Top six youngest men's singles champions at French Open

At just 17 years of age, Michael Chang holds the record for being the youngest French Open winner.

The French Open is the toughest challenge for any player to prove their capability on clay. The surface in Paris demands intensity, skill, and stamina to sustain lengthy rallies. Unlike the hard-court major slams, winning at the French Open requires patience and depends largely on a player’s ability to outlast their rival.

While some people take ages to master these skills, many youngsters manage to turn their dreams into reality at a very young age. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top six youngest men’s singles champions at the French Open:

6. Jim Courier (20 years, 9 months, and 23 days)

Jim Courier captured his maiden title at the Roland Garros in 1991 when he was just 20. Facing fellow American Andre Agassi in the final, Courier overcame nerves and an early deficit to win a dramatic five-set battle. His path to the trophy included tough victories over top players like Stefan Edberg in the quarterfinals and Michael Stich in the semifinals.

The American eventually defended his French Open crown in 1992 and reached the final again next year, ultimately finishing his career with two Roland Garros crowns and four major titles overall.

5. Gustavo Kuerten (20 years, 8 months, 16 days)

Gustavo Kuerten, ranked No. 66 in the world and unseeded, stunned the tennis world with his run in 1997 Paris, defeating former champions Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Thomas Muster before overpowering Sergi Bruguera 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 in the final.

It was not only his first Grand Slam title but also his first ATP-level trophy, and he became the lowest-ranked man ever to win Roland Garros. Kuerten’s charismatic personality and powerful baseline game sparked a tennis boom in Brazil, and he went on to win two more French Open titles (2000, 2001).

4. Rafael Nadal (19 years, 2 days)

Rafael Nadal’s first French Open title came in 2005, just two days after his 19th birthday. Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta in four sets in the final, but that was the beginning of an extraordinary career. The Spaniard went on to be known as the ‘King of Clay’, winning 14 titles at the French Open, and his most significant victory came in the semifinals, where he beat World No. 1 Roger Federer.

Nadal’s victory marked the beginning of his dominance on clay courts like never before, and he soon became the most feared player on clay.

3. Bjorn Borg (18 years, 10 days)

Bjorn Borg, another Swedish legend, won his first French Open in 1974 at just 18 years and 10 days old. In the final, he staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat Manuel Orantes, dropping only two games in the last three sets.

This victory marked the beginning of Borg’s clay-court dominance, who bagged six French Open titles in total (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981), a record at that time, and became a global tennis icon.

2. Mats Wilander (17 years, 9 months, 2 days)

Mats Wilander was only 17 years, 9 months, and 2 days old when he won the French Open in 1982. Wilander, a Swedish teenager with no ATP titles to his name, stunned the tennis world by beating Guillermo Vilas in four sets in the final.

His path included victories over Vitas Gerulaitis and Ivan Lendl, showcasing maturity beyond his years. Wilander would go on to win three French Open titles (1982, 1985, 1988) and seven Grand Slam singles titles overall.

1. Michael Chang (17 years, 3 months, 20 days)

The youngest ever men’s singles champion at the French Open is Michael Chang, who triumphed in 1989 at just 17 years, 3 months, and 20 days old. Chang famously came back from two sets down to beat top seed Ivan Lendl in the fourth round, using an underhand serve and sheer grit to overcome severe cramping.

In the final, the American downed Stefan Edberg in five sets, to script history. Chang never won another major, but he did reach the French Open final again in 1995 and remains an inspiration for underdogs everywhere.

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