John McEnroe (USA)

Before you say 'You Cannot Be Serious!' let's affirm that John McEnroe was one of the most consistent players at the French Open at the peak of his career.

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For someone known better for his exploits at Wimbledon (three titles) and US Open (four wins), his on court battles with Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors and his shenanigans, McEnroe surprised many by doing well in Paris.

In 10 visits to the French capital, of them four happened after he was well past his prime (after his 1986 sabbatical), McEnroe was a finalist on one occasion, a semi-finalist on another and a two-time quarter-finalist. The American reserved his best for 1984.

McEnroe beat clay court specialists Horatio De La Pena, Jose Higueras (yeah the one who coaches Federer now) and Jimmy Arias before toppling Jimmy Conners in the last four to set up a final with Ivan Lendl.

Applying his serve-and-volley skills on clay to a great effect McEnroe on the first two sets 6-3, 6-2 and was on the verge of winning when fatigue and his temperamental outbursts got the better of him.

Lendl, almost a Tour veteran with 40+ titles but no major win, mounted a comeback and won the next three sets 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 to win his maiden Grand Slam. The loss ended the American's 39-match winning streak and was one of the three he suffered in the whole year (82-3 record).

McEnroe came back strong in 1985, beating Swedish claycourt specialists Henrik Sundstrom and Joakim Nystrom en route to the semi-finals. But therer eventual champion Mats Wilander proved too good for him.

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