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The French Open is the only Grand Slam played on clay and the slow surface coupled with seven rounds needed to win the Championship, makes it the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world. The French Open was the Grand Slam to allow a level playing field for amateurs and professionals way back in 1968. Other Grand Slams followed later. The French Open differs from other Grand Slams by starting off the main draw on a Sunday unlike Monday as opted by the other 3 Grand Slams. The Gentlemen's Singles winner takes home a replica of the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy.
South American and Spanish players have thrived in the French Open and have emerged victorious on many occasions. Rafael Nadal is the greatest French Open Champion with 11 titles and counting. Overall, French players have won the most number of titles with 38 followed by Spain with 18 and Australia with 11. Since inception in 1891, for the first 34 years, the tournament was open to only French nationals or foreigners who were members of any French Tennis Club. We take a look at 5 of the youngest winners of the French Open :
#5 Rafael Nadal
The greatest clay court player of all-time, Spaniard Rafael Nadal has over the years set the benchmark on the Parisian clay surface with his strong baseline strokeplay laced with heavy topspin. Nadal made his French Open debut in 2005 and became champion the same year beating Argentine Mariano Puerta in 4 sets. He would win 4 consecutive titles at Roland Garros from 2005-2008 before winning a record 5 consecutive titles between 2010-2014 inclusive. His record of 86 victories and just 2 losses in Roland Garros is unmatched by any other player in any of the 4 Grand Slams.
Nadal at 32 looks the firm favourite to lift the title yet again for a record-extending 12th time in 2019. Nadal won the first of his 11 French Open titles at the age of 19 years, 2 days.
#4 Ken Rosewall
Australian Ken Rosewall holds the record for the most number of years between first and last Grand Slam triumph among Men - 21 years. In a glorious career, Rosewall won 8 Grand Slam Singles titles and 11 Grand Slam Doubles titles and also helped Australia win the Davis Cup 4 times. Rosewall won his first French Open title in 1953. His second title came 15 years later in 1968. In both these years, he also won the Doubles Title at Roland Garros. Rosewall's first French Open triumph in 1953 came when he was just 18 years, 209 days old.
#3 Bjorn Borg
Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg was the epitome of composure and poise on and off the court. The affable Swede captivated the tennis world in the 1970's and 1980's with his style and talent. His rivalry with fellow tennis legend from the same Era - John McEnroe is the stuff of legends. The first player in the Open Era to earn more than one million dollars in prize money in a single season, Borg's ascendancy to the top of the tennis charts came while he was still in his teenage.
Borg won 6 French Open titles and 5 consecutive Wimbledon Championships - a record he shares with Roger Federer. Borg's Grand Slam win percentage of 89.81% is the highest among all players - active or retired and his 5-set record in Grand Slams is unmatched at 24-3. Borg won the 1974 French Open at the age of just 18 years and 10 days.
#2 Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander of Sweden won 7 Grand Slam Singles titles during 1982 - 1988 and remarkably he was never ranked World Number 1 during this dominant period. He became the top-ranked player only after his final Grand Slam triumph at the 1988 US Open. Wilander played a prominent role in Sweden's dominance in the Davis Cup throughout the 1980's helping his Team win 3 Davis Cup titles in 1984, 1985 and 1987.
Wilander retired in 1996 with 33 Singles titles and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002. Wilander won 3 French Open titles in 1982, 1985 and 1988. His first victory at the 1982 French Open came when he was just 17 years, 288 days old.
#1 Michael Chang
American Michael Chang captured the world's attention as a junior level player who set several 'youngest ever' records. Standing at 5'9", Chang's serve was his Achilles' Heal against the taller players but he managed to negate his slow service with his fast reflexes and ability to defend relentlessly from the baseline - a trait well-known among the top clay court players. Chang won 34 Singles titles overall and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
Chang won his first and only Grand Slam title at the 1989 French Open beating Stefan Edberg in a grueling 5-set encounter. He was only 17 years, 3 months and 7 days old at the time making him not just the youngest French Open winner but also the Youngest winner of any Grand Slam Tournament in Tennis history.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
