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.
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.