Top 5 Canadian moments at the French Open
As the 114th edition of the French Open begins, we’re revisiting the top five Canadian accomplishments at Roland-Garros.
5. Aleksandra Wozniak
Aleksandra Wozniak strikes back against Serena Williams in the fourth round of the French Open, Monday June 1, 2009.
Dubbed her best Grand Slam performance, Aleksandra Wozniak advanced to the second week of play at the 2009 French Open in women’s singles. The London 2012 Olympian lost to Serena Williams, but retains her legacy as the first Québécoise to ever be seeded at a French Open and first Canadian woman to advance to the fourth round of Roland-Garros since Patricia Hy-Boulais in 1992.
4. Helen Kelesi: quarters slammer
Helen Kelesi returning the ball at the Canadian Tennis Challenge, Aug 23, 1989.
British Columbia’s “Hurricane Helen” was the last Canadian woman before Eugenie Bouchard to play in the French Open quarterfinals (1988, 1989). A powerhouse, Helen Kelesi was known for her top-spin forehand and two-handed backhand. She played for Canada at two Olympic Games.
3. Milos Raonic: rising star
Third round victory for Milos Raonic after defeating France’s Gilles Simon at the French Open, May 30, 2014.
As the only Canadian man to reach the singles quarterfinals of the French Open in the modern era, Milos Raonic has had a stellar couple of years on the ATP tour. The London 2012 Olympian is also the highest ranked Canadian singles player of all time to date, peaking at no. 4 this season.
RELATED: Raonic bows out after historic run
2. Eugenie Bouchard: breakthrough season
Eugenie Bouchard slams a serve to Russia’s Maria Sharapova during the semifinal match of the French Open, June 5, 2014.
Then 20-year-old Eugenie Bouchard smashed her way onto the scene in 2014, becoming the first Canadian woman to score semifinal spots at both the Australian Open and French Open in the same season. After taking a one-set lead, Bouchard lost the second and third sets in Roland Garros in 2014 to Russia’s Maria Sharapova.
RELATED: Bouchard’s thrilling Roland Garros run
1. Daniel Nestor: French Open Champ
Daniel Nestor (right) and Mark Knowles fighting back in the men’s double final at the French Open, June 8, 2002.
As the Sydney 2000 Olympic Champion and holder of just about every Canadian record in doubles, Daniel Nestor takes the top spot with four French Open titles (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012) and two finals in mixed doubles (2006, 2013). Nestor’s French Open victories were shared with long time partner Mark Knowles (in 2007) from the Bahamas, Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjić (2010) and Belarus’s Max Mirnyi.
