Top five youngest women's singles champions at French Open

Monica Seles won the Roland Garros when she was just 16 years old.

The French Open stands as the ultimate test for any female tennis player aiming to prove her prowess on clay. The courts of Roland Garros demand exceptional intensity, refined skill, and unwavering stamina to endure grueling rallies.

Unlike other Grand Slams, winning at Roland Garros demands patience and endurance. While many take years to adapt, a few exceptional women have conquered the Parisian clay at a remarkably young age. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top five youngest women’s singles champions at the French Open:

5. Iga Swiatek – 19 years, 4 months

Iga Swiatek burst onto the scene in 2020, winning the French Open at 19 years and 4 months old without dropping a set. The unseeded Polish teenager swept through the draw, defeating Sofia Kenin in the final and capturing her maiden Grand Slam title.

Since then, Swiatek has been widely recognised as the best player on clay, popularly known as the ‘Queen of Clay’, winning a total of four titles in Paris before turning 23.

4. Hana Mandlikova – 19 years, 3 months

Seeded fourth, Hana Mandlikova stunned the tennis world by ending Chris Evert’s 72-match clay-court winning streak in the 1981 French Open semifinals. In the final, she defeated Sylvia Hanika in straight sets to claim her second Grand Slam singles title.

The Czech-American finished her career with four major singles titles and was a finalist at all four Grand Slams, establishing herself as one of the most versatile and accomplished players of her generation.

3. Steffi Graf – 17 years, 11 months

Steffi Graf claimed her first French Open title in 1987 at 17 years and 11 months old, defeating Martina Navratilova in the final. This victory marked the beginning of Graf’s incredible Grand Slam journey.

Known for her powerful forehand and athleticism, the German would go on to win six French Open titles and achieve the “Golden Slam” in 1988, winning all four major and Olympic gold in the same year.

2. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario – 17 years, 174 days

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario captured the Paris crown in 1989 at 17 years and 174 days, becoming the youngest champion at the time. She defeated world No. 1 Steffi Graf in a thrilling final, ending Graf’s 41-match Grand Slam winning streak.

The Spaniard’s relentless retrieving and tactical intelligence on clay helped her triumph two more times at Roland Garros (1994, 1998), becoming one of Spain’s greatest female tennis players.

1. Monica Seles – 16 years, 6 months

Monica Seles became the youngest women’s singles champion at Roland Garros in 1990, winning the title at just 16 years and 6 months old. The Yugoslavian prodigy stunned the tennis world by defeating world No. 1 Steffi Graf in a dramatic three-set final.

Seles’ fearless baseline power and double-handed strokes led her to victory at the 1990 Paris Olympics, the first of her three consecutive French Open titles (1990–1992), and she won a total of nine Grand Slam singles titles.

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