Top 10 Best French Open Matches Of All Time

November 7, 2021 By Sourav

The French Open Tennis Tournament is the second Grand Slam event of the year. It marks the beginning of the summer season for tennis. The event is played on the famous red clay of Roland Garros. The French Open has seen some amazing matches since going open in 1968. To relive some great moments in French Open history, we have compiled a list of Top 10 Best French Open Matches Of All Time featuring tennis's all-time greats.

Best French Open Matches Of All Time | 2021 Updates

10. Michael Chang vs. Ivan Lendl (1989)

Michael Chang's greatest moment in his tennis career came at the expense of the great Ivan Lendl. In a fourth-round match against second-seeded Lendl, Chang, the 15th seed, was down two sets and was having some serious leg cramping issues.

But, the youngster still managed to fend of Lendl and won the match 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in what was a four-hour and 37-minute thriller. This game now holds its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

9. Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer (2008)

While the match featured perhaps the two greatest tennis players of all time, Nadal made sure to provide the fans with little drama winning the match and the French Open title in a straight-set. Nadal became the first player since Bjorn Borg to win four French Open titles in a row that year.

This marked the beginning of Nadal controlling his rivalry with Federer as he went on to defeat Federer at the Wimbledon final later that same year. This match too now holds its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

8. Yanick Noah vs. Matts Wilander (1983)

Sporting a wooden racket the French man Noah defeated Mats Wilander 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6 (8-6) to become the first winner French star to win the title in 37 years. Noah's championship is without a doubt, one of the greatest final in French Open history.

Without any doubt, Matts Wilander deserves its place among the most successful players in the French Open. Besides, this game now also holds its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

7. Matts Wilander vs Ivan Lendl (1982)

Ivan Lendl in 1982 suffered a fourth-round loss to a 17-year-old Matts Wilander. Wilander shocked Lendl with a 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win and then went on to shock the world when he won the French Open title after disposing of the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 seeds.

Lendl was the No.2 seed and Wilander was unseeded back then. And now, this game deserves its mention among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

6. Ivan Lendl vs John McEnroe (1984)

John McEnroe has seven Grand Slam titles under his belt. However, he was never able to get his hands on a French Open Title. In the 1984 French Open final, he was up by two sets against Ivan Lendl.

McEnroe had one of the famous outbursts he shouted at a cameraman after which Lendl took control of the match. With the crowd heavily supporting him, Lendl put away McEnroe for a famous 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5 victory in a match that took four hours and eight minutes.

5. Monica Seles vs Steffi Graf (1992)

Seles entered the 1992 French Open seeded No. 1 and Graf as the No. 2 seed. Both came in with a successful year behind them. Seles won the first set and Graf won the second making things even. In the final set which happened to be a 91-minute thriller, Seles finally sealed the match after winning the set 10-8 for the final score of 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.

Monica and Steffi both still hold their places among the most beautiful tennis players of all time. And without any doubt, this game also deserves its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

4. Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer (2005)

The King of Clay's first-ever French Open title came at the expense of Mariano Puerta in 2005 but it was the semi-final clash between him and Roger Federer that caught everyone's eye.

Since this very match, Nadal has earned his reputation for being one of the best players ever to participate in the French Open. And, this game too now deserves its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

3. Chris Evert vs Martina Navratilova (1985)

This rivalry was pretty popular back in the day with their match bringing out the best in one another. Evert would clinch the win in an emphatic 6–3, 6–7 (4-7), 7–5 win and go on to win her 7^th French open in 1986.

Navratilova was at her peak when she participated in this match. And, this game now holds its place among the top 10 best French Open matches of all time.

2. Serena Williams vs Venus Williams (2002)

There has never been a better sibling rivalry than the William sisters. It was the 2002 final when the No.2 seeded Venus and the No.3 seeded Serena met for an amazing clash for the French Open title. Serena defeated Venus 7-5, 6-3.

Both the Williams sisters still hold their place among the greatest female tennis players of all time. And till now, Serena is dominating the field of female tennis tournaments.

1. Bjorn Borg vs Manuel Orantes (1974)

No list of best French Open matches can be complete without including this match. After struggling throughout the first two sets, Bjorn Borg controlled the final three sets to make an amazing comeback dispatching Spain's Manuel Orantes 2–6, 6–7, 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 and capturing his first title.