With the French Open currently underway in Paris and the Wimbledon Championships following shortly after, tennis fans across the globe have plenty to look forward to over the coming summer months, while their favorites players practice suing great racquets from https://tennisowner.com/most-powerful-tennis-racquet/.
Of course, the return of Wimbledon will certainly have fans of the sport bursting with excitement. Whilst tennis’ other three Grand Slam competitions went ahead at some point last year, the prestigious lawn tournament was cancelled for the first time since World War II due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Given that just a matter of weeks separate the two European Grand Slams, it is notoriously difficult to win both in the same year. In fact, since the beginning of the Open Era in 1968, just four men’s singles players have managed to land the French Open-Wimbledon double.
So, as you scroll through the internet looking for the best Wimbledon odds and tips, let’s take a look at the four male professionals who have etched their names in tennis folklore by scooping victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. Read on to find out more!
Rod Laver – 1969
Rod Laver won 14 major titles before the Open Era, including the French Open-Wimbledon double as an amateur in 1962. However, since we are only focusing on 1968 onwards, let’s zone in on 1969. The Australian headed to Paris as the Australian Open champion and he went on to beat Ken Rosewall 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 en route to victory in the French Open. He then defended his Wimbledon crown, defeating John Newcombe 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to win the European double. He came back from a set down against Tony Roche to win the US Open later in the year, securing all four Grand Slams in one season.
Bjorn Borg – 1978, 1979 and 1980
For the latter part of the 1970s/early 1980s, Bjorn Borg was the man to beat in the European Grand Slams. He won the French Open back-to-back in 1974 and ’75 before winning Wimbledon five times on the spin between 1976 and 1980. On top of his successive triumphs in London in 1978, 1979 and 1980, the Swedish player also won the French Open. Victory over Ivan Lendl at Roland Garros in 1981 set up the opportunity for an impressive four French Open-Wimbledon doubles in a row. However, John McEnroe had other ideas.
Rafael Nadal – 2008 and 2010
Given the amount of times Rafael Nadal has won the French Open (13), it’s hardly a surprise to see the Spaniard on this list. However, it’s probably fair to say that he would have liked to have achieved the French Open-Wimbledon double more than twice. The King of Clay first won the double in 2008. He defeated his old foe Roger Federer to land a fourth successive French Open title before the getting the better of the Swiss great again at Wimbledon, ending Federer’s run of five wins on the trot in London.
After exiting the French Open in the fourth round and missing Wimbledon in 2009, Nadal won the European Grand Slam double again in 2010, defeating Robin Söderling in Paris before beating Tomáš Berdych at Wimbledon. He went on to win the US Open later in the year.
Roger Federer – 2009
With Nadal’s dominance on the clay courts of Paris, Federer hasn’t had many opportunities to land the French Open-Wimbledon double. However, when Nadal was stunned in the fourth round by Söderling in 2009, Federer took his chance with both hands. He went on to beat the Swede in the final, winning his first and only Roland Garros title to date, before getting the better of Andy Roddick at a Nadal-less Wimbledon.
