14-time French Open winner Nadal is the only player to have played more than 100 matches.
Success in tennis isn’t measured solely by titles, it’s also about the legacy a player leaves behind. They are as deeply intertwined as Rafael Nadal’s with Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal and Roland Garros will always be synonymous with one another, as many of the Spaniard’s greatest career achievements have come on the Parisian clay, having played over 110 matches at the French Open and losing just four, an amazing testament to his dominance.
On that note, let’s take a look at the top five players with the most matches played at the French Open in the Open Era.
5. Ivan Lendl – 77 matches
Ivan Lendl’s French Open career was defined by his powerful baseline game and unwavering work ethic. He played 77 matches at Roland Garros, winning the title three times (1984, 1986, 1987) and reaching five finals overall. The Czech-American’s 1984 comeback from two sets down against John McEnroe in the final is considered one of the greatest turnarounds in Grand Slam history.
4. Guillermo Vilas – 87 matches
Guillermo Vilas was a clay-court maestro whose career was highlighted by his 1977 title run, where he dropped just one set. Vilas was a four-time finalist in Paris and set a then-record for most consecutive match wins on clay. The Argentine’s influence extended beyond his results, inspiring generations of South American players to excel on clay.
3. Roger Federer – 90 matches
This list will be dominated by the big three from here on. Roger Federer‘s relationship with Roland Garros has been one of persistence and eventual triumph. Despite clay being his least favored surface, Federer reached five French Open finals, finally capturing the elusive title in 2009 to complete his career Grand Slam.
The Swiss legend is one of the few men to reach all four major finals in a single season, underscoring his all-surface brilliance. Federer’s elegant style and tactical intelligence allowed him to challenge Nadal’s clay dominance, even though the 20-time Grand Slam winner never won against the Spaniard in Paris.
2. Novak Djokovic – 96 matches
Novak Djokovic’s French Open journey has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and historic milestones. After several near-misses, Djokovic finally captured his maiden Paris crown in 2016, completing the career Grand Slam and becoming only the third man in history to hold all four major titles simultaneously, a feat dubbed the “Nole Slam.”
The Serbian is a three-time French Open winner as of May 2025, but two of his most defining moments in Paris came in 2015 and 2021, when he stunned the ‘King of Clay’ Nadal on his favorite surface. Now, as Djokovic potentially makes his final appearance at Roland Garros in 2025, he stands on the brink of a historic milestone, reaching 100 matches played at the tournament.
1. Rafael Nadal – 115 matches
Rafael Nadal‘s French Open legacy is unmatched in the history of tennis. The “King of Clay” has won a record 14 Roland Garros titles, boasting an extraordinary 112–4 match record, a 96.6% win rate that stands as one of the most dominant achievements in any sport.
The Spaniard won the event nine times in his first ten attempts, and is the only player to win four consecutive titles on three separate occasions at a single major.
Nadal’s reign began with a title on debut in 2005 and included memorable victories over Roger Federer in multiple finals. In 2017, Nadal reached glory without dropping a single set and losing just 35 games, and further extended his dominance with four straight titles from 2017-2020.
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