Melbourne, 9 May 2012 | tennis.com.au

As we count down to French Open 2012, tennis.com.au will feature some of the best Australian achievements at Roland Garros. The highlights will be revealed in chronological order and when all 20 have been named, you get the chance to vote for your No.1 achievement.

1953 Ken Rosewall wins the men’s singles title 12 months after winning the Roland Garros boys’ championships

When 18-year-old Ken Rosewall took out the boys’ singles final at Roland Garros in 1952, many predicted a bright future for the right-hander from Sydney. Few would have tipped him to go all the way in the men’s main draw just 12 months later but that’s exactly what he did.

Just months after winning his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Rosewall backed up in Paris where he didn’t drop a set until the quarterfinals. Seeded third behind Gardnar Mulloy and top seed Jaroslav Drobny, Muscles was pushed to five sets in the semifinals by Argentinean Enrique Morea before setting up a showdown with fifth seed Vic Seixas in the final.

Seixas was far more experienced than Rosewall, having turned pro in 1940. But it was the less-experienced Australian who raced out to a two-sets-to-love lead before Seixas fought back to take the third 6-1.

Rosewall, composed as ever, put the minor setback behind him and won the fourth set 6-2 to claim his first French Open men’s singles crown. But Rosewall’s stunning run didn’t stop there, with friend and countryman Lew Hoad, Rosewall also added the doubles title to his growing collection of silverware.

Profile: Ken Rosewall

Aussies at Roland Garros – the complete list to date

1933 Jack Crawford becomes the first Australian to win the Roland Garros men’s singles title

1951 Ken McGregor plays a marathon semifinal against South African Eric Sturgess

1953 Ken Rosewall wins the men’s singles title 12 months after winning the Roland Garros boys’ championships