After Wimbledon, the French Open championship, to be played from May 27 to June 10 at Roland Garros, is probably the most coveted Tennis Grand Slam title. It is considered the unofficial World Championship on clay and is one of the oldest in the sport.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC READY TO MAKE HISTORY: The Serbian, Novak Djokovic is ready to embrace the weight of history as he bids to follow in the footsteps of Rod Laver and Don Budge. The world number one already has the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open trophies in his possession and, if he were to add the Coupe des Mousquetaires, he would become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at once. Only Rod Laver, twice, and Don Budge in 1938 have achieved the feat, both as part of a true Grand Slam where they won all four in a single year.
MOST TITLES: Australian Margaret Court holds the record of winning the highest number of titles at French Open. She has won the 13 titles between 1962 and 1973, comprising five singles, four women’s doubles and four mixed doubles.
MOST TITLES BY A MALE PLAYER: The record of most number of titles by a male player is held by Frenchman Henri Cochet who has won nine titles between 1926 and 1930, comprising four singles, three doubles and two mixed doubles.
MOST MEN’S SINGLES TITLES: Sweden’s Bjorn Borg who won six titles between 1974 and 1986, helds the record of winning the highest number of single titles in this championship.
MOST WOMEN’S SINGLES TITLES: The record of most woman’s single titles is held by Chris Evert of United States. She has won seven titles between 1974 and 1986.
MOST MEN’S DOUBLE TITLES (PAIR): Frenchmen Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet holds the record of most men’s doubles titles. They have won three doubles titles between 1927 and 1932
MOST WOMEN’S DOUBLES TITLES (PAIR): Shirly Fry and Doris Hart (both United States) have won four women’s double titles between 1950 and 1953 which is most in this championship.
MOST MEN’S DOUBLE TITLES (SINGLE): Australian Roy Emerson holds the record of most double titles. He has won six consecutive doubles titles with five different partners between 1960 and 1965.
MOST WOMEN’S DOUBLES TITLES (SINGLE): The record of most women’s double titles by a single player is held by American Martina Navratilova who has won seven women’e double titles with different partners between 1982 and 1988.
NINE OR MORE TITLES:
Player Period Singles Doubles Mixed Total
Margaret Court (Aus) 1962-73 5 4 4 13
Martina Navratilova (USA) 1974-88 2 7 2 11
Simone Mathie (France) 1933-39 2 6 2 10
Doris Hart (USA) 1948-53 2 5 3 10
Henri Cochet (France) 1926-30 4 3 2 9
Francoise Durr (France) 1967-73 1 5 3 9
Chris Evert (USA) 1974-86 7 2 – 9
