Yannick Noah’s French Open triumph gets more impressive with each passing year.
Noah remains the last and most recent Frenchman to have won the French Open men’s singles title – a record dating back to 1983.
The former world no. 3 was a French tennis icon in the 1980s and became the first Frenchman in 37 years to win their home Grand Slam event.
Noah, seeded 6th at Roland Garros that year, only dropped one set en route to the title.
In a field boasting the likes of Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, Noah was the last man standing.
He defeated defending champion Mats Wilander in straight sets in the final, 6–2, 7–5, 7–6, to claim the only Grand Slam singles title of his career.
The former right-hander would fail to replicate such dizzying heights during the rest of his career, but did win the French Open men’s doubles title in 1984 with compatriot and best friend Henri Leconte.
Yannick went on to captain the French team in the Davis Cup before becoming a popular singer throughout Europe.
He’s released multiple albums over the years and even performed at Bob Geldof’s Live 8 concert in 2005.
Noah is a sport and music icon in his home country, but his son, Joakim, might actually be the more famous of the two.
Joakim Noah is the son of Yannick and Cécilia Rodhe, a former model and Miss Sweden 1978.
For many, he will be best known for his time with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA.
The now-retired star was born in New York and was part of the legendary Florida Gators college basketball team that won back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.
The Bulls subsequently drafted him with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, where he would spend the next nine years of his career.
6ft 11in Noah was a no-nonsense center who happened to be an elite defender and rebounder.
He wasn’t much of a factor on offense but his energy, athleticism and dog mentality meant he often fulfilled the energizer bunny role for a Bulls team led by former MVP Derrick Rose.
Noah, a gritty big man with a somewhat shaky jump shot, also went head to head with LeBron James in numerous chippy Eastern Conference playoff matchups.
Like so many at that time, he was unable to overcome the LeBron-sized challenge out East, but still enjoyed a more than respectable career in The Association.
Noah was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014. He also made the All-NBA First Team in 2014 – the season he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
When it comes to passion and determination, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
“I was just surprised. I saw so many similarities in the way he played tennis and the way I play basketball,” Noah said after re-watching his dad’s French Open victory.
“He was very aggressive in his approach and the way he played, and played with a fire that you didn’t see often. He got the crowd into it and pumped up.”
Yannick went viral in 2014 during a game between the Bulls and Heat.
ABC tried to do a court-side interview with the former tennis star but he couldn’t focus after his son had just locked up LeBron on defense, won a loose ball, sprinted the full length of the court and won a foul.
Yannick tried to speak but ended up saying ‘sorry’ to the interviewer and giving his son a standing ovation.
Later in the game, Yannick even did the Dikembe Mutombo finger wag for a Joakim block.
It was a beautiful insight into the passion and emotion that encapsulated both athletes’ careers.
In an interview after the game, Joakim talked about his dad’s presence at the game.
“I know that he’s happy. I can’t wait to see him and just celebrate this win with him,” he said.
“You know, I don’t get to see him a lot. My father’s always been there for me, my whole life, and to be able to share these moments with him — I know that he’s a nervous wreck during games. I always tell him to drink a brewski and just chill.”
News Summary:
- I’m forgotten French Open champion whose son was an NBA All-Star and no-nonsense Defensive Player of the Year for Chicago Bulls
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