Fansided

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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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 08: Lindsay Davenport of USA plays a backhand during the women’s Legends finals match between Anke Huber of Germany and her partner Barbara Schett of Austria and Lindsay Davenport of USA and her partner Martina Hingis of Switzerland during day 13 of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 08: Lindsay Davenport of USA plays a backhand during the women’s Legends finals match between Anke Huber of Germany and her partner Barbara Schett of Austria and Lindsay Davenport of USA and her partner Martina Hingis of Switzerland during day 13 of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) /

12. Lindsay Davenport

Just prior to the current dominating run by Serena Williams, Davenport was a force in women’s tennis, achieving the No. 1 singles ranking eight separate times. The French Open title continuously eluded Davenport, preventing her from winning a career Grand Slam.

Davenport won 55 singles titles over her outstanding career, most of which came in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Among those titles were the US Open championship in 1998, Wimbledon in 1999, and the Australian Open a year a later. Davenport also captured runner-up honors at all three tournaments between 2000 and 2005.

Even during that impressive stretch, the French Open title eluded Davenport. In her French Open career, Davenport advanced no further than the semifinals, which she reached in 1998, losing to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in two sets.

Davenport started all three seasons from 1995-1997 with victories in clay court tournaments, but was unable to keep the momentum going to the French Open. The toughest defeat came in 1997, as Davenport fell to eventual champion Iva Majoli in the fourth round after having a huge lead in the second set.

Davenport had a little more luck in the doubles at Roland Garros. She won the 1996 French Open title with Mary Joe Fernandez and finished as runner-up twice more.

Next: 11. Kim Clijsters

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