Complex sentence: In 2004 he became the first Frenchman to win the Open de France in 35 years, and in 2005 he retained his title by beating fellow Frenchman Jean Van de Velde in a playoff.
Split into simpler sentences: In 2004 he became the first Frenchman to win the Open de France in 35 years. In 2005 he retained his title by defeating fellow Frenchman Jean Van de Velde in a playoff.