4 great tennis players to have never won the French Open

Boris Becker

More adapted to faster surfaces, Becker could never replicate his other successes on clay

Nicknamed ‘Boom Boom Becker’ for his powerful serves, Becker and his game were unsuited to the slow clay courts of Roland Garros.

He became the youngest men’s singles champion at Wimbledon when he was only 17, and Becker’s game was far more suited to grass courts and fast-moving surfaces than it was to clay. He reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros on three occasions – 1987, 1989, and 1991, but never progressed beyond it – or won a clay court tournament in his professional career.

Up against proficient opponents – Mats Wilander, Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl – Becker was unable to replicate his successes on other surfaces on clay.