Top 5 oldest Men’s champions at the French Open
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Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Andres Gimeno
The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the season and is played at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris over the fortnight. It is played on claycourts and often starts at the end of May after almost 2-months long action on the surface in what is called the ‘Golden Swing’ of the Tours.
With the surface posing different challenges, it often becomes difficult for aged players to win this major as they maintain the high level of fitness and stamina that the surface demands. Nevertheless, quite a few players have pulled off amazing wins at the tournament and here is a list of the Top 5 oldest Men’s champions at the French Open
Stan Wawrinka
The Swiss player Stan Wawrinka won the French Open when he was 30 years and 21 days. He defeated Novak Djokovic in the finals. Stan was a set down and then won the next three sets to claim his French open title. He reached a career-high. ranking of world number 3.
He won the Fench Open in 2015. Stan won 3 slams in his entire career The Australian Open in 2014, The French Open in 2015, and The US Open in 2016. Stan was always under Rogers Federer’s shadow. However, they won gold medals in doubles at the Olympics in Beijing.
Rod Laver
The Australian former tennis player won 2 French Open titles. Rod is considered one of the greatest players to play the sport. He won the second title at the age of 33 years and 303 days defeating defending champion Ken Rosewall in the 1969 French Open finals. He won 11 major titles in his entire career. He won all slams in the same year twice during his career and his record remains unbroken by a man while Steffi Graf remains the only other player to achieve the feat (1988 season).
Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall the former Australian tennis player won his first French Open at the age of 19 and then won the French open at the age of 33 years and 220 days when he beat Rod Laver in the 1968 French Open finals. Rosewall won 2 French Open titles one made him one of the youngest players to win the title and the other made him one of the oldest players to win the title.
Rafael Nadal
The record-breaker Rafael Nadal has won 13 French Open titles and 21 Grand slams in his entire career. he won his last French Open title in 2020 at the age of 34 years and 8 days. Roland Garros is the Spaniard’s favourite major and his record at the tournament shows why. He is also called the ‘King of Clay’ because of his massive victories in the competition over the years and unbroken dominance on the surface.
Andres Gimeno
Andres Gimeno is the oldest player to win at the Roland Garros. He won his title at the age of 34 years and 306 days. Gimeno won 41 singles titles in his entire career. He was once the finalist in the Australian Open but he lost to Rod Laver in the finals who was considered the fan favorite. He faced Patrick Proisy in the finals of the 1972 French Open finals and won the title in 4 sets, his only Grand Slam title.
Also read: ‘Next-gen is here or coming, but I am not focused on them’: Novak Djokovic
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Yash Pais
(53 Articles Published)