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14 best players to never win the French Open

By Nathaniel Reeves

25 May 1999: Pete Sampras of the USA in action during Round One of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France. Sampras won in 5 sets. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport
25 May 1999: Pete Sampras of the USA in action during Round One of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France. Sampras won in 5 sets. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport /
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American tennis player Arthur Ashe grimaces as he hits a return to American Jimmy Connors during their 7/5 men’s singles title match at Wimbledon. Ashe won 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
American tennis player Arthur Ashe grimaces as he hits a return to American Jimmy Connors during their 7/5 men’s singles title match at Wimbledon. Ashe won 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. /

13. Arthur Ashe

Few can match the combination of Ashe’s greatness on the court and excellence off of it. However, he was never able to win a singles title at Roland Garros.

Ashe took home 33 career titles, including three wins in Grand Slam tournaments. After a few close calls, Ashe won the 1968 US Open to kick off the best stretch of his tennis career, which included wins in the 1970 Australian Open and at Wimbledon in 1975.

Of course, Ashe made an even bigger impact off the court, using his publicity to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS after announcing he had the illness in 1992. The main stadium at the US Open is named after him, and ESPN gives out the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage every year at the ESPYs.

Still, Ashe was never able to prevail on the clay in Paris to complete the career Grand Slam. Even in his best stretch in the early 1970s, Ashe made it no further than the quarterfinals, which he did twice. Ashe’s best chance likely came in 1971, when he entered the tournament seeded second, but he lost to American Frank Froehling in five closely-contested sets.

Ashe was able to win one of his two career doubles titles at the French Open, teaming up with Marty Riessen to take home the 1971 championship.

Next: 12. Lindsay Davenport

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