Remembering Andres Gimeno, Spain's trailblazing Roland-Garros champion
Spanish tennis player Andres Gimeno died on October 9, 2019, at the age of 82. In 1972, at 34 years and 10 months old, he became the oldest champion at Roland-Garros, and he was later inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. A pioneer for Spanish tennis alongside Manolo Santana, Gimeno also spent years as a touring professional and reached several major finals during the pro era.
Born in 1937, Gimeno claimed the Roland-Garros junior title in 1955. After a 1960 quarter-final run there, he joined Jack Kramer’s professional tour, which kept him out of Grand Slam events for eight years. In the pro ranks he contested French Pro, London Pro and US Pro finals.
When Open tennis arrived, he made a Roland-Garros semi-final in 1968, an Australian Open final in 1969 and a Wimbledon semi-final in 1970. His 1972 Paris triumph, beating Stan Smith and Patrick Proisy, made him the event’s oldest winner. He retired in 1973, later ran a tennis club, entered the Hall of Fame in 2009, and died of cancer in 2019.
Gimeno’s story may resonate with tennis fans, Spanish sports followers and older athletes who see persistence rewarded late in a career. His role as a pioneer could deepen appreciation for the professionals who helped shape the modern tour, while his later financial difficulties may draw attention to the vulnerabilities some retired players face. For younger players, his path from touring pro to club mentor may offer a model of giving back, though its broader social impact is likely modest and mainly within tennis communities.