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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Jun 1977: Maria Bueno in action during the Wimbledon tennis championships at the all England club in London. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK
Jun 1977: Maria Bueno in action during the Wimbledon tennis championships at the all England club in London. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /

10. Maria Bueno 

One of the best women’s grass court players in history, Bueno won seven grand slam titles over her 27-year Hall of Fame career. The French Open was not among them, as Bueno could never quite solve the red clay in singles tournaments.

At just 18 years of age, Bueno won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 1959 to kick off a run of three titles in six years at the tournament. Bueno was even better at the US Open, which was held on grass at the time, capturing four singles championships between 1959 and 1966.

Even during that dominant run, Bueno was unable to win the singles title at Roland Garros. Bueno reached at least the quarterfinals in her first 26 Grand Slam events to set a record, but failed to win her only final in Paris in 1964.

Rival Margaret Court beat Bueno in three sets at that 1964 final. While Bueno would reach the semifinals in the two years after that at Roland Garros, the elusive title would not come before her final French Open appearance in 1976.

As good as Bueno was in singles play, she was an even better doubles player, winning 11 Grand Slam titles overall. One of those came at the 1960 French Open with longtime partner Darlene Hard.

Next: 9. Boris Becker

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