What American tennis players ever won the French Open? List of US winners

The 2023 French Open is underway and this time without the ‘King of Clay’. Rafa Nadal, who won the tournament 14 times, was forced to withdraw from Roland Garros due to a hip injury that has kept him out of the courts since the Australian Open.

With Nadal not competing in the Parisian clay courts, the possibilities for other players to go all the way increase significantly, including the likes of Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

However, the Americans haven’t been very successful at the French Open in recent history, as, in most cases, their game suits better with the hard courts.

Since the Open Era began in 1968, nine different American players have combined for 19 singles titles in the French capital.

American players who won the French Open title

In the men’s category, Andre Agassi was the last competitor who reigned supreme at Roland Garros, lifting the trophy in 1995. By defeating Andrei Medvedev in the final, he became just the fifth man at the time and the first since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in his career.

But before Agassi conquered Paris, Jim Courier did that, and twice. The Florida-bred player won the trophy in 1991 and 1992, defeating Agassi and Petr Korda in the last round, respectively.

But the first American male player to ever do it was Michael Chang, who became champion in 1989. And he did it at 17 years and three months, becoming the youngest man to win a major, defeating Stefan Edberg in the final.

As for women, there’s a name that pops up quickly in the mind of tennis fans: Serena Williams. The younger of the Williams sisters won the trophy three times (2002, 2013, 2015).

Did part of her inspiration come from Jennifer Capriati? Maybe. The Florida native, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist, defeated Kim Clijsters in three sets in 2001.

The other two women who won the French Open are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. One of them is Martina Navratilova, who won it in 1982 and 1984. The 18-time Grand Slam tournament winner beat Adrea Jaeger and Chris Evert in the final, respectively. No player has won more singles tournaments (167) than Navratilova since the Open Era began.

Chris Evert is the other name that stands out. The American won the title in 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, and 1986, being the second most successful player at Roland Garros only behind Nadal. She won at least one major during 13 consecutive years.

A pioneer in equality, Billy Jean King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, being Roland Garros one of them in 1972, beating Australia’s Evonne Goolagong in straight sets. She became the first woman in the history of sports to win $100,000 in a year.

Nancy Richey became the first French Open champion during the Open Era, paving the way for success in Paris since then for the rest of the American players.

Before the Open Era, eight American women and five men also won French Open titles: Helen Willis Moody, Margaret Osborne duPont, Patricia Canning Todd, Doris Hart, Shirley Fry, Maureen Connolly, Althea Gibson, Darlene Hard, Donald Budge, Donald McNeill, Frank Parker, Budge Patty, and Tony Trabert.

List of French Open winners