia | 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
1997 | Gustavo Kuerten | Sergi Bruguera | Brazil | 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
1998 | Carlos Moya | Àlex Corretja | Spain | 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 |
1999 | Andre Agassi | Andrei Medvedev | USA | 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
2000 | Gustavo Kuerten (2) | Magnus Norman | Brazil | 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 |
2001 | Gustavo Kuerten (3) | Àlex Corretja | Brazil | 6-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 |
2002 | Albert Costa | Juan Carlos Ferrero | Spain | 6-1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 |
2003 | Juan Carlos Ferrero | Martin Verkerk | Spain | 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 |
2004 | Gastón Gaudio | Guillermo Coria | Argentina | 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 |
2005 | Rafael Nadal | Mariano Puerta | Spain | 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 |
2006 | Rafael Nadal (2) | Roger Federer | Spain | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 |
2007 | Rafael Nadal (3) | Roger Federer | Spain | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
2008 | Rafael Nadal (4) | Roger Federer | Spain | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
2009 | Roger Federer | Robin Soderling | Switzerland | 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 |
2010 | Rafael Nadal (5) | Robin Soderling | Spain | 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 |
2011 | Rafael Nadal (6) | Roger Federer | Spain | 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 |
2012 | Rafael Nadal (7) | Novak Djokovic | Spain | 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 |
2013 | Rafael Nadal (8) | David Ferrer | Spain | 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 |
2014 | Rafael Nadal (9) | Novak Djokovic | Spain | 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 |
2015 | Stan Wawrinka | Novak Djokovic | Switzerland | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
2016 | Novak Djokovic | Andy Murray | Serbia | 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 |
2017 | Rafael Nadal (10) | Stan Wawrinka | Spain | 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 |
2018 | Rafael Nadal (11) | Dominic Thiem | Spain | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
2019 | Rafael Nadal (12) | Dominic Thiem | Spain | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
2020 | Rafael Nadal (13) | Novak Djokovic | Spain | 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 |
2021 | Novak Djokovic (2) | Stefanos Tsitsipas | Serbia | 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
2022 | Rafael Nadal (14) | Casper Ruud | Spain | 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 |
2023 | Novak Djokovic (3) | Casper Ruud | Serbia | 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
For more updates from the French Open and the rest of the world of sports and tennis, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
Sign-up to Betvisa and get 300 FREE cash + 5 free spins