Every year brings a new set of memories, especially for those devoted tennis fans who cling to every second of the French Open. It’s always an exciting time as the Roland Garros opens up for the two-week-long tennis tournament, but there are a few moments that will always remain top tier for fans.
The next season is just around the corner, so in honouring the sport of kings, let’s recount some of the most memorable matches in the history of the French Open.
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic – 2020
Starting off not too far down memory lane, who could forget the 2020 match between the legends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic? Just when we thought the King of Clay had whipped out all his best moves, he went head-to-head with Djoker at the French Open final.
Tongues were wagging at the prospect of seeing two tennis titans take it all out on the court, and of course, there were many questions for Nadal, seeing as Djokovic remained unbeaten throughout the year. The athlete kept his composure and continued his reign, taking home the 13th Roland-Garros.
Rafael Nadal vs Robin Soderling – 2009
This match still remains one of the biggest upsets in the history of the French Open. At that stage, Nadal had claimed four straight titles from the Roland-Garros, and his fifth didn’t seem too far off until Robin Soderling. The French court always has the potential to turn tennis players into the stuff of legends, and when Nadal and Soderling, the 23rd seed, took to it.
Initially, Nadal had sailed through the tournament, winning every round, but when facing off against Robin Soderling, who took the lead with an opening set of 6 – 2, Nadal wasn’t backing down and edged the second set with a tie-break. However, Soderling didn’t let up and took the third set 6-4 before winning a fourth-set tie-break.
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal – 2005
Before Nadal, King Federer was the reigning champion. Everybody loves a good rivalry, and for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer the French Open semi-final in 2005 is where their competition really took flight. The two legends had met twice previously, with the scores tied at 1-1, this was the match that made it incredibly obvious that they would be constantly battling it out in future Grand Slams.
Just days after turning 19, Nadal was the fresh face in the French Open. Even then, he came in as a favourite and was looking to upstage Federer, who was looking to complete his set of all four Grand Slam tournaments.
The first set seemed to have flown by, with Rederer looking to take the win with ease, but the ambitious young Nadal’s defensive abilities took him to victory.
Monica Seles vs Steffi Graf – 1992
Monica Seles entered the 1992 French Open looking to take home her third consecutive title; all that stood in her way was the nine-time major champion, Steffi Graf. As these two legendary ladies took to the court, Seles made Graf work for every single point.
Following a brilliant 6-2 opening set to Seles, Graf did not back down without a fight and took the second set 6-3. The game was already tight, but the third set proved all the more rigorous for the champions as it only ended after 18 games, with Graf surviving five match points but Seles coming out on top. The final set saw Seles seal the match with a 10-8 win.
Andre Agassi vs Jim Courier – 1991
There’s no denying that the 1991 final match between Andre Agassi and Jim Courier made way for a new era of tennis, with America taking the lead. What made this particular game such a hit? Their fast, hard-hitting styles had the crowd at the edge of their seats with every single ball and Agassi’s outrageous backhand. It was back and forth for most of the match, but ultimately Courier was crowned champion.
Final Thoughts
Can you imagine what it must have been like to witness these champions facing each other off on the court, putting everything on the line for glory? Well, those moments may be over, but their names are forever etched into history on the La Coupe des Mousquetaires and Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. Most of us will never know what that feels like, but by getting the latest tips on the French Open, you could be a winner too.
