Former world number 3, Yannick Noah, remains one of the greatest figures in French tennis today. Revered in the 1980s for his spectacular style, immense popularity, and infectious energy, he solidified his place in French sports history by winning Roland-Garros in 1983 against Mats Wilander. Over forty years later, Yannick Noah is still the last Frenchman to have won the Parisian tournament in the men’s singles category, a status that continues to fuel his legend with the public.
At 66 years old, Yannick Noah continues to keep sports at the center of his daily life. Cycling, golf, regular physical activities – the former high-level athlete refuses to remain inactive despite the passing years. However, the Roland-Garros champion recently revealed to Le Figaro that he now has to deal with several physical setbacks related to a serious injury he suffered two years ago. “Two years ago, I suffered a complete rupture of my hamstrings while playing football with the Variété Club de France. It was tough,” he candidly shared. This particularly serious injury forced him to undergo a long period of rehabilitation.
Remaining faithful to his highly active nature, Yannick Noah acknowledges that he resumed some activities a bit too quickly: “I had about sixty days of planned rehabilitation. I did forty. As soon as I was able to start cycling and playing golf again, I stopped.” Today, the former champion humorously admits to having become a “semi-handicap,” even though he claims to be much better. While Noah explains that he was relatively spared from major injuries during his professional career, he admits that mental fatigue had become difficult to manage over the years. “If I stopped at thirty years old, it was for a reason, I was a bit overheated on the circuit,” he also shared in the interview.
Now removed from high-level competition, Yannick Noah seems to have found a new mission that particularly captivates him: para-tennis. He is highly involved in organizing stages and preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games, accompanying various adapted disciplines and working closely with athletes with disabilities. “I am responsible for everything related to para-tennis. So it’s not just wheelchair tennis, it’s also for the hard of hearing, visually impaired, blind…,” he details enthusiastically. In this role, Yannick Noah appears to be particularly fulfilled, as he now extends his commitments to inclusive sports and mentorship.
