2019 French Open
The 2019 French Open, officially designated as Roland-Garros, was the 123rd edition of the prestigious Grand Slam tennis tournament staged at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, from 26 May to 9 June on outdoor red clay courts.[1][2] The event encompassed men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions, alongside junior and wheelchair tennis categories, drawing a record attendance of nearly 520,000 spectators over the two weeks.[3] With a total prize pool of €42,661,000—marking an 8% increase from the previous year—the tournament highlighted equal pay for men's and women's singles champions at €2.3 million each.[4] This edition was notable for the debut of the retractable roof on the newly renovated Court Philippe-Chatrier, allowing play to continue uninterrupted by weather for the first time in its history.[5] In the men's singles, second seed Rafael Nadal secured his record-extending 12th title at the tournament—and 18th Grand Slam overall—by defeating fourth seed Dominic Thiem 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 in the final, a rematch of the 2018 championship match.[6] Nadal's path included a dominant semifinal victory over Roger Federer 6–3, 6–4, 6–2, Federer's first semifinal appearance there since 2012.[6] Thiem advanced by upsetting world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6–2, 3–6, 7–5, 5–7, 7–5 in the other semifinal, reaching his second consecutive French Open final.[6] World No. 8 Ashleigh Barty claimed the women's singles crown, her maiden Grand Slam title, with a straight-sets 6–1, 6–3 triumph over 19-year-old unseeded qualifier Markéta Vondroušová in the final, becoming the first Australian woman to win the event since Margaret Court in 1973.[5][6] Barty, the top seed, did not drop a set en route to the title, while Vondroušová, an unseeded qualifier, reached her first Grand Slam final.[6] In doubles play, German pair Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies captured the men's title as unseeded wild cards, edging French duo Jérémy Chardy and Fabrice Martin 6–2, 7–6(7–3) in the final for their first Grand Slam together and the first German men's doubles win at the French Open since 1937.[7][8] Tímea Babos of Hungary and France's Kristina Mladenovic won the women's doubles, defeating Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai 6–2, 6–3 for their second French Open women's doubles title as a team (previously in 2016).[5] Latisha Chan of Chinese Taipei and Croatia's Ivan Dodig became the first mixed doubles pair in the Open Era to defend their French Open title successfully, beating Gabriela Dabrowski and Mate Pavić 6–1, 7–6(7–5) in the final—a rematch of the 2018 championship—and marking their second consecutive Grand Slam victory together.[9][10]Tournament Overview
Dates and Schedule
The 2019 French Open was held from May 26 to June 9, 2019, encompassing the main draw across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories on outdoor clay courts. Qualifying rounds for the singles events took place from May 20 to May 24, 2019, determining 16 spots in the men's main draw and 12 in the women's.[11][12] The main draw followed a standard two-week progression: first-round matches on May 26 and 27; second-round matches on May 28 and 29; third-round matches on May 30 and 31; fourth-round matches on June 1 and 2; quarterfinals scheduled for June 4 and 5; semifinals on June 6 and 7; and finals on June 8 and 9. This timeline allowed for daily play on multiple courts, with key sessions starting at 11 a.m. local time on outer courts and noon on the main show courts.[13][14] Heavy rain throughout June 5, 2019, resulted in the complete cancellation of play, the first full-day rainout at Roland Garros since 2016 and the final edition of the tournament without a retractable roof over Court Philippe-Chatrier. Four quarterfinal matches—two men's and two women's—were postponed from that day, leading to a compressed schedule where the remaining quarterfinals shifted to June 6 alongside the women's semifinals. This rescheduling heightened concerns over player fatigue, as top competitors faced back-to-back days of intense matches on the physically demanding clay surface without adequate recovery time.[15][16][17]Venue and Surface
The 2019 French Open took place at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, an 11.16-hectare complex that includes 18 tennis courts for competition, among them the primary show courts Court Philippe-Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen, as well as the newly inaugurated Court Simonne-Mathieu.[18][19][20] Court Philippe-Chatrier, accommodating approximately 15,000 spectators, served as the main venue for marquee matches but lacked a retractable roof during the 2019 edition, with installation completed afterward for the 2020 tournament to mitigate weather disruptions.[21][22] The entire event attracted nearly 520,000 spectators, reflecting its enduring appeal as a Grand Slam.[3] All matches were contested on red clay surfaces, referred to as terre battue, composed of a thin top layer of red brick dust (1-2 mm thick) atop crushed white limestone (6-7 cm), clinker residue from coal (7-8 cm), crushed gravel (15 cm), and a base of sand (10 cm).[23] This composition contributes to the court's distinctive slower pace, higher ball bounce, and emphasis on prolonged baseline exchanges, distinguishing it from faster hard or grass surfaces.[24] A team of 183 staff members maintained the courts daily through meticulous processes including brushing to redistribute the top layer, controlled watering for optimal moisture, and rolling to level the surface, ensuring consistent playability throughout the tournament.[25]Format and Categories
The 2019 French Open adhered to the standard Grand Slam format for its main professional events, featuring 128-player draws for both men's and women's singles, with matches played as best-of-five sets for men and best-of-three sets for women. Doubles competitions included 64-team draws for men's and women's events, also contested in best-of-three sets, while the mixed doubles draw consisted of 48 teams following the same set format. Qualifying rounds preceded the main draw, with 16 spots allocated for men's singles from a 128-player field requiring three wins to advance, and 12 spots for women's singles from a 96-player field under identical advancement criteria.[11][26] A distinctive feature of the tournament's singles format was the absence of a tiebreak in the deciding set, maintaining the traditional advantage set rule where play continued until one player led by two games, regardless of the score reaching 6-6 or beyond—this differed from the 2019 changes at other Grand Slams, which introduced a tiebreak at 12-12 in the final set for men. Tiebreaks were standard in all non-deciding sets at 6-6, played to seven points with a two-point margin required to win. No-ad scoring was not used; instead, deuce and advantage points determined games as per ITF rules.[27] The tournament encompassed a broad range of competitive categories beyond the senior professional events. Senior competitions included men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, all open to eligible professional players based on rankings and entries. Junior events targeted players under 18, featuring boys' and girls' singles and doubles draws of 64 and 32 players, respectively, with best-of-three sets across all matches. Wheelchair tennis categories comprised men's and women's singles and doubles (32- and 16-player draws), plus the inaugural quad singles and quad doubles events introduced in 2019 to accommodate players with impairments affecting all four limbs, each with eight-player fields and best-of-three sets. Legends competitions focused on exhibition-style doubles: men's over-45 and under-45 categories (eight-team draws each), and a women's legends doubles event (eight teams), all played in best-of-three sets to celebrate retired professionals.[28][29]Points and Prize Money
Points Distribution
The 2019 French Open distributed ranking points in line with the standard Grand Slam allocations established by the ATP, WTA, and ITF for senior, junior, and wheelchair events, without any tournament-specific modifications that year. These points contribute significantly to players' progression through the clay-court season, as the French Open serves as the premier event on that surface ahead of the grass-court swing.[30][31]Senior Events
In men's singles, the winner received 2000 ATP ranking points, the finalist 1200 points, semifinalists 720 points each, quarterfinalists 360 points each, round-of-16 players 180 points each, round-of-32 players 90 points each, round-of-64 players 45 points each, and first-round losers 10 points each. Qualifying rounds awarded up to 25 points for reaching the final qualifying round. For men's doubles teams, the structure mirrored singles points through the round of 32 (2000 for winners, 1200 for finalists, 720 for semifinalists, 360 for quarterfinalists, 180 for round-of-16 teams, and 90 for round-of-32 teams).[30] Women's singles followed the WTA scale, with the winner earning 2000 points, the finalist 1300 points, semifinalists 780 points each, quarterfinalists 430 points each, round-of-16 players 240 points each, round-of-32 players 130 points each, round-of-64 players 70 points each, and first-round losers 10 points each. Qualifying offered 40 points for a main-draw entry via qualifiers, with incremental awards up to 30 points for the final qualifying round. Women's doubles teams received points identical to the singles structure (2000 for winners down to 10 for first-round losses).[31]Wheelchair Events
Wheelchair events at the 2019 French Open, including the newly introduced quad categories, awarded ITF ranking points scaled to the smaller draw sizes typical of these competitions. In men's and women's singles (8-player draws), the winner earned 800 points, the finalist 500 points, semifinalists 375 points each, and quarterfinalists 100 points each. Quad singles (4-player draw) awarded 800 points to the winner, 500 to the finalist, and 375 to each semi-final loser. Doubles events across all categories provided 800 points to winning teams, 500 to finalists, 375 to semifinalists, and 100 to quarterfinalists, adjusted for 4-team draws in men's and women's and 2-team draws in quads.[32]Junior Events
Junior competitions, governed by the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, used a separate ranking system from senior events. For boys' and girls' singles at this Grade A tournament (64-player draw), the winner received 1000 points, the finalist 600 points, semifinalists 370 points each, quarterfinalists 200 points each, round-of-16 players 100 points each, round-of-32 players 45 points each, and earlier rounds down to 10 points for first-round losses. Junior doubles followed a similar scaled structure, with winners earning up to 600 points. These points help under-18 players build toward professional transitions but do not count toward ATP or WTA rankings.[33]Prize Money Allocation
The total prize money distributed at the 2019 French Open amounted to €42,661,000, marking an 8% increase from the €39,197,000 awarded in 2018.[4] This purse reflected ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, with identical payouts for men's and women's singles events and a balanced overall allocation across genders.[34] A key focus of the 2019 adjustments was supporting lower-ranked players through enhanced compensation for early exits, including a 15% rise in first-round singles earnings to provide a guaranteed minimum.[19] In singles competitions, the champion earned €2,300,000, while the runner-up received €1,180,000; semifinalists collected €590,000 each, quarterfinalists €415,000 each, and those exiting in the round of 16 took home €243,000 each.[35] Further progression rewards included €143,000 for third-round losers, €87,000 for second-round exits, and €46,000 for first-round defeats.[36]| Round | Prize Money (per player) |
|---|---|
| Winner | €2,300,000 |
| Runner-up | €1,180,000 |
| Semifinalist | €590,000 |
| Quarterfinalist | €415,000 |
| Round of 16 | €243,000 |
| Third round | €143,000 |
| Second round | €87,000 |
| First round | €46,000 |
| Round | Prize Money (per team) |
|---|---|
| Winners | €580,000 |
| Runners-up | €290,000 |
| Semifinalists | €146,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | €79,500 |
| Round of 16 | €42,500 |
| Round of 32 | €23,000 |
| First round | €11,500 |
Player Entries
Qualifiers
The qualifying rounds for the 2019 French Open singles events consisted of three rounds held from May 20 to 24, 2019, drawing 128 players in both the men's and women's fields to compete for 16 spots each in the main draw. These matches were played on clay courts at Roland Garros, providing lower-ranked players an opportunity to earn entry through merit-based performance.[11] In men's singles, 16 players advanced to the main draw, highlighting a strong contingent of unseeded competitors, including several who demonstrated resilience on the slow clay surface. Notable qualifiers included Elliot Benchetrit of France, who became the first Moroccan-born player to reach the main draw since Hicham Arazi in 1997, defeating opponents in straight sets during the final qualifying round.[37] Grégoire Barrère of France did not qualify, as he received a wildcard entry. Other standout entrants were Tennys Sandgren of the United States, who navigated tough matches to claim his place, and Italians Salvatore Caruso and Stefano Travaglia, both of whom excelled in extended rallies typical of clay qualifying. These advancements contributed to four French players (Benchetrit, Enzo Couacaud, Geoffrey Blancaneaux, and Mathias Bourgue) reaching the main draw via qualifying, underscoring the event's emphasis on domestic talent development.[37] The women's singles qualifiers similarly featured 16 successful players, with several young or resurgent talents emerging. Cori Gauff, a 15-year-old American wildcard entrant into qualifying, made history as the youngest player to win a Grand Slam qualifying match, defeating Ankita Raina 6-4, 6-4 in the first round before advancing without dropping a set to reach her debut main draw.[38] Additional notable qualifiers included Aliona Bolsova of Spain, who impressed with consistent serving, and Bernarda Pera of the United States, who overcame seeded opponents in the later stages. These advancements reflected the depth of the field, with qualifiers like Gauff bringing fresh energy to the tournament.[39][40]Wildcards
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) exercises discretion in awarding wildcards to the main draw of the French Open, prioritizing home nation players, those returning from injury, emerging talents, and opportunities for diversity in the field. In 2019, allocations emphasized French representation to capitalize on domestic support, blending veterans, young prospects, and select international invitees across categories.[41] Eight wildcards were granted for men's singles, with six to French players: Grégoire Barrère, Quentin Halys, Antoine Hoang, Maxime Janvier, Nicolas Mahut, and Corentin Moutet. The remaining two went to Australian Alexei Popyrin and American Tommy Paul, the latter via the USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge.[41][42] Women's singles also received eight wildcards, six to French recipients including juniors Diane Parry and Selena Janicijevic, alongside Audrey Albie, Chloé Paquet, Jessika Ponchet, and Harmony Tan, highlighting a youth-focused approach. The other spots were filled by Australian Priscilla Hon and American Lauren Davis.[41][43] Doubles and mixed doubles categories each featured four wildcards, favoring French pairings and rising duos to bolster national presence. In men's doubles, for instance, the all-French team of Jérémy Chardy and Fabrice Martin secured one such entry.[44]Withdrawals and Protected Rankings
Several notable players withdrew from the 2019 French Open prior to the tournament's start, often citing injuries sustained during the preceding clay-court season. Among the men's field, Nick Kyrgios pulled out due to illness just days before his scheduled first-round match. In the women's draw, Petra Kvitová, seeded sixth, withdrew with a grade-two tear in her left forearm. Ekaterina Makarova also exited the entry list due to injury, creating an opening for an alternate. British player Katie Boulter, who had initially been included in the main draw, confirmed her withdrawal because of a back injury. Protected rankings allowed several players returning from extended injury absences to enter the main draw despite their current ATP or WTA rankings falling below the cutoff. In the men's singles, four players utilized this provision: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France (protected ranking No. 34, current No. 102 due to knee surgery recovery), Jozef Kovalík of Slovakia (No. 85), Janko Tipsarević of Serbia (No. 88), and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe of Germany (No. 95). For the women's singles, Shelby Rogers of the United States entered via her protected ranking (No. 107) after missing over a year with a knee injury. Additionally, Anna Tatishvili of Georgia gained direct entry using her protected ranking (No. 107) following Makarova's withdrawal. Mid-tournament retirements were relatively common, attributed by players and officials to the physical demands of clay-court play amid a congested European swing. In the men's singles, Britain's Kyle Edmund retired during his third-round match against Pablo Cuevas while trailing 4-6, 7-5, 0-2, hampered by a knee injury. Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin also retired in the first round against Rafael Nadal at 2-6, 0-2, due to an ankle issue. On the women's side, fourth-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands withdrew from her second-round encounter with Viktória Kužmová after losing the first set 6-2, citing illness and fatigue. Daria Gavrilova of Australia retired in her opening-round clash with Aleksandra Krunić at 0-3, overcome by a lower-back injury. These incidents highlighted the tournament's injury toll, with alternates such as Estonia's Jürgen Zopp stepping in to fill gaps in the draw.Seeding and Rankings
Singles Seeds
The seeding for the 2019 French Open singles draws was determined according to standard Grand Slam rules, based on the ATP and WTA rankings released on May 20, 2019, the Monday prior to the tournament start. These rankings formed the basis for the top 32 seeds in each event, with provisions for protected rankings for players returning from long-term injuries or maternity leave, though no such special seedings were applied in 2019.[45] The process saw no major controversies or adjustments, as the top-ranked players entered without significant disruptions from withdrawals or ranking changes in the preceding weeks.[46] In the men's singles, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic received the top seed, while four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal was seeded second despite his unparalleled clay-court record at Roland Garros. The full list of seeds reflected the depth of the field, with a mix of established stars and rising talents drawn from the rankings.| Seed | Player | Nationality | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | SRB | 1 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | ESP | 2 |
| 3 | Roger Federer | SUI | 3 |
| 4 | Dominic Thiem | AUT | 4 |
| 5 | Alexander Zverev | GER | 5 |
| 6 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | GRE | 6 |
| 7 | Karen Khachanov | RUS | 7 |
| 8 | Kei Nishikori | JPN | 8 |
| 9 | David Goffin | BEL | 9 |
| 10 | Fabio Fognini | ITA | 10 |
| 11 | Gaël Monfils | FRA | 11 |
| 12 | Marin Čilić | CRO | 12 |
| 13 | Grigor Dimitrov | BUL | 13 |
| 14 | Denis Shapovalov | CAN | 14 |
| 15 | Nikoloz Basilashvili | GEO | 15 |
| 16 | Marco Cecchinato | ITA | 16 |
| 17 | Roberto Bautista Agut | ESP | 17 |
| 18 | Alex de Minaur | AUS | 18 |
| 19 | Lucas Pouille | FRA | 19 |
| 20 | Daniil Medvedev | RUS | 20 |
| 21 | Richard Gasquet | FRA | 21 |
| 22 | Guido Pella | ARG | 22 |
| 23 | Gilles Simon | FRA | 23 |
| 24 | Damir Džumhur | BIH | 24 |
| 25 | Bradley Klahn | USA | 25 |
| 26 | Márton Fucsovics | HUN | 26 |
| 27 | Benoît Paire | FRA | 27 |
| 28 | Dušan Lajović | SRB | 28 |
| 29 | Vasek Pospisil | CAN | 29 |
| 30 | Andrey Rublev | RUS | 30 |
| 31 | Leonardo Mayer | ARG | 31 |
| 32 | Frances Tiafoe | USA | 32 |
| Seed | Player | Nationality | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naomi Osaka | JPN | 1 |
| 2 | Karolína Plíšková | CZE | 2 |
| 3 | Simona Halep | ROU | 3 |
| 4 | Kiki Bertens | NED | 4 |
| 5 | Angelique Kerber | GER | 5 |
| 6 | Petra Kvitová | CZE | 6 |
| 7 | Elina Svitolina | UKR | 7 |
| 8 | Ashleigh Barty | AUS | 8 |
| 9 | Sloane Stephens | USA | 9 |
| 10 | Serena Williams | USA | 10 |
| 11 | Aryna Sabalenka | BLR | 11 |
| 12 | Johanna Konta | GBR | 12 |
| 13 | Madison Keys | USA | 13 |
| 14 | Daria Kasatkina | RUS | 14 |
| 15 | Anastasija Sevastova | LAT | 15 |
| 16 | Caroline Wozniacki | DEN | 16 |
| 17 | Elise Mertens | BEL | 17 |
| 18 | Julia Görges | GER | 18 |
| 19 | Karolina Muchová | CZE | 19 |
| 20 | Anett Kontaveit | EST | 20 |
| 21 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 21 |
| 22 | Zhang Shuai | CHN | 22 |
| 23 | Donna Vekić | CRO | 23 |
| 24 | Caroline Garcia | FRA | 24 |
| 25 | Dayana Yastremska | UKR | 25 |
| 26 | Carla Suárez Navarro | ESP | 26 |
| 27 | Zheng Saisai | CHN | 27 |
| 28 | Yulia Putintseva | KAZ | 28 |
| 29 | Mihaela Buzărnescu | ROU | 29 |
| 30 | Maria Sakkari | GRE | 30 |
| 31 | Petra Martić | CRO | 31 |
| 32 | Kateřina Siniaková | CZE | 32 |
Doubles Seeds
In the 2019 French Open, doubles seeding was determined by the combined ATP or WTA doubles rankings of the partners as of the week prior to the tournament, with 16 seeds each for men's and women's doubles and 8 for mixed doubles to facilitate balanced draws on the clay courts at Roland Garros.[48][49][50] The men's doubles seeds featured a mix of established international partnerships, highlighting the global nature of the event, with no all-French top seeds despite the home advantage on clay; notable pairings included multiple Grand Slam winners like the Bryan brothers, while several top singles players such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic opted out of doubles commitments to focus on their individual campaigns.[48]
Women's doubles seeding emphasized strong cross-border collaborations, with only a few same-country top pairs like the Czech duo at No. 1, reflecting the trend of players pairing internationally for complementary styles on clay; top singles stars including Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep largely skipped the event to prioritize singles play.[49]
| Seed | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Barbora Krejčíková (CZE) / Kateřina Siniaková (CZE) |
| 2 | Tímea Babos (HUN) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) |
| 3 | Hsieh Su-wei (TPE) / Barbora Strýcová (CZE) |
| 4 | Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) / Xu Yifan (CHN) |
| 5 | Samantha Stosur (AUS) / Zhang Shuai (CHN) |
| 6 | Elise Mertens (BEL) / Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) |
| 7 | Nicole Melichar (USA) / Květa Peschke (CZE) |
| 8 | Chan Hao-ching (TPE) / Latisha Chan (TPE) |
| 9 | Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Demi Schuurs (NED) |
| 10 | Lucie Hradecká (CZE) / Andreja Klepač (SLO) |
| 11 | Victoria Azarenka (BLR) / Ashleigh Barty (AUS) |
| 12 | Eri Hozumi (JPN) / Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) |
| 13 | Alicja Rosolska (POL) / Yang Zhaoxuan (CHN) |
| 14 | Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Mihaela Buzărnescu (ROU) |
| 15 | Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) / Johanna Larsson (SWE) |
| 16 | Darija Jurak (CRO) / Raluca Olaru (ROU) |
| Seed | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nicole Melichar (USA) / Bruno Soares (BRA) |
| 2 | Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) / Mate Pavić (CRO) |
| 3 | Barbora Krejčíková (CZE) / Rajeev Ram (USA) |
| 4 | Demi Schuurs (NED) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) |
| 5 | Zhang Shuai (CHN) / John Peers (AUS) |
| 6 | Chan Hao-ching (TPE) / Oliver Marach (AUT) |
| 7 | Alicja Rosolska (POL) / Nikola Mektić (CRO) |
| 8 | Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Robert Farah (COL) |
Tournament Progress
Day-by-Day Summaries
The 2019 French Open main draw commenced on May 26 under sunny skies, marking the return of Roger Federer to Roland Garros after a four-year absence. Federer cruised to a straight-sets victory over debutant Lorenzo Sonego, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, delighting the capacity crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier with his precise baseline play and serve.[51] In a major upset, fifth seed Angelique Kerber was ousted in the first round by 18-year-old qualifier Anastasia Potapova, 6-4, 6-2, as the German struggled with unforced errors on the clay.[52] Ninth seed Elina Svitolina advanced comfortably against seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, winning 6-3, 6-3 in a match that highlighted Svitolina's superior movement and consistency.[51] Sixteenth seed Marco Cecchinato, the previous year's semifinalist, fell to veteran Nicolas Mahut in five sets, 2-6, 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, adding to the day's surprises on the outer courts.[52] Attendance on opening day exceeded 40,000, with fans eagerly filling the newly renovated Simonne-Mathieu court for the first time.[52] On Day 2, May 27, top seed Novak Djokovic opened his campaign with a solid 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Hubert Hurkacz, breaking the Pole's serve five times to set a strong tone without dropping a set.[53] Fifth seed Alexander Zverev survived a grueling first-round marathon against John Millman, prevailing 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 2-6, 6-7(7-5), 6-3 after four hours and 21 minutes, smashing his racket in frustration but securing the victory amid visible tension.[54] The day featured steady progress for other seeds, including Marin Cilic's 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Thomas Fabbiano. Crowds swelled to around 45,000, buzzing with anticipation for the unfolding upsets.[55] From May 28 to June 2, the tournament saw several seeded players falter early, contributing to a sense of unpredictability on the clay. World No. 1 Naomi Osaka, playing her first-round match on Day 3 amid swirling winds, came back from a first-set bagel to defeat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 0-6, 7-6(4), 6-1, saving match points in the second set and extending her Grand Slam winning streak to 20 matches despite 35 unforced errors.[56] Zverev continued his run but showed vulnerability, while other seeds like 20th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki exited in the third round and 13th-seeded Madison Keys reached the quarterfinals. Rain delays punctuated the week, notably halting play for over two hours on May 30 during third-round action, forcing matches like Serena Williams' second-round win over Mihaela Buzarnescu to resume under floodlights. Daily attendance averaged over 50,000, peaking on May 30 with fervent support for home favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, though frustration mounted over weather interruptions.[13] Quarterfinals unfolded on June 4, with Rafael Nadal delivering a dominant performance against Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, in just 1 hour and 49 minutes, underscoring his unparalleled clay-court prowess and drawing roars from the Chatrier crowd.[6] Roger Federer edged Stan Wawrinka in an all-Swiss battle, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, after 3 hours and 35 minutes, thrilling over 15,000 spectators with vintage drop shots and volleys. The following day, June 5, marked the first full rainout since 2016, canceling all scheduled quarterfinals due to persistent showers and shifting the calendar, much to the dismay of fans who braved the weather for limited viewing.[15] Rescheduled matches and semifinals dominated June 6 to 9, with the compressed schedule testing players' endurance. On June 7, Dominic Thiem stunned top seed Novak Djokovic in the men's semifinal, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, in a five-set epic lasting 4 hours and 33 minutes, silencing the Chatrier audience before erupting in applause for the Austrian's resilience.[57] Ashleigh Barty advanced in the women's semifinal with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Sofia Kenin, setting up her final berth. The women's final on June 8 saw Barty defeat Markéta Vondroušová 6-1, 6-3 in 70 minutes, claiming her first Grand Slam title to ecstatic cheers from a near-capacity crowd of 15,000.[6] The men's final on June 9 capped the tournament as Nadal defeated Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, securing his 12th Roland Garros crown amid a record-breaking attendance of over 520,000 for the fortnight, with the finale drawing 15,000 fans chanting "Rafa" in a electric atmosphere.[58]Key Matches and Upsets
One of the tournament's major upsets occurred in the men's singles semifinals, where fourth seed Dominic Thiem defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in five sets, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, amid challenging wind conditions that delayed play multiple times.[59] This victory marked Thiem's first win over Djokovic at Roland Garros and propelled him to his second consecutive final, ending Djokovic's bid for a calendar Grand Slam.[60] In the women's singles, unseeded 19-year-old Markéta Vondroušová produced a remarkable run to the final, stunning several seeded opponents, including a 7-6(1), 7-5 quarterfinal win over 31st seed Petra Martić and a 7-5, 7-6(2) semifinal victory over eighth seed Johanna Konta.[61] Vondroušová became the first unseeded woman to reach the French Open final since 1933 and the youngest finalist since Justine Henin in 2007.[62] She faced top seed Ashleigh Barty in the final, where Barty dominated with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph to claim her first Grand Slam singles title. The men's singles final pitted Thiem against 11-time champion Rafael Nadal, who overcame an early lapse to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, securing a record-extending 12th French Open title and his 18th major overall.[63] Nadal's comeback in the final showcased his unparalleled clay-court dominance, as he won 10 of the last 11 games after dropping the second set. In doubles, unseeded German pair Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies claimed their maiden Grand Slam title as the lowest-ranked team to win the French Open men's doubles in the Open Era, defeating French wildcards Fabrice Martin and Jérémy Chardy 6-2, 7-6(7-3) in the final.[64] Meanwhile, in women's doubles, second seeds Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, with Mladenovic receiving home-crowd support, defended their 2018 title by beating China's Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-3 for their second French Open crown together. A standout moment came from 15-year-old qualifier Coco Gauff, who reached the women's singles fourth round in her Grand Slam main-draw debut, highlighted by a third-round comeback win over 49th-ranked Polona Hercog, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, before falling to eventual champion Barty.[65] Gauff's run, starting from qualifying as world No. 310, marked her as a rising star in a year of youth-driven surprises.[66]Champions
Senior Events
In the men's singles final, Rafael Nadal defeated Dominic Thiem 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 to secure his record-extending 12th French Open title and 18th Grand Slam singles crown overall.[67][68] In the women's singles final, Ashleigh Barty overcame Markéta Vondroušová 6–1, 6–3 to win her first Grand Slam singles title.[34][69] The men's doubles title was won by the German pair Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, who defeated the French duo Jérémy Chardy and Fabrice Martin 6–2, 7–6(7–3) in the final; this marked the first Grand Slam doubles title for both Krawietz and Mies.[7][8] In women's doubles, Tímea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France prevailed over China's Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai 6–2, 6–3 to claim their second French Open title as a team.[70][5] The mixed doubles final saw defending champions Latisha Chan of Chinese Taipei and Ivan Dodig of Croatia defend their title by beating Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Croatia's Mate Pavić 6–1, 7–6(7–5), becoming the first unseeded pair in the Open Era to win back-to-back French Open mixed doubles crowns.[10][9] The 2019 tournament drew a total attendance of 520,000 spectators over its duration.[3] Prize money for the senior events totaled €42,661,000, with singles champions receiving €2,300,000 each, men's and women's doubles winning teams earning €580,000, and the mixed doubles winning pair receiving €122,000.[4][34][35]Junior Events
The junior events at the 2019 French Open featured under-18 competitions in singles and doubles for both boys and girls, held on the clay courts of Roland Garros from June 2 to June 8. These tournaments showcased emerging talents, with draws of 64 players for singles and 32 teams for doubles, emphasizing youth development on the tournament's signature surface.[71] In the boys' singles, Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune of Denmark claimed the title, defeating American Toby Kodat in the final 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-0 after recovering from two match points in the second set. At 16 years old and ranked No. 8 in the junior world rankings, Rune's victory marked Denmark's first junior Grand Slam singles title.[71][72] The girls' singles final saw top-seeded Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada triumph over eighth-seeded Emma Navarro of the United States, 6-3, 6-2, without dropping a set throughout the tournament. Fernandez, aged 16, became the first Canadian to win the Roland Garros junior girls' singles title.[71][73] For boys' doubles, Brazilian Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida and Argentine Thiago Agustín Tirante, the fifth seeds, won the championship by defeating Italian Flavio Cobolli and Swiss Dominic Stricker 7-6(7-3), 6-4 in the final. This marked the first all-South American pairing to secure the title since 2005.[74][75] In girls' doubles, unseeded Americans Chloe Beck and Emma Navarro captured the crown, overcoming fourth-seeded Russians Alina Charaeva and Anastasia Tikhonova 6-1, 6-2 in the final after a demanding semifinal. Navarro, who also reached the singles final, highlighted the strong American presence in the event.[76][77] The 2019 junior champions, particularly Rune and Fernandez, signaled a new generation of stars; Rune later achieved a career-high ATP ranking of No. 4, while Fernandez reached the 2021 US Open final.[71][78]Wheelchair Events
The wheelchair events at the 2019 French Open marked a significant expansion for adaptive tennis at Roland Garros, with the introduction of quad singles and quad doubles for the first time, reflecting growing participation in quad wheelchair tennis.[79] These additions built on the established men's and women's singles and doubles competitions, providing more opportunities for athletes with impairments affecting all four limbs or torso.[80] In men's singles, Gustavo Fernández of Argentina defeated Gordon Reid of Great Britain in the final, 6–1, 6–3, securing his second French Open title.[80] Fernández, seeded second, showcased dominant baseline play on the clay courts. In the men's doubles final, Fernández partnered with Shingo Kunieda of Japan to overcome defending champions Stéphane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France, 2–6, 6–2, 10–8 in a match tiebreak.[81] The women's singles title went to Diede de Groot of the Netherlands, who defeated two-time defending champion Yui Kamiji of Japan, 6–1, 6–0, in a swift 59-minute match that completed de Groot's career Grand Slam.[80] De Groot and partner Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands then defended their doubles crown, beating Sabine Ellerbrock of Germany and Marjolein Buis of the Netherlands, 6–1, 6–1.[80] Quad singles debuted with Dylan Alcott of Australia claiming the inaugural title over David Wagner of the United States, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2.[82] Alcott and Wagner continued their success in quad doubles, defeating Ymanitu Silva of Brazil and Koji Sugeno of Japan, 6–3, 6–3, in the first-ever final of that event.[80]| Event | Winner(s) | Runner-up(s) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Singles | Gustavo Fernández (ARG) | Gordon Reid (GBR) | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Men's Doubles | Gustavo Fernández (ARG) / Shingo Kunieda (JPN) | Stéphane Houdet (FRA) / Nicolas Peifer (FRA) | 2–6, 6–2, 10–8 |
| Women's Singles | Diede de Groot (NED) | Yui Kamiji (JPN) | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Women's Doubles | Diede de Groot (NED) / Aniek van Koot (NED) | Sabine Ellerbrock (GER) / Marjolein Buis (NED) | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Quad Singles | Dylan Alcott (AUS) | David Wagner (USA) | 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Quad Doubles | Dylan Alcott (AUS) / David Wagner (USA) | Ymanitu Silva (BRA) / Koji Sugeno (JPN) | 6–3, 6–3 |