Most French Open Titles Won

Brad Newcomb

Editor

Last updated: 24 Sep 2024

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Brad Newcomb 24 Sep 2024

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French Open started in 1891, initially for local players and French club members.
Transitioned to a major tournament in 1925, became open to professionals in 1968.
Rafael Nadal holds a record 14 titles, dominating the clay courts of Roland-Garros.

Rafael Nadal of Team Spain plays a forehand (Getty Images)

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is the second Gland Slam tournament of the year. It requires players to have excellent endurance and strategic prowess to win the title, as the rallies are long and challenging on the red clay courts in Paris.

The French Championships was established in 1891 and was only open to local players or foreigners who were members of French tennis clubs. H. Briggs of Great Britain defeated P. Baigneres of France in straight sets 6–3, 6–4 to win the inaugural final.

1904 saw the adoption of five sets to decide the winner of the French Championships for the first time, with Max Decugis beating Andre Vacherot 6–1, 9–7, 6–8, 6–1 in the final. Decugis would go on and win another seven titles before the outbreak of World War I.

The French Championships was the last tournament recognised as a Major in 1925 after Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the US Open. Rene Lacoste defeated Jean Borotra in straight sets 7–5, 6–1, 6–4 in the final to win the title and his first Major.

Roland-Garros was built in 1928 as a venue for France to defend the Davis Cup after defeating the United States the previous year. Henri Cochet played against Rene Lacoste in the final that year, winning 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–3, and securing his third French Championships.

In 1968, the French Championships was renamed the French Open after allowing professional tennis players to compete for the first time in the tournament. Ken Rosewall defeated fellow Australian Rod Laver 6–3, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 in the final.

The emergence of Bjorn Borg as the first tennis superstar saw the Swede win six French Open titles in 1974, 1975, and from 1978 to 1981.

Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander won three French Open titles each from 1982 to 1988 before Michel Chang made history, becoming the youngest winner at Roland-Garros at the age of 17 years, three months and 20 days after defeating Stefan Edberg in five sets, 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the 1989 final.

In 2005 saw the arrival of Rafael Nadal as the best player the world has ever seen on clay courts, especially at Roland-Garros, where he would go on to win a record-breaking 14 titles, the most for any of the Grand Slam tournaments, which included lifting the French Open trophy five consecutive times from 2010 to 2014.

Only Roger Federer (2009), Stan Wawrinka (2015), Novak Djokovic (2016, 2021, and 2023), and Carlos Alcaraz (2024) have won the French Open during Nadal's reign.

Below is the list of the most successful tennis players who have won the French Open title.