Two-time defending championRafael Nadal defeatedDominic Thiem in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the2019 French Open. It was his record-extending twelfthFrench Open title and 18thmajor title overall.[1] With the win, Nadal surpassedMargaret Court's all-time record for the most singles titles by a player at the same major.[2]
Novak Djokovic andRoger Federer were both attempting to completedouble career Grand Slam, with Djokovic also in contention to achieve anon-calendar-year Grand Slam, but both lost in the semifinals. This was Federer's first time playing the French Open in four years. Federer's third round match marked his 400th major match, an all-time record.[3] Federer was the oldest man to reach the fourth round at the French Open sinceNicola Pietrangeli in1972,[4] and the oldest semifinalist since the 40-year-oldPancho Gonzales in1968.[5]
The first round match betweenIvo Karlović (40 years and three months) andFeliciano López (37 years and 8 months) was the oldest French Open men's singles match in terms of combined ages in the Open Era. Karlović was the oldest man to compete in the singles tournament sinceIstván Gulyás in1973.[6]Stefanos Tsitsipas was the first Greek to reach the round of 16 since Lazaros Stalios in1936.[7]
For only the third time in the Open Era and the first time since the1970 Australian Open, all of the top 10 seeds reached the round of 16 at a men's singles major.[8] It was the first time since the2013 Australian Open that the top four seeds (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Thiem) all reached the semifinals of a major, and the first time since the2012 French Open that theBig Three all reached the semifinals of a major.
This marked the final major appearance of2009 US Open championJuan Martín del Potro, who lost toKaren Khachanov in the fourth round. Del Potro would retire from tennis in 2022 due to recurring injuries.