Clay could be essentially the most fickle floor in tennis, particularly the sort on the French Open in Paris. The combination of crushed stone and purple brick have to be saved clean and dry but additionally watered and moistened. Situations, always altering as a result of unpredictable climate, drastically alter outcomes. Its impracticality feels apparent when a basic slow-burning baseline contest turns into a heavy-hitting energy duel when the roof closes on account of intermittent rain. The ball can come gradual and excessive beneath the dry warmth, and heavy because the wind rolls in.
Mastery of clay-court tennis, uncommon as it might be on account of its many peculiarities, has at all times prompted fascination. Rafael Nadal’s run of sustained success might have completely modified perceptions concerning this floor, however on the ladies’s tour, Chris Evert stays above all. Her run of seven French Open titles – which started half a century in the past – is unmatched (she additionally solely misplaced as soon as earlier than the semifinal in her total profession in Paris).
Steffi Graf got here shut throughout her run of dominance, Monica Seles confirmed bursts of it earlier than tragedy struck, and Justine Henin went on a run at the beginning of this century.
🏆🏆 IG4 🏆🏆#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/xyNZM9sczq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024
On Saturday, on the intimately small Court docket Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, Evert handed the trophy to anoint a brand new nice into their league.
Iga Swiatek, the 23-year-old World No. 1 from Poland, defeated Italian twelfth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 to raise a 3rd consecutive French Open title – her fourth in 5 years. It was her fifth Grand Slam singles title. In open period ladies’s tennis, solely Evert and Graf (6) have received extra Roland Garros titles than her, and he or she turns into the primary girl since Henin in 2007 to triumph thrice in a row in Paris. She additionally turned the one girl aside from Serena Williams to do the Madrid-Rome-Paris triple – profitable all three of crucial clay court docket occasions on the calendar in the identical yr.
Swiatek has earned her place within the esteemed firm. Monday kicks off her 107th week because the top-ranked ladies’s participant, placing her ninth on the all-time checklist. Whereas there’s room for enchancment in some sides of her sport, and he or she might have to show herself at Majors on all surfaces, little doubt stays that she has set the modern-day commonplace for excelling on the purple filth.
Sunday’s straight-sets scoreline could also be harsh on Paolini, a late bloomer making her breakthrough at 28. The Italian has been surging within the rankings this yr after profitable a primary Masters 1000 title in Doha and even inflicting a significant upset by downing World No. 3 Elena Rybakina within the quarterfinal in Paris.
She got here out bravely and normal an early lead with a break of serve, however after Swiatek shed some early nerves, it was a method visitors. The Pole received 11 of the ultimate 12 video games, bringing her massive return and forehand to the fore and dominating. Paolini was an equal participant in some exchanges, however Swiatek did what she has accomplished to many others, utilizing her brutal shotmaking to not solely take management of the rallies but additionally take out her opponent’s legs. The lengthy exchanges had been usually adopted by straightforward factors received by Swiatek’s 1-2 shot crunches.
Full dominance from Iga 💯
Catch the highlights by @emirates of in the present day’s ladies’s singles remaining! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/fmn6YyhRoR
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024
Whilst the group willed Paolini on searching for a extra even contest, and as she pushed herself to benefit from the event, the gulf at school was obvious as Swiatek stepped up within the second set to take whole management and are available away with the win.
“I like this place, I wait yearly to return again,” she mentioned on court docket after her near-flawless efficiency, with no hint of cliché.
All weapons on clay
Daughter of an Olympic rower, the 22-year-old enjoys a pure athleticism that makes her a risk on clay. She has sharp, angled, at instances devastating returns on a floor that reduces the zip on serves. Her spin-laden forehand, impressed by her idol Nadal, does loads of injury. Her side-to-side lunges enable her to show defence into assault. However regardless of the method and physicality, it’s her urge for food to battle, an attribute that’s rewarded extra on this floor than some other, that she will so readily depend on.
Sunday’s steamroller was not the place Swiatek received this title. Return per week to her peculiar second spherical tie in opposition to four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.
The sweetest kiss 😘 🏆 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/b7hG4YRZOw
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2024
Osaka, plotting a post-pregnancy comeback, outhit and outplayed Swiatek for the whole lot of that contest however Swiatek didn’t lose focus, elevating her sport on the proper moments and escaping with a win after saving match level. She didn’t lose a single set on her march to the trophy from there.
“I used to be virtually out of this match within the second spherical. I wanted to consider that is going to be attainable, so it has been a very emotional match for positive,” she would say after the ultimate.
Maybe Paolini will take solace in the truth that so many gamers have been properly overwhelmed on this scenario. Maybe if she returns to this stage, she is going to include intelligent ways and extra courageous hitting. Maybe she might even down this champion from her perch. However at current, in Swiatek’s dominion of clay, it looks as if no person can.