Nestled in the heart of Paris, the French Open has long been the crown jewel of the clay court season, a stage where legends are made and rivalries ignite. From the red dust rise stories of resilience, flair and historic firsts.
Few tournaments capture the raw emotion of tennis like Roland-Garros. With its unique surface and grueling pace, it has tested the greatest—sometimes humbling them, other times turning them into icons.
As eras have shifted and styles evolved, the list of champions tells a rich tale of dominance, surprise upsets, and unforgettable moments etched into tennis history. Each name etched in clay marks a chapter in the sports’ lore.
French Open Men’s Singles Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz |
| 2023 | Novak Djokovic |
| 2022 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2021 | Novak Djokovic |
| 2020 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2019 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2018 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2017 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic |
| 2015 | Stan Wawrinka |
| 2014 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2013 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2012 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2011 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2010 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2009 | Roger Federer |
| 2008 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2007 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2006 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2005 | Rafael Nadal |
| 2004 | Gastón Gaudio |
| 2003 | Juan Carlos Ferrero |
| 2002 | Albert Costa |
| 2001 | Gustavo Kuerten |
| 2000 | Gustavo Kuerten |
| 1999 | Andre Agassi |
| 1998 | Carlos Moyá |
| 1997 | Gustavo Kuerten |
| 1996 | Yevgeny Kafelnikov |
| 1995 | Thomas Muster |
| 1994 | Sergi Bruguera |
| 1993 | Sergi Bruguera |
| 1992 | Jim Courier |
| 1991 | Jim Courier |
| 1990 | Andrés Gómez |
| 1989 | Michael Chang |
| 1988 | Mats Wilander |
| 1987 | Ivan Lendl |
| 1986 | Ivan Lendl |
| 1985 | Mats Wilander |
| 1984 | Ivan Lendl |
| 1983 | Yannick Noah |
| 1982 | Mats Wilander |
| 1981 | Björn Borg |
| 1980 | Björn Borg |
| 1979 | Björn Borg |
| 1978 | Björn Borg |
| 1977 | Guillermo Vilas |
| 1976 | Adriano Panatta |
| 1975 | Björn Borg |
| 1974 | Björn Borg |
| 1973 | Ilie Năstase |
| 1972 | Andrés Gimeno |
| 1971 | Jan Kodeš |
| 1970 | Jan Kodeš |
| 1969 | Rod Laver |
| 1968 | Ken Rosewall |
French Open Women’s Singles Champions
| Year | Champion |
| 2024 | Iga Świątek |
| 2023 | Iga Świątek |
| 2022 | Iga Świątek |
| 2021 | Barbora Krejčíková |
| 2020 | Iga Świątek |
| 2019 | Ashleigh Barty |
| 2018 | Simona Halep |
| 2017 | Jeļena Ostapenko |
| 2016 | Garbiñe Muguruza |
| 2015 | Serena Williams |
| 2014 | Maria Sharapova |
| 2013 | Serena Williams |
| 2012 | Maria Sharapova |
| 2011 | Li Na |
| 2010 | Francesca Schiavone |
| 2009 | Svetlana Kuznetsova |
| 2008 | Ana Ivanovic |
| 2007 | Justine Henin |
| 2006 | Justine Henin |
| 2005 | Justine Henin |
| 2004 | Anastasia Myskina |
| 2003 | Justine Henin |
| 2002 | Serena Williams |
| 2001 | Jennifer Capriati |
| 2000 | Mary Pierce |
| 1999 | Steffi Graf |
| 1998 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
| 1997 | Iva Majoli |
| 1996 | Steffi Graf |
| 1995 | Steffi Graf |
| 1994 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
| 1993 | Steffi Graf |
| 1992 | Monica Seles |
| 1991 | Monica Seles |
| 1990 | Monica Seles |
| 1989 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
| 1988 | Steffi Graf |
| 1987 | Steffi Graf |
| 1986 | Chris Evert |
| 1985 | Chris Evert |
| 1984 | Martina Navratilova |
| 1983 | Chris Evert |
| 1982 | Martina Navratilova |
| 1981 | Hana Mandlíková |
| 1980 | Chris Evert |
| 1979 | Chris Evert |
| 1978 | Virginia Ruzici |
| 1977 | Mima Jaušovec |
| 1976 | Sue Barker |
| 1975 | Chris Evert |
| 1974 | Chris Evert |
| 1973 | Margaret Court |
| 1972 | Billie Jean King |
| 1971 | Evonne Goolagong |
| 1970 | Margaret Court |
| 1969 | Margaret Court |
| 1968 | Nancy Richey |
Who holds the most French Open singles titles in history?
No one dominates Paris like Rafael Nadal. The Spanish legend has claimed the men’s singles title 14 times — a record not just at the French Open, but across all Grand Slams.
His era of dominance on clay, beginning in 2005, has redefined what it means to master a surface, with his relentless topspin, footwork and mental fortitude setting a nearly impossible standard.
On the women’s side, it’s Chris Evert who stands tallest. The American claimed seven titles in the 1970s and ’80s, combining elegance with consistency in a way that made her nearly untouchable on the terre battue.
Yet new contenders are emerging: Iga Świątek, the young Polish star, has already notched four titles by her early twenties, sparking conversations about whether she might one day rewrite the record books.
These champions didn’t just win, they shaped the very identity of the tournament. Their names are now synonymous with Roland Garros, their legacies woven into the clay beneath every bounce of the ball. Here is a small ranking for each one:
Men:
- Rafael Nadal – 14 titles (2005–2022)
- Björn Borg – 6 titles (1974–1981)
- Novak Djokovic – 3 titles (2016, 2021, 2023)
Women:
- Chris Evert – 7 titles (1974–1986)
- Steffi Graf – 6 titles (1987–1999)
- Justine Henin – 4 titles (2003, 2005–2007)
- Iga Świątek – 4 titles (2020, 2022–2024)