Argentina's Gaston Gaudio won the French Open title in dramatic circumstances battling back to a 0-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 8-6 win against compatriot Guillermo Coria.

As well as collecting 860,000 euro ($A1.53 million) 25-year-old Gaudio, ranked a modest 44 in the world, becomes the first Argentinian man to win a Grand Slam since Guillermo Vilas won the Australian Open in 1979.

Vilas was also the last Argentine to win here in 1977.

The heartbroken third-seeded Coria had been cruising to victory at one stage wrapping up the first two sets in just an hour and was looking at the possibility of taking the quickest ever final win in the history of the tournament.

But after failing to make sure of victory in the third set, he was forced to call for treatment from the physio on a damaged left thigh at 1-1 in the fourth and from that point on was labouring around the court.

He valiantly carried on, called for more treatment and tried to shake off the problem but had to concede the fourth set as he was reduced to walking pace around the court.

In a tense final set, both players lost their serves twice as the score reached 4-4 with Coria now suffering again, able only to serve rooted to the spot.

Incredibly Coria broke to lead 5-4 but was unable to serve out the match as Gaudio came back to 5-5.

Again Gaudio held on, saving two match points in the 12th game before taking the next to go 7-6.

It was Coria who cracked. He hit a wild forehand to give Gaudio two match points but he only needed one when he unleashed a powerful backhand from the baseline which the exhausted Coria was unable to reach after 3hr 31min on court.

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