No French tennis players in ATP Top 40 for first time since 1997

No French tennis players in ATP Top 40 for first time since 1997

by Tom Grant

Last updated

With being the host of one of the four Grand Slam events every year, France has a rich relationship with tennis.

Greats like Suzanne Lenglen, Yannick Noah and Rene Lacoste have all hailed from the mainland European nation and helped put the French firmly on the historical tennis map.

But is French men's tennis going through a transition period at the moment?

Because for the first time since July 6, 1997, the French men have no player in the ATP Top 40. Back then, Arnaud Boetsch crept into the Top 40 to No. 39 and there has been a Frenchman there ever since.

Adrian Mannarino (No.42) and Gael Monfils (No.44) have slipped down the rankings recently, having previously enjoyed career high rankings of No.22 (Mannarino) and in the case of Monfils, a top ten ranking of No.6.

But both men are now in the twilight of their careers, and Monfils recently became a dad, after his wife Elina Svitolina giving birth to a baby girl.

Arthur Rinderknech on the other hand has plenty of tennis left ahead of him. The 27-year-old from Gassin, France has enjoyed some impressive wins on tour recently including a run to the semi-finals at the Gijon Open, beating Pablo Carreno Busta along the way.

Currently at No.52, Rinderknech will be hoping to continue his fine form and force his way into the Top 40 for the first time, beating his career high milestone of No.48.

Corentin Moutet - involved in a recent altercation with opponent Adrian Andreev - is rising steadily through the rankings at No. 64 and at just 23-years-old, there are high hopes in France he can prove to be the next star of French tennis.

Not since the days of Jo-Wilfred Tsonga has France enjoyed a real star presence amongst tennis' top dogs.

The man from Le Mans won 18 ATP Titles in his career and remains one of only three men to beat all of the 'Big Four' at a Grand Slam.

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