The French Open is perhaps the toughest of the four Grand Slams to win. The slow, sliding clay courts have made mincemeat of even the best players on the tour, especially throughout the Rafael Nadal era. Between 2005 and 2022, the correctly anointed King of Clay managed to get a grasp on the famed clay surface better than anyone, and the results spoke for themselves.
Throughout his stint on top, the Spaniard amassed a whopping 112 wins against just four losses. His exploits led him to a record-breaking 14 titles, beginning with his maiden crown on his tournament debut as a teenager back in 2005. But while Rafa was dominating, others had to suffer so that the recently retired star could ultimately reign supreme.
Only six men throughout history have lost back-to-back French Open finals, with the latter being more heartbreaking than the former. But who are they? Let’s find out.
Casper Ruud
For Casper Ruud, the message is clear: the work doesn’t stop here. The Norwegian made back-to-back trips to the French Open final in 2022 and 2023. First, he ran headfirst into the aforementioned Nadal, with the King of Clay duly living up to the billing. The Spaniard put on a masterclass – his final one on the Parisian stage – romping to a comfortable straight-sets victory. The triumph will forever be Nadal’s 22nd and final Slam success following his retirement late last year.
One year later, Ruud made it to the showpiece again. This time around, Nadal was nowhere to be found after withdrawing due to a hip injury. So, the door was open for the Norweigian’s success, right? Wrong.
In the absence of one GOAT, another stepped up to the challenge in the form of Novak Djokovic. And although Ruud gave the Serbian more of a game than he did his Spanish counterpart a year prior, it wasn’t enough. Nole also emerged as a straight sets victor, claiming a record-breaking 23rd Slam title.
Dominic Thiem
Four years before Ruud’s back-to-back heartbreaks, Dominic Thiem was the unlucky man under the spotlight. The Austrian became somewhat of a clay court sensation himself as he reached consecutive semifinals in 2016 and 2017, being beaten by Djokovic and Nadal respectively. In 2018, he took full advantage of Nole’s quarter-final elimination to reach his maiden final, but unfortunately, the King was unwilling to relinquish his crown.
Nadal duly reeled off a straight sets victory to secure his 11th French Open title in 14 years. The following year, the two would meet again, and Thiem headed into the showpiece full of confidence after finally dispatching Djokovic, beating the Serb in the semifinals. In the final, he would have more success than the previous year, picking up a set. But Nadal, as ever, was relentless, and he powered his way to the title.
Novak Djokovic
While Novak Djokovic has delivered his fair share of heartbreak on the grandest stage, even he wouldn’t over-roar Nadal in a French Open final. He lost the 2012 Parisian showpiece to the Spaniard, and the pair would meet again in 2014. And once again, it was the King who reigned supreme.
The following year, Djokovic made the final again and he did so by eliminating Nadal in straight sets in the quarterfinals. It looked to the whole world that his first-ever French Open title was a foregone conclusion, but Stan Wawrinka had other ideas. Despite dropping the first set, the Swiss sensation rallied to win the next three and claim his first and only title in the City of Love.
The Serbian ace would reach a third straight final in 2016, and finally, he would have his moment in the sun, defeating Britain’s Andy Murray to win at Roland Garros for the first time. Nine years later, the news surrounding the 2025 French Open is that Djokovic remains in contention even at the ripe old age of 38. The popular Bodog news and betting site makes the Serbian a +550 third favorite to claim a fourth title, narrowly behind young guns Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the odds lists.
Robin Söderling
Robin Söderling wasn’t supposed to make French Open history, but in 2009, he did just that by taking down the undefeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. That upset sent shockwaves through the tennis world, with the undisputed King of Clay suffering his first loss at the tournament he had made his own. And the Swede wasn’t done there.
Söderling fought his way to the final, only to face Roger Federer, a man destined to make history. The French Open was the only Grand Slam that the Swiss Superman had never won, and in his fourth final – the first not against Nadal – he finally got the job done.
The following year, Söderling got his revenge against Federer, beating him in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, in the final, he would meet a Nadal hellbent on redemption himself. And the Spaniard duly got it, winning in straight sets and righting the wrongs of 2009 while simultaneously handing his Swedish rival his second straight final defeat.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer’s dream of conquering the French Open was a test of patience. For three consecutive years, he battled his way to the final, each time running into the same immovable obstacle—Rafael Nadal. At the time, it was Federer who was considered the greatest of all time, which made Rafa’s dominance against him on clay all the more shocking.
Between 2006 and 2008, the rivals met in three straight finals, with Nadal dropping just two sets en route to a hat trick of titles. But champions don’t quit. Federer kept coming back for more, and when Nadal was stunned in the 2009 tournament, the Swiss sensation didn’t waste the opportunity. He beat Robin Söderling in the final to finally claim his first and only Roland Garros title.
Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi wasn’t fully polished when he walked into the 1990 French Open final, but he was bold, brash, and undeniably talented. Facing the experienced Andrés Gómez, the American came up short in four sets. One year later, it was Jim Courier standing in his way. Agassi struck first, winning the opening set, but his compatriot battled back, taking three straight to claim the match.
Agassi could’ve walked away discouraged, but instead, he went to work. Those early losses toughened him, sharpening the edge that would eventually make him one of the all-time greats. By 1999, Agassi returned to Roland Garros a changed man, capturing the title and his Career Grand Slam.
