French Open

The King

As storied as the history of Roland Garros is, the French Open Champions carry the tournament’s colors well. French Open Champions are special. They must overcome lengthy, gut-wrenching points, matches that last inordinate amounts of time and survive challenges from the best players on the planet. Yes, The French Open champions are special, just like the red courts of Roland Garros.

Since the Roland Garros Championships entered the Open era, the undisputed king of the tournament has been the stoic Swedish star and consummate tennis competitor, Bjorn Borg. Current French Open Champion, Spanish superstar, Rafael Nadal, will be seeking his sixth consecutive title at Roland Garros Stadium this month, but for many, the hearts of Paris will always belong to Sweden’s six-time winner.

In Borg’s shortened career, he won 61 ATP singles titles and 11 Grand Slam crowns. The powerful Swede won six Coupe des Mousquetaires and five Wimbledon crowns. Only Switzerland’s Roger Federer has won as many times on the English grass.

Perhaps, it was Borg’s ability to win on the slow, red clay in Paris and then on the very fast grass of England that endeared him to tennis fans around the globe. Perhaps, it was the Swede’s ability to overcome odds and hold off American bad boys John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors that elevated his popularity with international fans. Or, perhaps he was seen as one of the games great talents and the defender of the game’s ageless etiquette.

Unlike the feisty McEnroe and the contentious Conners, Borg played hard, played well and played with dignity throughout his career. At a time when the sportsmanship of the game was being redefined, Borg was a beacon of the traditional value of the game of tennis. Borg won his first French Open at age 18 in 1974. Borg won his sixth title in 1981 before his career was cut short in 1982.

Borg remains one of the few players who had the power game to win on fast surfaces and the racket skills to win on clay. Now, the game is fortunate to have another player with the same skills.

In 2009, Rafael Nadal pursues his sixth title. While the tall, muscular Spaniard’s style is different than Borg’s, Nadal has an uncanny ability to grind out wins on the red clay. With a dynamic clay court record, the 2009 French Open is Nadal’s to lose.

The Queen

Hail to The Queen! American Chris Evert captured the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen seven times and is still recognized as the greatest clay court tennis player of all time. Evert won an amazing 18 Grand Slam championships and, like Borg, did much to boost the game that she loved and the game that loved her.

Evert’s cool, calm and poised demeanor endeared her to fans around the world. The trim American won hearts and titles twice in Melbourne, 3 times at Wimbledon and 6 times at the U.S. Open. Her 125 consecutive clay court triumphs over six years from 1973 until 1979 is a record that will stand forever.

In Paris, Steffi Graf won six championships and has been Evert’s only serious challenger. As testimony to her versatility and brilliance, Evert’s six U.S. Open titles set another record.

Unbelievably, Evert finished as the world’s top ranked player seven times between 1974 and 1981. During her professional career, Evert amassed 1309 wins against 146 losses for a .900 winning percentage. Hail to the Queen of Paris, she stole our hearts and, along the way, helped raise women’s tennis.

The Prince

Michael Chang turned professional at aged 16 in 1988. His two handed backhand and durable play gained a reputation on a tour that was loaded with hard-serving and hard-hitting veterans. His 5’ 7” stature made the young American an unlikely tennis superstar.

Once settled on the tour, Chang set about making his mark. He splashed to the forefront on the red courts of Roland Garros in the 1989 French Open. His tenacious style and never-say-die attitude carried him to a stunning five set triumph over top seed Ivan Lendl in a grueling four hour 4th round match and another five set four and a half hour upset of number three seed Stefan Edberg in the finals.

At age 17 years, 3 months, Michael Chang is not only the youngest player to hoist the Coupe des Mousquetaires but he may very well reign as the Prionce of the French Open forever.

Inn his sixteen-year tennis career, Chang went on to achieve a world number two ranking and was ranked in the top ten for seven years. Michael won 34 singles titles and reached the finals in 24 other tournaments. Chang won 7 ATP championships. The 1989 French Open was his only Grand Slam championship. But, he reached the finals at the 1996 Australian Open the finals in Paris again in 1995 and the finals of the U.S. Open in 1996.

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the Prince of Roland Garros was his ability to represent the game itself. He championed the etiquette and integrity of the game and became a major influence on American tennis. Coincidentally, Chang’s 1989 French tile was the first by an American since Tony Trabert’s 1955 championship.

The Princess

French Open Princess, Monica Seles, joined the WTA in 1989, the same year Michael Chang won his French Open title. That same year, Seles reached the semis at Roland Garros and she was an instant teen sensation.

The next year at just 16 years 6 months, Seles swept through the tournament and raised her first Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. In fact, the Princess of Roland Garros would champion the red clay courts three successive times until 1992.

Between 1990 and 1993, Monica won 3 Australian championships, 3 French Opens and 2 U.S. Opnes. At age 21, her career was cut short when she was stabbed in the back by a spectator. Monica, the Princess of the French Open and the Queen of the Comeback, attempted to resurrect her career. Although never regaining her top form, Monica remained a top 10 player from 1995 until 2002.

In 1998, the Princess reached the finals at Paris. After the tragic stabbing, Monica needed two years of rehabilitation. The incident is one of the great tragedies of international sport. Monica’s reign as the Princess of Paris clay will most likely last an eternity.