2004 French Open
The 2004 French Open, officially known as the Roland Garros tournament, was the 103rd edition of the prestigious clay-court Grand Slam event held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from May 24 to June 6.[1] In the men's singles, unseeded Argentine Gastón Gaudio staged a remarkable comeback to defeat compatriot and third seed Guillermo Coria 0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6 in the final, saving two championship points to claim his only Grand Slam title and become the second-lowest-ranked men's champion at the event in the Open Era.[2][3][4] On the women's side, 22-year-old Russian Anastasia Myskina dominated Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–2 in an all-Russian final to secure her first and only major singles crown, marking her as the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam title.[2] The tournament also saw Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus of Belgium win the men's doubles title as unseeded players, defeating French duo Michaël Llodra and Fabrice Santoro 7–5, 7–5 in the final, while Spaniards Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez captured the women's doubles for the third consecutive year by beating Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva 6–0, 6–3.[5][6] In mixed doubles, French teenagers Tatiana Golovin and Richard Gasquet, aged 16 and 17 respectively, entered as wild cards and upset top seeds Cara Black and Wayne Black 6–3, 6–4 to claim the title.[7] Notable highlights included the longest match in Roland Garros history, a first-round men's singles epic where Fabrice Santoro outlasted compatriot Arnaud Clément 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14 over 6 hours and 33 minutes across two days, spanning 71 games.[8][9] The event drew a record-breaking attendance of 413,499 spectators, surpassing the 400,000 barrier for the first time, and introduced innovations like the "Evening Visitors" ticket resale system to enhance fan access.[2] In juniors, French prodigy Gaël Monfils won the boys' singles title, becoming the 12th French victor in that category since 1947.[2]Overview
Dates, Venue, and Surface
The 2004 French Open took place from 24 May to 6 June at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.[1] This marked the 103rd edition of the event, a major Grand Slam tournament organized by the French Tennis Federation.[2] The venue, named after aviator Roland Garros, features multiple outdoor courts, with the primary show courts being Court Philippe-Chatrier—the main stadium court seating over 15,000 spectators—and Court Suzanne-Lenglen, a secondary arena with a capacity of around 10,000. The tournament was contested on red clay courts, the only Grand Slam to use this surface, which provides a slower pace of play compared to hard or grass courts.[1] The clay's loose, crushed brick composition results in a higher ball bounce and reduced speed, promoting extended rallies and emphasizing player endurance, baseline consistency, and topspin shots.[10] Men's singles and doubles matches were played as best-of-five sets, while women's events followed a best-of-three sets format, adapting to the surface's demands for prolonged physical effort.[11] Qualifying rounds for the main draw occurred from 21 to 25 May 2004, also at Roland Garros, allowing lower-ranked players to earn entry into the 128-player singles fields.[12] This preparatory phase utilized additional courts at the venue, setting the stage for the main competition's focus on clay-court specialists who adapt to the surface's grippy texture and sliding movement requirements.Prize Money
The 2004 French Open featured a total prize money purse of €13,265,390, marking a record at the time and reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance financial incentives in professional tennis. This amount represented an increase from previous years, with particular emphasis on boosting payouts for earlier rounds to encourage broader participation and reduce financial barriers for lower-ranked players. The distribution highlighted a push toward greater equity in Grand Slam tournaments, though a slight disparity persisted between men's and women's top prizes, as full gender parity was not achieved until 2007.[13][14][15] In singles, the men's champion received €860,000, while the women's champion earned €838,500, underscoring the narrowing but not yet equal top awards. Runner-ups and semi-finalists also saw structured payouts, typically halved at each stage to reward deeper progress. The following table outlines key singles prize money amounts:| Round | Men's Singles (€) | Women's Singles (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 860,000 | 838,500 |
| Runner-up | 430,000 | 419,250 |
| Semi-finalist (each) | 215,000 | 209,625 |
| Quarter-finalist (each) | 120,000 | 117,000 |
Point Distribution
The 2004 French Open, as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, awarded ATP ranking points to players based on their performance in singles and doubles events, contributing significantly to their overall year-end standings and eligibility for the Tennis Masters Cup. These points were distributed according to the ATP's pre-2009 ranking system, which emphasized deep advancement in major events. For men's and women's singles, the winner received 1000 points, the runner-up 700 points, semi-finalists 450 points each, quarter-finalists 280 points each, round of 16 participants 175 points each, round of 32 90 points each, round of 64 45 points each, and round of 128 10 points each; additionally, players losing in the third round of qualifying earned 25 points.| Round Reached | Singles Points (ATP/WTA) |
|---|---|
| Winner | 1000 |
| Runner-up | 700 |
| Semi-final | 450 |
| Quarter-final | 280 |
| Round of 16 | 175 |
| Round of 32 | 90 |
| Round of 64 | 45 |
| Round of 128 | 10 |
| Qualifying (3rd round loss) | 25 |
| Round Reached | Doubles Points (per team, ATP/WTA) |
|---|---|
| Winners | 900 |
| Runners-up | 630 |
| Semi-final | 390 |
| Quarter-final | 225 |
| Round of 16 | 125 |
| Round of 32 | 75 |
| Round of 64 | 25 |
Champions
Men's Singles
The men's singles competition at the 2004 French Open culminated in an upset victory for unseeded Argentine Gastón Gaudio, ranked world No. 44 entering the tournament. Gaudio captured his sole Grand Slam title by defeating third-seeded compatriot Guillermo Coria in the final, 0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6, after rallying from two sets down and saving two championship points at 5–6 in the fifth set.[3][18] The match, lasting over three and a half hours, marked the first all-Argentine major final in men's singles history and the last French Open men's singles final without Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic until the 2024 edition.[19][20][21] The event followed the standard Grand Slam format with a 128-player single-elimination draw contested in best-of-five sets on clay courts. Gaudio navigated a challenging path that showcased Argentine depth, defeating Potito Starace in the first round, Andreas Seppi in the second, Nicolás Massú in the third round, eighth-seeded David Nalbandian in the semifinals (6–3, 7–6(5), 6–0), and Coria in the final.[3][22] Top seed and world No. 1 Roger Federer suffered an early exit, losing in straight sets to three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten in the third round, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[23] Kuerten, seeded 28th and returning from injury, advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Nalbandian. Gaudio's triumph highlighted the unpredictability of the clay-court major, where underdogs capitalized on the demanding surface.Women's Singles
The women's singles event at the 2004 French Open featured a 128-player draw played over best-of-three sets on outdoor clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris, France. Justine Henin-Hardenne, the top seed and defending champion, entered the tournament recovering from a viral infection that had sidelined her for six weeks, leading to an early second-round exit against Tathiana Garbin 7–5, 6–4 due to evident fatigue and lack of match sharpness.[24] This upset opened the field for lower seeds, culminating in an all-Russian final that marked a breakthrough for the nation's players on the WTA Tour. Anastasia Myskina, seeded sixth, claimed her maiden Grand Slam title by defeating ninth seed Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–2 in the final, becoming the first Russian woman to win a major singles championship.[25] The match lasted just 59 minutes, with Dementieva undone by 10 double faults and over 50 unforced errors amid mounting nerves in her debut major final.[26] Myskina's victory earned her 1,000 WTA ranking points and propelled her to a career-high No. 2 ranking later that year.[27] Myskina's path included a quarterfinal upset over fourth seed Venus Williams 6–3, 6–4, showcasing her baseline consistency and clay-court movement, followed by a dominant semifinal rout of seventh seed Jennifer Capriati 6–2, 6–2. Dementieva, meanwhile, advanced with a quarterfinal win over third seed Amélie Mauresmo 6–4, 6–3 and a semifinal triumph against 14th seed Paola Suárez 6–0, 7–5, highlighting her powerful groundstrokes despite serving inconsistencies. The tournament's outcome underscored the rising dominance of Russian tennis, with Myskina's success inspiring a wave of compatriots in subsequent majors.[28][29]Men's Doubles
The men's doubles competition at the 2004 French Open featured a 64-team draw on clay courts at Roland Garros, with top-seeded Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, the defending champions, advancing to the semifinals before falling to sixth seeds Michaël Llodra and Fabrice Santoro of France, 7–5, 6–4.[30] The Bryans, who had won the title in 2003, were unable to repeat despite their strong form earlier in the year. Unseeded Belgians Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus, teaming for the first time at Grand Slam level, emerged as surprise champions after defeating third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Max Mirnyi of Belarus in the semifinals.[31] In the final, Malisse and Rochus overcame Llodra and Santoro 7–5, 7–5, securing their first Grand Slam title and marking the first all-Belgian victory in men's doubles at Roland Garros.[32] This upset run highlighted the unpredictable nature of the event, as the Belgians had entered without prior major doubles success as a pair. Notably, Olivier Rochus's brother Christophe also competed, partnering Marc Lopez of Spain as a lucky loser but exiting in the first round after a 6–6 retirement against higher-ranked opponents.[1] The triumph elevated Belgian tennis on the global stage, with the winners splitting the doubles prize money evenly as per tournament guidelines.[32]Women's Doubles
The women's doubles competition at the 2004 French Open culminated in a decisive victory for the Spanish-Argentine duo of Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez, who claimed the title by defeating Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva 6–0, 6–3 in the final.[33] As the second seeds, Ruano Pascual and Suárez demonstrated their exceptional synergy and clay-court prowess, securing their third consecutive French Open women's doubles championship.[34] This triumph extended their remarkable streak at Roland Garros, where they had previously prevailed in 2002 and 2003, underscoring their dominance on the event's red clay surface, which favors extended rallies ideal for doubles play.[2] En route to the final, the second seeds navigated a challenging 64-team draw with authority, highlighted by their semi-final win over top-seeded Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Rennae Stubbs of Australia, 6–4, 6–3.[35] Black and Stubbs, who entered as the No. 1 seeds based on their world rankings and prior successes, advanced to the semifinals but could not overcome the Latin American pair's tactical depth and baseline consistency on clay.[36] Ruano Pascual and Suárez's expertise on the surface, honed through years of success in clay events, proved decisive, allowing them to control points with precise volleys and resilient returns.[34] The final itself was a one-sided affair, with the champions dropping just three games as they capitalized on the Russians' unforced errors and lack of cohesion.[33] Kuznetsova and Likhovtseva, who had upset higher seeds earlier in the tournament, reached their first major doubles final together but were overwhelmed by the experience of their opponents.[35] This result not only affirmed Ruano Pascual and Suárez's status as clay specialists but also highlighted the event's competitive draw, where underdogs like the Russians could challenge but ultimately fell to proven pairs.[36]Mixed Doubles
The mixed doubles event at the 2004 French Open featured a 32-team draw played on outdoor clay courts at Roland Garros.[37] The tournament marked a significant achievement for French tennis, as wildcards Tatiana Golovin and Richard Gasquet, both teenagers, captured the title in an upset run that captivated the home crowd. As unseeded entrants granted wildcards by the tournament organizers, the pair demonstrated remarkable synergy and resilience throughout the competition.[38][39] Golovin and Gasquet's path to victory included notable upsets over seeded opponents, beginning with a straight-sets win over Mariano Hood and María Vento-Kabchi in the round of 32 (6–1, 7–6(6)), followed by a 7–5, 6–3 victory against the second-seeded Mark Knowles and Virginia Ruano Pascual in the round of 16. They advanced past Lucas Arnold Ker and Angelique Widjaja 6–2, 6–2 in the quarterfinals before defeating Nenad Zimonjić and Elena Bovina 7–5, 3–6, 6–1 in the semifinals. In the final on June 4, the French duo overcame the fourth-seeded siblings Cara Black and Wayne Black of Zimbabwe, 6–3, 6–4, securing their first Grand Slam title.[37][38][39] At 16 years old (born January 25, 1988) and 17 years old (born June 18, 1986), respectively, Golovin and Gasquet became the youngest mixed doubles champions in French Open history, highlighting the emergence of promising French talent and providing a morale boost amid a tournament dominated by international stars.[40][41] The Black siblings, as the highest-seeded pair to reach the final, had a strong run but fell short against the youthful energy of the French wildcards, underscoring the event's competitive unpredictability. This victory represented a rare all-French success in the discipline, the last such pairing until well into the next decade.[42][37]Junior Champions
Boys' Singles
The boys' singles competition at the 2004 French Open was a 64-player single-elimination tournament held on outdoor clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris, featuring best-of-three sets matches for juniors under 18 years old.[43] Gaël Monfils of France, the top seed and world No. 1 junior, dominated the event without dropping a set, extending his unbeaten streak to 24 matches for the year.[44] In the final on June 5, 2004, Monfils defeated unseeded American Alex Kuznetsov 6–2, 6–2 to claim the title, marking his second consecutive junior Grand Slam victory after the Australian Open earlier that year.[43] This win made Monfils the 12th French player to capture the boys' singles crown since the event's inception in 1947, adding to the tournament's tradition of home success in the junior category.[2] Monfils's path included straight-sets victories over opponents such as fellow Frenchman Jonathan Bouys (first round), Russian Artem Smirnov (second round), and Japanese Kei Nishikori (quarterfinals), showcasing his athleticism and baseline prowess on clay.[44] Kuznetsov, a 16-year-old from Ukraine representing the United States, advanced by upsetting higher seeds like No. 8 Brendan McGinley in the semifinals but could not match Monfils's consistency in the championship match. The triumph propelled Monfils toward a historic junior season, as he later won Wimbledon boys' singles as well, falling just short of a calendar-year Grand Slam.[43]Girls' Singles
The girls' singles event at the 2004 French Open was contested as a 64-player single-elimination draw on outdoor clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris, France, from May 30 to June 5. This junior tournament highlighted promising young talent, with matches emphasizing baseline play and endurance suited to the surface. In the final, 15-year-old top seed Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria defeated unseeded Mădălina Gojnea of Romania 6–4, 6–0 to win her first junior Grand Slam title.[43] Karatantcheva's path to the championship included victories over several strong opponents, showcasing her powerful groundstrokes and composure under pressure in a field featuring emerging international prospects. Her straight-sets dominance in the final marked a breakthrough for Bulgarian junior tennis, coming amid a year of notable Eastern European achievements in the senior women's draw, where Russian Anastasia Myskina claimed the title. Karatantcheva, who turned professional shortly after, later reached a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 35 in 2008 before a doping suspension interrupted her progress.Boys' Doubles
The Boys' Doubles event at the 2004 French Open featured a 32-team draw contested on clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris, with all matches played as best-of-three sets as part of the junior tournament schedule from 30 May to 6 June 2004.[45] Spain's Pablo Andújar and Marcel Granollers emerged as champions, defeating the American-German pairing of Alex Kuznetsov and Mischa Zverev 6–3, 6–2 in the final to secure the title.[43] This success highlighted the effectiveness of their partnership, built on complementary styles suited to clay, as they navigated the draw without dropping a set in the later rounds according to tournament records. The win propelled both players toward notable professional careers. Andújar attained a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 32 in 2015 and captured four ATP singles titles between 2015 and 2019.[46] Granollers, focusing primarily on doubles, achieved the world No. 1 doubles ranking in 2021 and amassed 31 ATP doubles titles, including runner-up finishes at the French Open in 2014 and 2019. The champions received 500 ITF Junior ranking points for their victory in the doubles category.Girls' Doubles
The Girls' Doubles competition at the 2004 French Open junior championships concluded with Kateřina Böhmová from the Czech Republic and Michaëlla Krajicek from the Netherlands claiming the title. As the sixth-seeded pair, they defeated the unseeded duo of Irina Kotkina from Russia and Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan in the final, 6–3, 6–2.[47][43][48] The event featured a 32-team draw played on outdoor red clay courts at the Roland Garros complex in Paris, from late May to early June 2004. Böhmová and Krajicek navigated the tournament with consistent performances, dropping just one set en route to the championship match, highlighting their effective partnership in the doubles format.[47] This victory represented a significant milestone for both champions, who transitioned to the professional circuit shortly thereafter; Krajicek debuted on the WTA Tour in 2003 and achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 32 in 2008, while Böhmová competed professionally until 2012. The runners-up, Kotkina and Shvedova, also pursued pro careers, with Shvedova later securing three Grand Slam women's doubles titles and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. The all-junior event underscored the depth of emerging talent at Roland Garros, where the dedicated junior courts facilitated competitive play amid the senior tournament.Player Entries
Seeds
The seeding for the 2004 French Open singles draws was based on the ATP and WTA rankings released on May 17, 2004, with 32 players seeded in each event to minimize early matchups between top-ranked competitors and ensure a balanced tournament structure.[11]Men's Singles Seeds
The men's draw featured the following top seeds, with their outcomes noted (full list aligned with ATP rankings 1-32, with minor adjustments for withdrawals):| Seed | Player (Country) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Federer (SUI) | Third round (lost to Gustavo Kuerten) |
| 2 | Andy Roddick (USA) | Second round (lost to Olivier Mutis) |
| 3 | Guillermo Coria (ARG) | Runner-up (lost to Gastón Gaudio) |
| 4 | Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) | Second round (lost to Igor Andreev) |
| 5 | Carlos Moyá (ESP) | Quarterfinals (lost to Guillermo Coria) |
| 6 | Andre Agassi (USA) | First round (lost to Jérôme Haehnel) |
| 7 | Rainer Schüttler (GER) | First round (lost to Florian Mayer) |
| 8 | David Nalbandian (ARG) | Semifinals (lost to Guillermo Coria) |
| 9 | Tim Henman (GBR) | Semifinals (lost to Gastón Gaudio) |
| 10 | Sébastien Grosjean (FRA) | Second round (lost to Andrei Pavel) |
| 11 | Nicolás Massú (CHI) | Third round (lost to Tommy Robredo) |
| 12 | Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) | Quarterfinals (lost to Gastón Gaudio) |
| 13 | Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) | Second round (lost to Richard Gasquet) |
| 14 | Jiří Novák (CZE) | Second round (lost to Gastón Gaudio) |
| 15 | Sjeng Schalken (NED) | Withdrew (viral infection) |
| 16 | Fernando González (CHI) | First round (lost to Nicolás Lapentti) |
| 17 | Tommy Robredo (ESP) | Fourth round (lost to Carlos Moyá) |
| 18 | Mark Philippoussis (AUS) | First round (lost to Juan Antonio Marín) |
| 19 | Martin Verkerk (NED) | Third round (lost to Juan Ignacio Chela) |
| 20 | Marat Safin (RUS) | Fourth round (lost to Guillermo Coria) |
| 21 | Andrei Pavel (ROU) | Second round (lost to Alberto Martín) |
| 22 | Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) | Quarterfinals (lost to David Nalbandian) |
| 23 | Feliciano López (ESP) | Fourth round (lost to Tim Henman) |
| 24 | Jonas Björkman (SWE) | Second round (lost to Dominik Hrbatý) |
| 25 | Ivan Ljubičić (CRO) | Second round (lost to Agustín Calleri) |
| 26 | Albert Costa (ESP) | Third round (lost to Lleyton Hewitt) |
| 27 | Vince Spadea (USA) | Second round (lost to Mikhail Youzhny) |
| 28 | Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) | Quarterfinals (lost to David Nalbandian) |
| 29 | Max Mirnyi (BLR) | First round (lost to Olivier Patience) |
| 30 | Mariano Zabaleta (ARG) | Second round (lost to Nicolás Massú) |
| 31 | Dominik Hrbatý (SVK) | Second round (lost to Gastón Gaudio) |
| 32 | Arnaud Clément (FRA) | First round (lost to Fabrice Santoro) |
Women's Singles Seeds
The women's draw seeds, aligned with WTA rankings 1-32, included several early surprises, with the top seed losing in the second round:| Seed | Player (Country) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) | Second round (lost to Tathiana Garbin) |
| 2 | Serena Williams (USA) | Quarterfinals (lost to Jennifer Capriati) |
| 3 | Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) | Quarterfinals (lost to Elena Dementieva) |
| 4 | Venus Williams (USA) | Quarterfinals (lost to Anastasia Myskina) |
| 5 | Lindsay Davenport (USA) | Fourth round (lost to Anastasia Myskina) |
| 6 | Anastasia Myskina (RUS) | Champion |
| 7 | Jennifer Capriati (USA) | Semifinals (lost to Anastasia Myskina) |
| 8 | Nadia Petrova (RUS) | Third round (lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova) |
| 9 | Elena Dementieva (RUS) | Runner-up (lost to Anastasia Myskina) |
| 10 | Vera Zvonareva (RUS) | Third round (lost to Mary Pierce) |
| 11 | Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) | Semifinals (lost to Elena Dementieva) |
| 12 | Ai Sugiyama (JPN) | Second round (lost to Tamarine Tanasugarn) |
| 13 | Chanda Rubin (USA) | Withdrew (knee injury) |
| 14 | Paola Suárez (ARG) | Semifinals (lost to Jennifer Capriati) |
| 15 | Silvia Farina Elia (ITA) | Second round (lost to Meghann Shaughnessy) |
| 16 | Patty Schnyder (SUI) | Second round (lost to Shinobu Asagoe) |
| 17 | Francesca Schiavone (ITA) | Fourth round (lost to Elena Dementieva) |
| 18 | Maria Sharapova (RUS) | Quarterfinals (lost to Serena Williams) |
| 19 | Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi (ISR) | Third round (retired vs. Elena Dementieva) |
| 20 | Conchita Martínez (ESP) | Second round (lost to Ashley Harkleroad) |
| 21 | Magdalena Maleeva (BUL) | Fourth round (lost to Paola Suárez) |
| 22 | Karolina Šprem (CRO) | First round (lost to Virginia Ruano Pascual) |
| 23 | Fabiola Zuluaga (COL) | Fourth round (lost to Jennifer Capriati) |
| 24 | Jelena Dokić (SCG) | First round (lost to Émilie Loit) |
| 25 | Elena Bovina (RUS) | Third round (lost to Amélie Mauresmo) |
| 26 | Nathalie Dechy (FRA) | First round (lost to Dinara Safina) |
| 27 | Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) | First round (lost to Nicole Vaidišová) |
| 28 | Lisa Raymond (USA) | Second round (lost to María Sánchez Lorenzo) |
| 29 | Petra Mandula (HUN) | Second round (lost to Jelena Janković) |
| 30 | Mary Pierce (FRA) | Third round (lost to Venus Williams) |
| 31 | Émilie Loit (FRA) | Second round (lost to Jie Zheng) |
| 32 | Dinara Safina (RUS) | Second round (lost to Marion Bartoli) |