The French Open is the second annual Grand Slam tennis tournament following the Australian Open in the summer down under. Contested on red clay courts, the only Grand Slam event on that notoriously slow surface, the French Open is officially known as the Internationaux de France de Roland-Garros.
Named in honour of French aviator Roland Garros, the French Open is of the most prestigious sporting competitions in the world and betting on the series is very popular with punters. The set-up of the French Open tournament makes it one of the most gruelling set of matches for the world’s pro-tennis players.
Taking place in Paris over two weeks in May – June each year it is the culmination of the clay court season. Roland Garros has origins dating back to 1891, but the international tournament didn’t begin until 1925. As with all four Grand Slam tournaments the French Open’s major divisions are the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
French Open 2020
- Date: May 25 – June 8, 2020
- Edition: 124th
- Venue: Stade Rolan Garros, Paris
- Grand Slam: 2nd of 2020
- 2019 Men’s Singles Champion: Rafael Nadal
- 2019 Women’s Singles Champion: Ashleigh Barty
Major French Open Titles & Current Champions
- Men’s Singles: Rafael Nadal (2019)
- Men’s Doubles: Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies (2019)
- Women’s Singles: Ashleigh Barty (2019)
- Women’s Doubles: Timea Babos/Kristina Miadenovic (2019)
- Mixed Doubles: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (2019)
Nadal won his 12th Roland Garros Title after becoming the 2019 Champion. Photo by Toronto Star.
Over €42 million (AUD $68 million) is on offer for the French Open winners and the matches are played at Stade Roland Garros. The French Open Era started in 1968 and prior to that precursors to the French Open were the French Championships and unofficially the World Hard Court Championships.
The Women’s Singles French Open winner is awarded the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, while The Men’s winner is awarded the Coupe des Mousquetairesm named after the Four Musketeers of French tennis: Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and René Lacoste.
Other French Open awards include the Prix Orange for best sportsmanship and cooperative attitude with the press; the Prix Citron for strongest player character and personality; and the Prix Bourgeon award for the year’s tennis player revelation.
French Open Odds & Betting
The French Open has a long and rich history and plenty of champions have graced the prestigious but dirty red clay courts in Paris etching their names on the French Open winners list. The French Open Era dates back to 1968 and as of 2016 there has been 115 editions.
The Roland Garros Stadium is host to the French Open Grand Slam.
Some of the most popular French Open betting odds are the outright prices on offer for the Men’s French Open Singles and Women’s French Open Singles winners. Once the French Open Gland Slam matches are set, head-to-head markets on all the games go up.
There are lots of exotic French Open tennis betting markets open on every game with odds on everything from total sets, whether there will be a tie-break in the first set, a player to win the first set and the match, the first player to serve a game to love and who will break first serve.
When it comes to Roland Garros betting a good French Open tip is to consider the surface. The clay court slows down ball play, producing a higher bounce compared to grass or hard surface courts and as such can take the advantage away from notable big servers. Plenty of other Grand Slam winners and champions have failed to dominate at the French Open for this reason, and are found at much longer odds than they would at the other three major tennis tournaments an example being Venus Williams.
The 2020 French Open is the next edition of the time-honoured tennis classic running from May 25, 2020 – June 8, 2020 and betting on the outright French Open Men’s Singles Winner and French Open Women’s Singles Winner will open months in advance of the tournament.
French Open Winners of the Past
The French Open has a long and rich history and plenty of champions have graced the prestigious but dirty red clay courts in Paris etching their names on the French Open winners list. The French Open Era dates back to 1968 and as of 2016 there has been 115 editions.
| Year |
Event |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
Score |
| 2020 |
Men’s Singles |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
| 2020 |
Women’s Singles |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
| 2019 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Dominic Thiem |
6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2019 |
Women’s Singles |
Ashleigh Barty |
Marketa Vondrousova |
6-1, 6-3 |
| 2018 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Dominic Thiem |
6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2018 |
Women’s Singles |
Simona Halep |
Sloane Stephens |
3-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2017 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Stan Wawrinka |
6-2, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2017 |
Women’s Singles |
Jeļena Ostapenko |
Simona Halep |
4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2016 |
Men’s Singles |
Novak Djokovic |
Andy Murray |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6-4 |
| 2016 |
Women’s Singles |
Garbine Muguruza |
Serena Williams |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 2015 |
Men’s Singles |
Stan Wawrinka |
Novak Djokovic |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6-4 |
| 2015 |
Women’s Singles |
Serena Williams |
Lucie Safarova |
6–4, 6–7, 6-2 |
| 2014 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Novak Djokovic |
3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2014 |
Women’s Singles |
Maria Sharapova |
Simona Halep |
6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 |
| 2013 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
David Ferrer |
6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 2013 |
Women’s Singles |
Serena Williams |
Maria Sharapova |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 2012 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Novak Djokovic |
6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
| 2012 |
Women’s Singles |
Maria Sharapova |
Sara Errani |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 2011 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Roger Federer |
7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1 |
| 2011 |
Women’s Singles |
Li Na |
Francesca Schiavone |
6–4, 7–6(7–0) |
| 2010 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Robin Söderling |
6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2010 |
Women’s Singles |
Francesca Schiavone |
Samantha Stosur |
6–4, 7–6(7–2) |
| 2009 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Robin Söderling |
6–1, 7–6(7–1), 6–4 |
| 2009 |
Women’s Singles |
Svetlana Kuznetsova |
Dinara Safina |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 2008 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Roger Federer |
6–1, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 2008 |
Women’s Singles |
Ana Ivanovic |
Dinara Safina |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 2007 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Roger Federer |
6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2007 |
Women’s Singles |
Justine Henin |
Ana Ivanovic |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 2006 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Roger Federer |
1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
| 2006 |
Women’s Singles |
Justine Henin |
Svetlana Kuznetsova |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 2005 |
Men’s Singles |
Rafael Nadal |
Mariano Puerta |
6–7(6–8), 6–3, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 2005 |
Women’s Singles |
Justine Henin |
Mary Pierce |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 2004 |
Men’s Singles |
Gastón Gaudio |
Guillermo Coria |
0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6 |
| 2004 |
Women’s Singles |
Anastasia Myskina |
Elena Dementieva |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 2003 |
Men’s Singles |
Juan Carlos Ferrero |
Martin Verkerk |
6–1, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 2003 |
Women’s Singles |
Justine Henin |
Kim Clijsters |
6–0, 6–4 |
| 2002 |
Men’s Singles |
Albert Costa |
Juan Carlos Ferrero |
6–1, 6–0, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 2002 |
Women’s Singles |
Serena Williams |
Venus Williams |
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
| 2001 |
Men’s Singles |
Gustavo Kuerten |
Àlex Corretja |
6–7(3–7), 7–5, 6–2, 6–0 |
| 2001 |
Women’s Singles |
Jennifer Capriati |
Kim Clijsters |
1–6, 6–4, 12–10 |
| 2000 |
Men’s Singles |
Gustavo Kuerten |
Magnus Norman |
6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(8–6) |
| 2000 |
Women’s Singles |
Mary Pierce |
Conchita Martínez |
6–2, 7–5) |
Men’s Singles Champions
The youngster male player to win the French Open was Michael Chang (17 years and 3 months) in 1989, while the oldest French Open champion was forty-year-old André Vacherot (1901). In the Open Era the oldest winner was Andrés Gimeno (34 years and 9 months) in 1972. Local French players have won more Men’s Singles titles than any other country. Spain’s Rafael Nadal has won an unprecedented 12 Roland Garros titles as of 2019, the most of anyone and is often referred to as the greatest clay court player of all time with a staggering singles record.
Australia’s Ken Rosewall won the first Men’s Singles title of the Open Era in 1968 and Rod Laver went back-to-back for the Aussies winning in 1969. However, these remain the only Australian French Open Men’s Singles champions in the Open Era.
Women’s Singles Champions
The Women’s Singles event at what is now known as the French Open first began in 1897 and to date the record for most Open Era titles (from 1968) belongs to Chris Evert with seven (1974–1975, 1979–1980, 1983, 1985–1986). The French Championship ran from 1897 – 1967) before the Open Era began in 1968. Australian players enjoyed early French Open Women’s Singles success with Margaret Court going back-to-back in 1969-70, followed by Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971) and Court again in 1973. No Australian had won the title since until the historical 2019 Women’s Singles victory by Ashleigh Barty.
French Open Records
As one of the world’s oldest and most iconic Grand Slam tournaments the French Open winners have set plenty of impressive records.
Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal holds the Men’s French Open Singles record of most titles won (12) as well as the most consecutive French Open Titles in the Open Era (5 from 2010-2014). His record in the French is the best singles record ever in the open era.
One of the reasons behind Rafael Nadal’s great success in the French Open is the clay court that produces a slower surface and suits his style of all out physical tennis with extreme topspin. The only tennis champions to win both the French Open on the slow clay courts and Wimbledon played on the fast grass courts are: Rod Laver, Jan Kodeš, Björn Borg, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
In the Women’s French Open Singles American Chris Evert holds the record of seven titles. In the French Open Doubles French player Max Decugis boasts the most titles in the Men’s division (pre 1967) with 13, while the Women’s division record Doubles title holder is Martina Navratilova with seven.
Rafael Nadal holds the record for most French Open Men’s Singles titles. Photo Credit: AFP.
Men’s French Open Records – Open Era
- Most Singles Titles: Rafael Nadal (12)
- Most Doubles Titles: Daniel Nestor and Maz Mirnyi (4)
Women’s French Open Records
- Most Singles Titles: Chris Evert (7)
- Most Doubles Titles: Martina Navratilova (7)
Mixed Doubles French Open Records
- Most Titles (Male): Max Decugis (7)
- Most Titles (Female): Suzanne Lenglen (7)
Most Consecutive French Open Titles
- Men’s Singles: Rafael Nadal (5)
- Women’s Singles: Monica Seles and Justine Henen (3)
- Men’s Doubles Daniel Nestor (3)
- Women’s Doubles Martina Navratilova and Gigi Fernandez (5)