American Bjorn Fratangelo won the boys' French Open title today over Austrian Dominic Thiem 3-6, 6-3, 8-6 in what has been described as a high quality match. Fratangelo, who turns 18 in July, is the first American boy to win the title since John McEnroe in 1977. Fratengelo is also the reigning champion of the U.S. National Clay Court Championships (which he also won in the 16-and-under division in 2009), so clearly he likes the surface.
Out of curiosity, I looked up the other American boys who have reached the French Open final since 1998. They are as follows (with each player's current and career high ranking listed in that order):
2010: Andrea Collarini - 638/559. Collarini was raised in Argentina but born in the U.S. and switched his allegiance to the U.S. shortly before the tournament.
2004: Alex Kuznetsov - 208/158
2003: Brian Baker - Inactive/172
I also looked up all of the French Open champions since 1998 to see how they have fared professionally (current/career high ranking):
2011: Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) - 1404/1262
2010: Agustin Velotti (ARG) - 474/468
2009: Daniel Berta (SWE) - 793/791
2008: Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) - 302/271
2007: Uladzimir Ignatic (BLR) - 165/156
2006: Martin Klizan (SVK) - 144/144
2005: Marin Cilic (CRO) - 21/9
2004: Gael Monfils (FRA) - 9/9
2003: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) - 14/9
2002: Richard Gasquet (FRA) - 16/7
2001: Carlos Cuadrado (ESP) - Inactive/222
2000: Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) - 112/12
1999: Guillermo Coria (ARG) - Inactive/3
1998: Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) - 368/5
Out of curiosity, I looked up the other American boys who have reached the French Open final since 1998. They are as follows (with each player's current and career high ranking listed in that order):
2010: Andrea Collarini - 638/559. Collarini was raised in Argentina but born in the U.S. and switched his allegiance to the U.S. shortly before the tournament.
2004: Alex Kuznetsov - 208/158
2003: Brian Baker - Inactive/172
I also looked up all of the French Open champions since 1998 to see how they have fared professionally (current/career high ranking):
2011: Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) - 1404/1262
2010: Agustin Velotti (ARG) - 474/468
2009: Daniel Berta (SWE) - 793/791
2008: Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) - 302/271
2007: Uladzimir Ignatic (BLR) - 165/156
2006: Martin Klizan (SVK) - 144/144
2005: Marin Cilic (CRO) - 21/9
2004: Gael Monfils (FRA) - 9/9
2003: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) - 14/9
2002: Richard Gasquet (FRA) - 16/7
2001: Carlos Cuadrado (ESP) - Inactive/222
2000: Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) - 112/12
1999: Guillermo Coria (ARG) - Inactive/3
1998: Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) - 368/5