Only a small number of men’s tennis players are able to prevail on the renowned clay courts of Paris, making the French Open one of the biggest difficulties in the sport.

There have been many legendary winners in Paris, but who are the greatest of them all?

Do you agree with our ranking of the nine best French Open men’s singles champions, which focuses on the Open Era?

Vilas Guillermo

Titles: 1977
Results: 1978, 1982, 1975

Despite having only one victory at Roland Garros, Vilas was a clear pick for this list due to his clay-court skills and overall French Open record.
In Paris in 1977, the Argentine defeated Raul Ramirez in the round of sixteen and went on to win his first of four major singles titles. In the final, he defeated Brian Gottfried in just three games.

Before making his final major appearance at the event in 1982, Vilas had made the final in 1975 and had advanced to the Championship match when defending his championship in 1978.

8) Jim Courier Finals:

1993; Titles: 1991–92

In the early 1990s, Courier won back-to-back wins at the French Open, making him one of the few American men to thrive on the dirt.

He won the Coupe des Mousquetaires in

1991 after defeating fellow countryman Andre Agassi in five sets. It was his first Grand Slam victory.
And a full year later, having won two matches in Paris, he once again hoisted the renowned trophy after easily defeating Petr Korda in straight sets.

In 1993, former world No. 1 Courier made it almost all the way to the final of Roland Garros, almost completing a trifecta of victories.

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7) Roger Federer Finals: 2006–08, 2011 Titles: 2009

Similar to Vilas, Federer only won one title during the French Open, but his record in the competition as a whole makes him a legendary player.

The one success the Swiss Maestro has had in Paris dates back to fifteen years ago, when he famously defeated Robin Soderling in straight sets to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Federer had more success in Roland Garros, as he advanced to three consecutive finals in 2006–08 and again in 2011.

If not for a certain Spaniard, he most likely would have lifted more crowns.

Gustavo Kuerten 6) Finals: N/A; Titles: 1997, 2000-01

Even after winning the French Open for the first time 27 years ago, “Guga” Kuerten remains one of the most well-liked winners in the history of the competition.
Before the 1997 tournament, the Brazilian had never won an ATP-level match, but he quickly won, defeating two-time previous champion Sergi Bruguera in the championship match.

After returning to the Championship final three years later, he defeated Magnus Norman in four sets to earn his second Slam. In 2001, he defeated Alex Corretja to successfully defend his title.
5) Mats Wilander

Finals: 1983, 1987 Titles: 1982, 1985, 1988

During his illustrious career, Swedish great Wilander—one of the most successful players of the 1980s—won the French Open three times.
Similar to Kuerten, Wilander defeated Vilas in the 1982 final to win his first-ever ATP title at the event. Wilander was only 17 at the time.

Three years later, he was back to win the title again, this time defeating major opponent Ivan Lendl. In 1988, he also defeated home favourite Henri Leconte to claim his third trophy.

Wilander, a phenomenally accomplished dirtballer, finished second in 1983 and 1987.

4) Titles of Ivan Lendl: 1984, 1986–1987
Finals: 1985, 1981

Three of Lendl’s eight Grand Slam singles championships came from Roland Garros, the home of the man who was perhaps the best male player of the 1980s.

The Czech famously overcame two sets down against John McEnroe in the 1984 final to win his first Grand Slam title, having previously lost four major finals.

And he would go on to complete his trifecta of victories in Paris by defeating Mikael Pernfors and Wilander in 1986 and 1987, respectively, to win back-to-back titles.

In addition, he finished second twice in the French Open, where he made it to the championship match for the first time in 1981 and 1985.

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3) Djokovic Novak
Headings: 2016–2021–2023
Finals: 2020; 2012; 2014–15;

There is no man in history with as many Grand Slam victories as Novak Djokovic, and the Serbian has some of the most memorable victories at the French Open.

Few people will soon forget his incredible comeback to defeat Andy Murray in the Coupe des Mousquetaires final in 2016 and ultimately complete the career grand slam.

After five years, he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 major final to become the first person in history to win every major twice. Three years later, he defeated Casper Ruud to become the first person to accomplish that feat three times.

Like Federer, Djokovic has finished second four times in Paris and undoubtedly would have won more titles if it weren’t for the “King of Clay.”

Former world champion Novak Djokovic No. 2’s French Open decision states that there is “no doubt” about the tennis great Bjorn Borg. His titles include 1974–75 and 1978–81.
Six of Borg’s 11 Grand Slam championships, including his first and last titles, came at the French Open, making him a true sporting icon.

In 1974 and 1975, Borg won his first two titles while still a teenager. He defeated Manuel Orantes and Vilas, respectively, to win the titles back-to-back.

He was the four-time defending champion when he resigned from the sport in 1982 at the age of 26, having missed the next two years of competition. From 1978 to 1981, he won four consecutive titles.

Even though he could have won more championships if he had competed, his six French Open victories cemented his status as a true tennis great.

Rafael Nadal 1)

Finals: N/A;

Titles: 2005–08, 2010–14, 2017–20, 2022

Who was number one in this place was obvious.

With just three losses in the French Open, Rafael Nadal has one of the best records in tennis and is regarded as one of the most powerful players in the world.

After defeating Federer in three straight finals from 2006 to 2008, the Spaniard defeated Mariano Puerta in 2005 to win his maiden championship.

Following his unexpected 2009 defeat, Rafael Nadal went on to win five straight championships from 2010 to 2014, including two over Djokovic and one over Federer.

Following his late 2010s comeback, he won four medals in a row from 2017 to 2022 and an incredible 14 titles in 2022.

Without a doubt, Rafael Nadal is the “King of Clay”; very simply, nobody can match him.