One for Tenez here: the French have the most players in the top 100, with 15. That's higher than the Spanish or Argentinians (and let's not even mention the Brits :blush: )

Frenchmen Lead Way in Top 100

French tennis continued to surge in the South African Airways ATP Rankings with a record 15 players in the year-end Top 100.

Following France's strong showing, Spain had 12 players in the Top 100 and Argentina had 11 players.

Leading the French contingent was 21-year-old Richard Gasquet who finished in the Top 10 for the first time at No. 8, winning a career-high 49 matches and advancing to his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.

In addition, Frenchmen won seven ATP titles in 15 finals during the year, led by Paul-Henri Mathieu and Gilles Simon with two each. Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean (pictured) and the oldest player in the Top 50, Fabrice Santoro, also won titles. The five French winners was the most since the 1999-2000 seasons. The last time France recorded seven ATP titles in a season was in 1991 with six of them coming from Guy Forget.

Nearly half (seven) in the Top 100 are 25 years old or younger, including 21-year-old Gael Monfils, who is the youngest in the group. He is two and-a half months younger than Gasquet. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, at 22, finished a year-end best No. 43, in his first full season on the ATP circuit.

"It's good to see the number of players in the Top 100 and it would be nice to
have more in the Top 20 or 30 but there's a lot of potential with young players," said Grosjean, who was the last French player to finish in the Top 10 in 2003.

Grosjean added, "Richard is in the Top 10 and he probably has the best chance to win a Grand Slam title. In the future, there's a lot of great young players like Tsonga who has potential and I think Monfils will come back strong and do well in the Slams."

Former Top 10 ATP pro and coach Brad Gilbert says the success of Frenchmen in juniors has instilled a winning attitude and all around game while preparing for the rigors of the ATP circuit.

"It's not surprising based on the last handful of years with the success they have had in juniors," said Gilbert. "A lot of their kids are making the transition from juniors to pros and they are good all around players. They have a lot of young, good players playing well on all surfaces and on the move."

Grosjean, who was the No. 1 junior in the world in 1996, is one of four French former world junior champions in the last 12 years, the most of any country during that stretch. The others are: Arnaud Di Pasquale (1997), Richard Gasquet (2002) and Gael Monfils (2004). Tsonga finished No. 2 in 2003.

"I think tennis is popular in France and we have many kids who play at clubs around the country," said Grosjean, who reached a career-high No. 4 in 2002. "We are lucky to have a Grand Slam in the French Open and a lot of money comes to the federation. The players get good coaching and training. The French Open and Davis Cup helps grow the sport in France."

While France is still looking for its first Grand Slam singles champion since Yannick Noah at Roland Garros in 1983, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra in July became the first French doubles team to capture the Wimbledon title since 1933. The duo also qualified for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Frenchmen in Year-end Top 100

ATP Rank Age
No. 8 + Richard Gasquet 21
No. 25 + Paul-Henri Mathieu 25
No. 29 + Gilles Simon 25
No. 37 Fabrice Santoro 35
No. 38 Gael Monfils 21
No. 43 + Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 22
No. 45 + Nicolas Mahut 25
No. 53 Sebastien Grosjean 29
No. 54 Arnaud Clement 30
No. 69 Julien Benneteau 26
No. 70 Marc Gicquel 30
No. 92 Florent Serra 26
No. 92 Michael Llodra 27
No. 93 Thierry Ascione 26
No. 96 + Edouard Roger-Vasselin 24

Ouahh!. Thanks Dinky. This is the Musketeers all over again! Well close to 4 teams of Musketeers. The French Armada in fact! ;)

If this could translate into winning slams, that would be great but I fear that until William Tell is aroud, there is little chance. :(

never mind Tenez - this is one for me! I do like to hear of french players...

must make nice reading though Tenez - even if you dont feel there is slam potential in there... you could be in our shoes you know :unsure:

no, what you mean is you like to hear french players speaking french - whether in the top 100 or top 1000 - don't think it matters to you :P

I dont mind watching them bounce round the court too - as long as they are muttering in that gorgeous accent at the time!

:devil:

I know Amelie M is in the top 100. what about the other french ladies?