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40 years ago, Yannick Noah was the last Frenchman to celebrate in Paris. A successor is not in sight.
Served through the middle, a return too long, then Yannick Noah dropped to his knees. Surprisingly, he disenchanted Mats Wilander in 3 sentences and won the French Open in front of euphoric home fans. It should remain the only Grand Slam title for the unconventional player with the iconic Rasta hairstyle.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the title. Not only the 63-year-old with roots in Cameroon was waiting for another major victory: Since then, no Frenchman has been able to triumph in the individual at Roland Garros – or any other Grand Slam tournament.
Legend:
“The best day of my life”
Yannick Noah is celebrated by the fans in Roland Garros in 1983. Little did they know that a 40-year dry spell awaited them.
Keystone/AP Photo/Jacques Langevin
Some have been said to have the potential: Monfils, Tsonga, maybe Pouille. But Noah’s successor is a long time coming. For women, Mary Pierce celebrated at least in 2000 at the Bois de Boulogne, Amélie Mauresmo won Melbourne and Wimbledon in 2006.
The former “Grande Nation” is currently a long way from such triumphs. From the 3rd round the individual tableaux were free from French participation.
You will remember it all the more wistfully: a serve through the middle and a waving rasta mane.
Per
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