The unseeded underdog who defied the odds of tennis history
In short: In 2004, Gastón Gaudio achieved a feat so improbable it remains a statistical anomaly. Coming from two sets down and saving two championship points, he secured a victory that broke decades of precedent. It was a masterclass in resilience that redefined what was possible on the red clay of Roland Garros.
The 2004 French Open men's singles final was a dramatic reversal of fortune. Gastón Gaudio, an unseeded player, faced Guillermo Coria in a match that swung wildly in momentum. After trailing 0–6, 3–6, Gaudio staged a comeback to win 6–4, 6–1, 8–6. This victory was historic because it marked the first time since 1979 that an Argentine man won a major singles title. It also stands as the most recent instance of an unseeded player winning a men's singles major.
Gaudio's comeback was part of a very exclusive club. He was only the fourth player in the Open Era to win a major final after being down two sets. He joined the ranks of Björn Borg (1974), Ivan Lendl (1984), and Andre Agassi (1999), all of whom also secured titles at the French Open under similar circumstances. The match was defined by high-stakes pressure; Gaudio twice broke Coria's serve specifically when Coria was serving for the championship, saving two championship points in the process.
The tournament was also a landmark for other legends. Roger Federer debuted at this major while ranked world No. 1. Gustavo Kuerten defeated him during the third round, despite his status. Significantly, until the 2024 US Open, 2004 marked the final instance where no 'Big Three' member made the round of 16 at a major. Additional milestones occurred, such as Wayne Ferreira matching Stefan Edberg's 54-tournament main draw streak, plus a 6 hours and 33 minutes first-round marathon involving Arnaud Clément and Fabrice Santoro.
The event also highlighted a period of Argentine dominance in the sport. It was the first time in the Open Era that four Argentines—Gaudio, Coria, David Nalbandian, and Juan Ignacio Chela—all reached the quarterfinals in a single major. This concentration of talent underscored a shift in the global tennis landscape during the early 2000s.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2004 French Open – Men's singles
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