Nicolas Mahut Bio
Nicolas Pierre Armand Mahut is a French former professional tennis player, born on 21 January 1982 in Angers, France. He was ranked world No. 1 in men’s doubles, holding the top ranking for a total of 39 weeks, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished doubles specialists of his generation. Mahut is a five-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, having completed the career Grand Slam with victories at the 2015 US Open, 2016 Wimbledon Championships, 2018 French Open, and 2019 Australian Open, all partnering Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
In singles, Mahut reached a career-high ATP ranking of world No. 37 in May 2014 and won four tour-level titles, all on grass courts. Over the course of his career, he built a reputation as both a fierce competitor and a beloved figure in the sport, recognized for his sportsmanship, longevity, and grace in defeat.
Early Life and Background
Nicolas Mahut was born in 1982 in Angers, France. He first trained at the Beaucouzé tennis club when he was five years old, where his love for the game quickly became apparent. At the age of 11, he joined a tennis club in Paris to further develop his skills and gain access to higher-level competition.
Mahut posted outstanding results as a junior player. In 1998, he was champion of France in both the 15- and 16-year-old and 17- and 18-year-old age categories. The following year, he won the Orange Bowl doubles title, along with the Sunshine Cup, the Coffee Bowl, and the Coupe Galéa-Valério. As a junior, he posted a 93-33 record in singles and a 76-21 record in doubles, reaching as high as No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles.
His junior career also included Grand Slam success, winning the 2000 Wimbledon Boys’ Singles title, the 2000 Australian Open Boys’ Doubles alongside Tommy Robredo, and the 1999 US Open Boys’ Doubles with Julien Benneteau. He currently lives in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris near the grounds of Roland Garros.
Path to Tennis
After his impressive junior results, Mahut made his Grand Slam debut at the 2000 French Open and turned professional the same year. He began competing on the ITF Men’s Circuit, where he won three minor titles and steadily climbed the rankings. In 2003, he broke into the top 100 in singles and won his first doubles title at the Open de Moselle.
By 2005, he had broken into the top 25 in doubles, and in 2006, three Challenger titles and a third-round appearance at Wimbledon helped him return to the top 100 in singles. In 2007, he reached his first ATP singles final at the Queen’s Club Championships, finishing as runner-up to Andy Roddick, and followed that with another final at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island.
Nicolas Mahut Career
Early Career (2000-2009)
Mahut spent his early professional years establishing himself on both the ATP Challenger Tour and the main tour. In 2008, he collected his 50th career singles victory at the Rome Masters. The following year, in October 2009, he won his third doubles title at the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon, building a foundation that would soon support greater success.
During this period, Mahut partnered with several French compatriots, including Julien Benneteau, Arnaud Clément, and Édouard Roger-Vasselin. These partnerships helped him develop the doubles skills that would later define his career and bring him the biggest titles in the sport.
Doubles Breakthrough (2013-2016)
Mahut’s career reached new heights in 2013, when he reached his first Grand Slam doubles final at the French Open alongside Michaël Llodra, losing to the Bryan brothers. That same year, he won his first ATP singles title at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in the Netherlands, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka in the final without dropping a set. He followed that with a second singles title at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport.
The year 2015 marked the beginning of his most successful partnership with Pierre-Hugues Herbert. After losing the Australian Open final, the pair won the US Open doubles title, becoming the first all-French pair to win the men’s doubles title at the US Open. In 2016, they won the Wimbledon doubles title, completing a remarkable run that included winning the first three ATP Masters 1000 events of the year at Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo. By June 2016, Mahut became the 49th player in history and only the second Frenchman to be ranked No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings.
Career Grand Slam and ATP Finals Glory (2017-2021)
In 2017, Mahut was part of the French team that won the Davis Cup, contributing three doubles rubbers during the successful campaign that ended with a 10th Davis Cup Trophy for France. He also won three Masters 1000 doubles titles that season.
The year 2019 brought his most significant doubles achievement. In January, Mahut and Herbert completed the Career Grand Slam in men’s doubles by winning the Australian Open, defeating Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the final. Later that year, they won the Paris Rolex Masters and went on to lift the ATP Finals trophy without dropping a set, defeating Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus in the final. In 2021, they won their second French Open doubles title and their second ATP Finals title, cementing their status as one of the most successful doubles teams in tennis history.
Later Career and Retirement (2022-2025)
At the 2022 Open Sud de France in February, Mahut won his 40th career title with Herbert, marking their 21st title as a team. At the 2025 French Open, Mahut announced his retirement for the end of the 2025 season. He played his last professional match at the Rolex Paris Masters, partnering Grigor Dimitrov. Following his retirement, he began coaching Benjamin Bonzi in 2025 and became the sports director of the Open Rennes Challenger.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mahut is a solid baseliner who is also very adept at serve and volleying. He has an accurate first serve that puts his opponent out of position, and then comes to the net to finish the point, a tactic he often employs on grass. On a second serve or on other surfaces, he engages more frequently in baseline rallies and attacks the net whenever he sees a chance. His consistent serve, skillful net play, and clever placement of returns have also made him an exceptional doubles player.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mahut is best known for being part of the longest match in professional tennis history, played against John Isner in the first round of the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, spanning three days, with Isner winning 70-68 in the fifth set. Mahut holds several records from that match, including the most points won in a single match (502) and the most games won by a losing player at Wimbledon (91).
Nicolas Mahut Career Wins
Over the course of his career, Nicolas Mahut won 37 doubles titles overall, including five Grand Slam championships and the 2019 and 2021 ATP Finals. He also won seven Masters 1000 titles in doubles and four ATP singles titles, all on grass courts. His partnership with Pierre-Hugues Herbert produced 21 titles as a team, making them one of the most successful doubles pairings in tennis history.
Grand Slam Highlights
Mahut won five Grand Slam doubles titles, all partnering Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Their first Grand Slam title came at the 2015 US Open, followed by Wimbledon in 2016, the French Open in 2018, the Australian Open in 2019, and a second French Open in 2021. With these victories, Mahut completed the Career Grand Slam in men’s doubles. He was also a runner-up at the 2013 French Open with Michaël Llodra, the 2015 Australian Open with Herbert, and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships with Édouard Roger-Vasselin.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his Grand Slam success, Mahut won the 2019 and 2021 ATP Finals, seven Masters 1000 doubles titles, and was a key member of the French team that won the 2017 Davis Cup. He also won four ATP singles titles, all on grass courts, with his first coming in 2013 at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships.
Nicolas Mahut Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Nicolas Mahut met his wife Virginie in 2007, and she gave birth to their son Natanel on 18 August 2011. The family resides in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris near the grounds of Roland Garros. Mahut became good friends with the American tennis player John Isner after their historic match at Wimbledon 2010, a friendship that has endured long beyond that memorable encounter.
He was coached by former professional players Gabriel Urpí and Jérôme Haehnel. Throughout his career, Mahut has been widely respected by his peers for his character, dedication, and contributions to the sport of tennis.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks the end of Nicolas Mahut’s professional career, as he announced his retirement at the 2025 French Open. His final professional match came at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he partnered Grigor Dimitrov. The decision to retire followed more than two decades on the professional tour, during which he established himself as one of the premier doubles players in tennis history.
Following his retirement, Mahut transitioned into coaching, beginning work with French player Benjamin Bonzi in 2025. He also took on a new role as the sports director of the Open Rennes Challenger, continuing his involvement with the sport in a different capacity. His legacy as a five-time Grand Slam doubles champion and former world No. 1 in doubles remains firmly established, and his influence on French tennis is expected to continue for years to come.