As you probably know, the French Open or Roland Garros is the second Grand Slam tournament on the tennis radar. It is an annual competition which commences at the end of May and terminates at the beginning of June. It is one of the loveliest competitions for the tennis players but also for the fans. Everyone always thrives to go and visit the beautiful country of France. You will not hear anyone say French Open in France because every fanatic o of the sport calls it the Roland Garros tournament. The Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam contest where players play games on red clay.
One of the most prestigious titles in tennis history started in 1891. However, back in the day, the fans called it the Championnat de France –the French Championship. Nevertheless, at the starting moments of the competition, only French club members could demonstrate their tennis skills. The first women’s singles tournament transpired in 1897. Experts state that the birthday of the French Open is not 1891 but 1925. It was the year when foreign masters were allowed to participate in the contest.
French Open 2023 – Last Year Review
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will try to defend his title as he won last year’s tournament. In the decisive battle, he beat Norwegian Casper Ruud 7:6 (1), 6:3, 7:5. It was N. Djokovic’s third victory in Roland Garros and 23rd Grand Slam title.
In the women’s competition, Iga Swiatek from Poland defended her crown and, in a challenging three-set game, 6:2, 5:7, 6:4, defeated Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic. She triumphed for the third time in the Roland Garros contest and won three last French Open titles out of possible four.
French Open 2023 – Other Champions
The entire list of champions from the last French Open 2023 tournament.
| Men’s doubles | Ivan Dodig / Austin Krajicek |
| Women’s doubles | Hsieh Su-wei / Wang Xinyu |
| Mixed doubles | Miyu Kato / Tim Putz |
| Wheelchair men’s singles | Tokito Oda |
| Wheelchair women’s singles | Diede de Groot |
| Wheelchair quad singles | Niels Vink |
| Wheelchair men’s doubles | Alfie Hewett / Gordon Reid |
| Wheelchair women’s doubles | Yui Kamiji / Kgothatso Montjane |
| Wheelchair quad doubles | Andy Lapthorne / Donald Ramphadi |
| Boys’ singles | Dino Prizmic |
| Girls’ singles | Alina Korneeva |
| Boys’ doubles | Yaroslav Demin / Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez |
| Girls’ doubles | Tyra Caterina Grant / Clervie Ngounoue |
French Open – Champions of the 21st Century
Since we’ve wrapped the topic of the French Open 2023 titles, let’s review the list of winners in the XXI century – both men’s and women’s.
French Open – Men’s Category
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2023 | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | Casper Ruud (NOR) | 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2022 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Casper Ruud (NOR) | 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2021 | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) | 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2020 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2019 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Dominic Thiem (AUT) | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2018 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Dominic Thiem (AUT) | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2017 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Stan Wawrinka (SUI) | 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | Andy Murray (GBR) | 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2015 | Stan Wawrinka (SUI) | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2014 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2013 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | David Ferrer (ESP) | 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2012 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 |
| 2011 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Roger Federer (SUI) | 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 |
| 2010 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Robin Soderling (SWE) | 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2009 | Roger Federer (SUI) | Robin Soderling (SWE) | 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 |
| 2008 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Roger Federer (SUI) | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2007 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Roger Federer (SUI) | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2006 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Roger Federer (SUI) | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) |
| 2005 | Rafael Nadal (ESP) | Mariano Puerta (ARG) | 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 |
| 2004 | Gaston Gaudio (ARG) | Guillermo Coria (ARG) | 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 |
| 2003 | Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) | Martin Verkerk (NED) | 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2002 | Albert Costa (ESP) | Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) | 6-1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2001 | Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) | Alex Corretja (ESP) | 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 2000 | Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) | Magnus Norman (SWE) | 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(6) |
French Open – Women’s Category
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2023 | Iga Swiatek (POL) | Karolina Muchova (CZE) | 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 |
| 2022 | Iga Swiatek (POL) | Coco Gauff (USA) | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2021 | Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) | 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 |
| 2020 | Iga Swiatek (POL) | Sofia Kenin (USA) | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2019 | Ashleigh Barty (AUS) | Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2018 | Simona Halep (ROU) | Sloane Stephens (USA) | 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2017 | Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) | Simona Halep (ROU) | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2016 | Garbine Muguruza (SPA) | Serena Williams (USA) | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2015 | Serena Williams (USA) | Lucie Safarova (CZE) | 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 |
| 2014 | Maria Sharapova (RUS) | Simona Halep (ROM) | 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 |
| 2013 | Serena Williams (USA) | Maria Sharapova (RUS) | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2012 | Maria Sharapova (RUS) | Sara Errani (ITA) | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2011 | Li Na (CHN) | Francesca Schiavone (ITA) | 6-4, 7-6(0) |
| 2010 | Francesca Schiavone (ITA) | Samantha Stosur (AUS) | 6-4, 7-6(2) |
| 2009 | Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) | Dinara Safina (RUS) | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2008 | Ana Ivanovic (SRB) | Dinara Safina (RUS) | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2007 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Ana Ivanovic (SRB) | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2006 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2005 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Mary Pierce (FRA) | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2004 | Anastasia Myskina (RUS) | Elena Dementieva (RUS) | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2003 | Justine Henin (BEL) | Kim Clijsters (BEL) | 6-0, 6-4 |
| 2002 | Serena Williams (USA) | Venus Williams (USA) | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2001 | Jennifer Capriati (USA) | Kim Clijsters (BEL) | 1-6, 6-4, 12-10 |
| 2000 | Mary Pierce (FRA) | Conchita Martinez (ESP) | 6-2, 7-5 |
French Open 2024 – Prize Money
The French Open 2024 financial budget will be similar to last year’s data. The winners of last year’s singles competitions received 2.3 million euros and 2.2 million in 2022. The tennis players who got eliminated in the commencing stages of Roland Garros received 69,000 euros. Regardless, the prize pool for various French Open tournaments has also seen significant growth – both the qualifying round and the handicap championship.
French Open 2024 – Champions Cup Titles
The most extravagant part of the competition is when the player lifts the champion’s trophy. However, what are the names of these legendary trophies?
• The masculine French Open tournament champion gets the Musketeer’s Cup (Coupe des Mousquetaires).
• The champion of the feminine Roland Garros contest receives the Suzanne Lenglen Cup (Coupe Suzanne Lenglen). However, this cup has commenced its distribution in only 1979.
Yet, the famous Parisian jewellery house Mellelio dits Meller produces these extraordinary trophies of pure silver.
French Open 2024 – Main Contenders
As expected, the TOP 10 tennis players are often the favourites in this kind of tournament. In the men’s category, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz is the favourite, while in the women’s class, Iga Swiatek still holds the top position. Swiatek is the winner of the last two Rolland Garros contests, so it is not abnormal that she is ranked as the main favourite this year. Many specialists call her the best red clay tennis player on the planet.
C. Alcaraz gets better with each day because not only did he win the Indian Wells tournament, but he is also on a good winning streak. N. Djokovic is always the favourite to win a tennis tournament, but our eyes should also pay attention towards Italian superstar Jannik Sinner. The Italian prodigy plays at such a high level that sometimes he is called the best tennis player. He played in the final game of the ATP Finals and won his first Grand Slam tournament in Australia.
French Open 2024 – Men’s Contenders List
These are the players with the best odds to win the masculine French Open 2024 title.
• Carlos Alcaraz – 2.44 – 1 month ago 2.55
• Novak Djokovic – 3.30 – 1 month ago 3.20
• Rafael Nadal – 5.00 – 1 month ago 5.00
• Jannik Sinner – 5.40 – 1 month ago 5.40
• Holger Rune – 9.60 – 1 month ago 9.40
• Daniil Medvedev – 14.00 – 1 month ago 14.00
French Open 2024 – Women’s Contenders List
These are the players with the best odds to win the feminine French Open 2024 title.
• Iga Swiatek – 2.07 – 1 month ago 2.09
• Aryna Sabalenka – 5.20 – 1 month ago 5.00
• Cori “Coco” Gauff – 9.00 – 1 month ago 8.80
• Elena Rybakina – 12.00 – 1 month ago 12.00
• Mirra Andreeva – 15.00 – 1 month ago 15.00
• Karolina Muchova – 20.00 – 1 month ago 20.00
French Open 2024 – Rafael Nadal and Record Books
The most essential question is whether we will see the red clay king Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has been plagued by injuries lately and cannot reach the highest level of play and avoid health concerns. Many believe he will be participating in what can be his final run in the Roland Garros competition. If we see him compete – he will be one of the candidates to win again.
We remind you that R. Nadal is an undisputed French Open champion because he raised the cup fourteen times. Also, it is the highest number of titles won in one Grand Slam tournament. Mentioning the women’s side, the legendary American tennis superstar Chris Evert leads the women’s Roland Garros category with seven titles – the most in the history of the feminine French Open. Next to her, we have two other legends in line:
• Suzanne Lenglen – six titles
• Steffi Graf – six titles
French Open – Facts
The French Open 2024 tennis competition is not far away. So, let us glance at some facts about the Roland Garros tennis championship.
Fact No. 1
R. Garros was the first individual to fly across the Mediterranean Sea. He also contributed to the engineering side of the spectrum. The Frenchman developed the first forward-mounted machine gun that blasted through the propeller.
Fact No. 2
The French Open tennis court is the most diminutive of all Grand Slam contests. All other tennis arenas are almost twice as large.
Fact No. 3
The most privileged ones have the chance to play on red clay, but frankly, it is not clay. The courts are made of limestone and red brick dust powder. That is why it has a typical red colour, but the densest material of the court is clay.
Fact No. 4
Since its establishment, the French Open tournament has been an annual tennis event. However, the procedure ceased between 1939 and 1945, and the cause is apparent – the WW2. The weird part is that tennis players still took part in the tournament. Still, it was unofficial, and only French tennis masters could participate.
Fact No. 5
During its existence, only five unseeded challengers went all the way in the Roland Garros tournament:
• Marcel Bernard – 1946
• Mats Wilander – 1982
• Gustavo Kuerten – 1997
• Gastón Gaudio – 2004
• Margaret Scriven – 1937
Fact No. 6
Although the competition is held in France, only two tennis players from this country have won this tournament. Since the beginning of the Open in 1967, these are the only French winners:
• Yannick Noah – 1983
• Mary Pierce – 2000
Fact No. 7
The biggest shock occurred in 1989 when two players who were not even 18 years old won the Roland Garros crown. That is the only such case in the Grand Slam tournament. Those two tennis players are:
• Michael Chang – 1989
• Arantxa Sánchez Vicario – 1989