Roland Garros Rewind May 27, 2020

The French came first: Initial Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros

Over the last 40 years, 13 players have won their first-ever Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros. Review the gallery below.

Stefanie Graf won the first of her 22 Grand Slam singles titles at 1987 Roland Garros, beating Martina Navratilova in the final, 6-4, 4-6, 8-6. The very next year, Graf won all four majors and the Olympic gold medal, a feat that has never been repeated. — 01 /13

Stefanie Graf won the first of her 22 Grand Slam singles titles at 1987 Roland Garros, beating Martina Navratilova in the final, 6-4, 4-6, 8-6. The very next year, Graf won all four majors and the Olympic gold medal, a feat that has never been repeated.

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Arantxa Sanchez Vicario overcame Graf to win 1989 Roland Garros at age 17, becoming the youngest women's singles champion at the event. It was the first of her four Grand Slam singles titles, including more Roland Garros trophies in 1994 and 1998. — 02 /13

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario overcame Graf to win 1989 Roland Garros at age 17, becoming the youngest women's singles champion at the event. It was the first of her four Grand Slam singles titles, including more Roland Garros trophies in 1994 and 1998.

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Monica Seles beat Graf — and the rain — in the 1990 Roland Garros final to win the first of her nine Grand Slam titles. Aged 16 years and 6 months, Seles swiftly broke Sanchez Vicario's record as the youngest Roland Garros women's singles champion. — 03 /13

Monica Seles beat Graf — and the rain — in the 1990 Roland Garros final to win the first of her nine Grand Slam titles. Aged 16 years and 6 months, Seles swiftly broke Sanchez Vicario's record as the youngest Roland Garros women's singles champion.

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19-year-old Iva Majoli handed Martina Hingis her only loss at a Grand Slam event in 1997, as the Croat shocked the World No.1 in the Roland Garros final, 6-4, 6-2, to clinch her sole Grand Slam singles title. — 04 /13

19-year-old Iva Majoli handed Martina Hingis her only loss at a Grand Slam event in 1997, as the Croat shocked the World No.1 in the Roland Garros final, 6-4, 6-2, to clinch her sole Grand Slam singles title.

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Justine Henin ousted compatriot Kim Clijsters in the 2003 Roland Garros final, becoming the first Belgian to win a Grand Slam singles title. Henin ended her career with seven major titles, including three straight at Roland Garros from 2005 to 2007. — 05 /13

Justine Henin ousted compatriot Kim Clijsters in the 2003 Roland Garros final, becoming the first Belgian to win a Grand Slam singles title. Henin ended her career with seven major titles, including three straight at Roland Garros from 2005 to 2007.

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Anastasia Myskina won her sole Grand Slam title at 2004 Roland Garros, in the first-ever all-Russian Grand Slam final. Myskina defeated countrywoman Elena Dementieva in the final, becoming the first female Russian major champion in the process. — 06 /13

Anastasia Myskina won her sole Grand Slam title at 2004 Roland Garros, in the first-ever all-Russian Grand Slam final. Myskina defeated countrywoman Elena Dementieva in the final, becoming the first female Russian major champion in the process.

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After a runner-up finish in Paris the year before, Ana Ivanovic notched her sole Grand Slam title at 2008 Roland Garros, beating Dinara Safina in the final. Following the event, Ivanovic moved to World No.1 for the first time in her career. — 07 /13

After a runner-up finish in Paris the year before, Ana Ivanovic notched her sole Grand Slam title at 2008 Roland Garros, beating Dinara Safina in the final. Following the event, Ivanovic moved to World No.1 for the first time in her career.

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Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title at 2010 Roland Garros, defeating Samantha Stosur for her sole major singles crown. Schiavone reached the Roland Garros final again the very next season. — 08 /13

Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title at 2010 Roland Garros, defeating Samantha Stosur for her sole major singles crown. Schiavone reached the Roland Garros final again the very next season.

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Li Na became the first-ever Chinese Grand Slam singles champion after ending Schiavone's 13-match Roland Garros winning streak in the 2011 Roland Garros final. Li went on to claim her second of two Grand Slam titles at the 2014 Australian Open. — 09 /13

Li Na became the first-ever Chinese Grand Slam singles champion after ending Schiavone's 13-match Roland Garros winning streak in the 2011 Roland Garros final. Li went on to claim her second of two Grand Slam titles at the 2014 Australian Open.

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Garbiñe Muguruza toppled World No.1 Serena Williams in the 2016 Roland Garros final for the Spaniard's first Grand Slam title. The very next year, Muguruza notched her second major trophy at Wimbledon and rose to World No.1. — 10 /13

Garbiñe Muguruza toppled World No.1 Serena Williams in the 2016 Roland Garros final for the Spaniard's first Grand Slam title. The very next year, Muguruza notched her second major trophy at Wimbledon and rose to World No.1.

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Jelena Ostapenko stormed to the 2017 Roland Garros title, becoming the first unseeded champion at the event since 1933. Not only was it the Latvian's first Grand Slam title, it was also the first WTA title of her career. — 11 /13

Jelena Ostapenko stormed to the 2017 Roland Garros title, becoming the first unseeded champion at the event since 1933. Not only was it the Latvian's first Grand Slam title, it was also the first WTA title of her career.

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Simona Halep claimed her long-awaited first Grand Slam title at 2018 Roland Garros, after three close losses in prior major finals. Halep kept on winning from there, earning a second Grand Slam title in her very next major final at 2019 Wimbledon. — 12 /13

Simona Halep claimed her long-awaited first Grand Slam title at 2018 Roland Garros, after three close losses in prior major finals. Halep kept on winning from there, earning a second Grand Slam title in her very next major final at 2019 Wimbledon.

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Ashleigh Barty scooped up her first Grand Slam title at 2019 Roland Garros. The Australian went on to win the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen at the end of the season, clinching the year-end World No.1 ranking. — 13 /13

Ashleigh Barty scooped up her first Grand Slam title at 2019 Roland Garros. The Australian went on to win the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen at the end of the season, clinching the year-end World No.1 ranking.

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