The theme week is back for another set of seven, and since we are all royal wedding-ed out, it is time to celebrate the next big event in the world currently playing out at Roland Garros with our Celebrate Obscure Forgotten French Open Tennis Winners Week.
For some reason the French Open doesn’t capture the imagination like other tennis tournwas do in Australia. Perhaps it is the timeslot, the red clay soil, the use of Roland Garros, or the more likely reason is that Australians are usually very unlikely to win.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a Tennis Jerk just waiting to disgrace themselves and Australia, to pique our interest and fill the morning news merry go round with tut-tuts from social commentators and half arsed sports presenters.
But enough of the inevitable, lets move to positive territory with our Celebrate Obscure Forgotten French Open Tennis Winners Week.
Some of these players were hugely underrated, some knew just how to perform on the clay that troubles so many, others were just in the right place at the right time. Undeniably, they are all winners.
As ever we celebrate the week with out favourite couple of names we can just recall from the part of the brain that we like to call the Scuderi Zone. As in, do you remember cricketing all round Joe Scuderi?
OUR FAVOURITE OBSCURE FORGOTTEN FRENCH OPEN TENNIS WINNERS
GUSTAVO KUERTEN
WON 1997, 2000, 2001
This Brazilian clay court master is not only a Forgotten French Open Tennis Winner, but he won the thing three times? 3 in 5 years no less.
MICHAEL CHANG
WON 1989, 1995
Remember Michael Chang? Remember that he won two French Open Titles? Of course you do, that’s why you’re and celebrating Obscure Forgotten French Open Tennis Winners Week. Another of the great multiple winners to celebrate this week.
YANNICK NOAH
WON 1983
Many will remember Yannick Noah for his dreadlocks and decent performances at major around the world in the 80’s and 90’s, but even us as big Noah fans didn’t even know he’d won the big gig at Roland Garros. So of course he demands to be celebrated in our Forgotten French Open Tennis Winners Week.
GASTON GAUDIO
WON 2004
OK, not even as lovers of obscure sporting champions could we remember this guy, let alone won a major. Not because he’s Argentinian, because we love people from that part of the world, but just as a general ignorance to Roland Garros itself.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI
WON 2001
After breaking into Tennis at a young age, this Grand Slam win came after some time off for troubles with the law. A nice comeback story if you will.
ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO
WON 1989, 1994, 1998
Another three time champion who like Kuerten doesn’t get the accolades she should get. Unlike Kuerten she played in another 3 French Open Finals and won one other Grand Slam.
IVA MAJOLI
WON 1997
This is somewhere between Capriati and Gaudio in recall ability. Vaguely remember the name, might have fluked the question in pub trivia if given a choice of the four Grand Slams she would have won.
