French Open Champions before Rafael Nadal
To the current generation of tennis fans, the history of the French Open begins in 2005, when Rafael Nadal won his maiden title at Roland Garros. Off the last ten editions of the French Open, Nadal has won nine, his only loss at the event having come in 2009, when Roger Federer won the title. But, many other players, Bjorn Borg, not being the least of them, have dominated the French Open. Let us now take a look at all the French Open Champions before Nadal stamped his presence over the tournament.
#1 Ken Rosewall (1968)
Ken Roswall remains the greatest player never to have won Wimbledon. The Australian ace, who spent the better part of his career in the shadow of his more illustrious compatriot Rod Laver, was among the legends at the time when the ‘Open Era’ began in tennis.
In the inaugural edition of the French Open in the ‘Open Era’, Rosewall got the better of Laver in a four setter to win the title, after a gap of fifteen years. Rosewall, who is renowned for his longevity, holds the distinction of being the youngest and oldest champion of the Australian Open. In all, Rosewall won eight Grand Slam events, of which four were earned in the ‘Open Era’.