Who won the French Open last year? Men’s and women’s champions at Roland Garros tennis grand slam in 2022

By | May 25, 2023

With Rafael Nadal out through injury, the French Open 2023 could see a new name on the famous trophy in the men’s draw — a trophy won by only four different players since 2004.

Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko are hoping to repeat their past triumphs in the women’s singles when the action begins on May 28.

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and men’s world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz are among the players hoping to go all the way at Roland-Garros for the first time.

Whose footsteps will the champions be following? Here’s who won last year and a list of former victors at the French Open.

MORE: French Open 2023: Betting, odds, who will win women’s singles title?

Who won the French Open last year? Men’s champion

Rafael Nadal was the 2022 French Open champion, winning his 22nd and most recent grand slam title.

Novak Djokovic ended Nadal’s run of five straight French Opens in 2021 but the Spanish superstar returned to beat his arch-rival in four sets in the quarterfinals in last year.

A brutal mid-match injury to Alexander Zverev sent Nadal through to a final he won in straight sets against Casper Ruud, extending his record to 14 French Open titles and 22 majors in total.

Sadly for Nadal and tennis fans, he will not be defending his title after announcing his withdrawal on May 18 because of a hip injury. Nadal is likely to retire in 2024, casting doubt on whether he will return to Roland-Garros.

Rafael-Nadal-060522-GETTY-FTR

(Getty Images)

Who won the 2023 French Open? Women’s winner

World No.1 Iga Swiatek is targeting French Open glory for the third time in four years after storming through last year’s tournament.

The only match during which there was even a murmur of concern for the Polish prodigy came when she lost a first-set tie-break to Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round — the solitary set she lost during her run to the title.

Swiatek won 24 of her 31 games during her semifinal and final, cruising past Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 in the showpiece to repeat her achievement of 2020.

Who are the past men’s singles French Open winners? Full list of every champion in the Open Era

Nadal is the undisputed king of clay but Swedish legend Bjorn Borg was the most successful player before the Spaniard’s era of domination, winning the tournament six times in eight years. 

Spain have had the most men’s singles success in the Open Era, accounting for 19 champions.

French Open men’s singles champions (Open Era)

Year Winner
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 Gaston Gaudio
2003 Juan Carlos Ferrero
2002 Albert Costa
2001 Gustavo Kuerten
2000 Gustavo Kuerten
1999 Andre Agassi
1998 Carlos Moya
1997 Gustavo Kuerten
1996 Yevgeny Kafelnikov
1995 Thomas Muster
1994 Sergi Bruguera
1993 Sergi Bruguera
1992 Jim Courier
1991 Jim Courier
1990 Andres Gomez
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 Bjorn Borg
1980 Bjorn Borg
1979 Bjorn Borg
1978 Bjorn Borg
1977 Guillermo Vilas
1976 Adriano Panatta
1975 Bjorn Borg
1974 Bjorn Borg
1973 IIie Nastase
1972 Andres Gimeno
1971 Jan Kodes
1970 Jan Kodes
1969 Rod Laver
1968 Ken Rosewall

Who are the past women’s singles French Open winners? Full list of every champion in the Open Era

Czech Krejcikova became the second unseeded player in as many years to win the tournament when she dethroned Swiatek in 2021.

American Chris Evert is the most successful woman at the tournament, with seven titles to her name.

Americans have historically dominated the event, seeing a champion crowned 15 times — 10 more than next-best Australia.

French Open women’s singles champions (Open Era)

Year Winner
2022 Iga Swiatek
2021 Barbora Krejcikova
2020 Iga Swiatek
2019 Ashleigh Barty
2018 Simona Halep
2017 Jelena Ostapenko
2016 Garbine 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 Sanchez Vicario
1997 Iva Majoli
1996 Steffi Graf
1995 Steffi Graf
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1993 Steffi Graf
1992 Monica Seles
1991 Monica Seles
1990 Monica Seles
1989 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1988 Steffi Graf
1987 Steffi Graf
1986 Chris Evert
1985 Chris Evert
1984 Martina Navratilova 
1983 Chris Evert
1982 Martina Navratilova
1981 Hana Mandlikova
1980 Chris Evert
1979 Chris Evert
1978 Virginia Ruzici
1977 Mima Jausovec
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 are the youngest and oldest French Open winners?

Monica Seles is the youngest player to win the French Open, capturing the crown at the age of 16 years and six months in 1990.

Seles beat all-time great Steffi Graf in straight sets and would go on to win the next two editions of the tournament.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Rafael Nadal became the oldest player to become French Open champion in 2022, turning 36 two days before the men’s final on June 5.

Andres Gimeno had previously been the oldest French Open champion, winning in 1972 at the age of 34 years and 10 months. That was Gimeno’s only grand slam win, although he also reached the Australian Open final in 1969, losing to Rod Laver. Gimeno remains tennis’ oldest first-time major champion.

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