TENNIS: French Open 2024 overview
Jun. 10th, 2024 07:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllThe first round was about sad goodbyes, with Murray crashing out to Wawrinka, Nadal to Zverev, and Cornet to Qinweng Chang’s weight of shot. No British singles player made it through to the second round. THE second-round match was between Swiatek and Osaka, with Swiatek taking the close first, Osaka winning the second handily, and Swiatek’s mental strength allowing her to face down a match point and claw back a win. Osaka was playing the kind of tennis you’d expect from a player of her calibre and talked like someone who’s gained maturity and perspective.
The top players progressed through the early rounds, some more easily than others (Swiatek won three bagels.) Djokovic had a ridiculously late night (the French Open’s night sessions seem to be motivated more by greed than player welfare, and this may be one of the rare areas where sexism is helping women players) for his five-setter against Musetti. That was followed by a fourth-round five=setter against Cerundulo where Djokovic got injured, meaning he – the defending champion – had to pull out of his quarter final. Ruud went through to the semi-final on a bye and Sinner became no. 1, but probably not in the way he’d have wanted. It’s surely more satisfying to get it with a win!
So, when the quarters first began, the seeds were all triumphant, Gauff eventually beating Jabeur to face Swiatek, who thumped Vondrousova. Alcaraz set up a semi with Sinner. The next day, Paolini (an experienced player on the up this year, taking inspiration from her compatriot’s success?) beat Rybakina in three, and then Mirra Andreeva beat an ailing Sabalenka in three, which is not the expected semi. Zverev ended De Minaur’s excellent run to set up a rematch at the same stage as last year with Ruud.
Swiatek beat Gauff in their semi-final, with Gauff now becoming world no. 2, but if the world no. 1 keeps thrashing you, how good will that feel? Swiatek went into the final the strong favourite. In the unexpected semi of two neophytes, Paolini and her surprisingly big hitting for someone of her stature did for Andreeva.
With the men’s semi-final, there was a feeling that the future is now, with Alcaraz and Sinner at four wins each against each other and the Italian having now raised himself to Grand Slam-winning level, which the younger man had already reached. I really wish I could have seen this. The first set to Sinner, the second to Alcaraz, Sinner showing grit to win the third, but Alcaraz finding his joy and shot-making ability to win the next two sets, banishing the memory of last year’s semi and getting through to his first French Open final. Ruud won the first set against Zverev, but after that the German raised his game while Ruud couldn’t (apparently he wasn’t feeling well.) Zverev won in four. (In the same week that he settled a domestic abuse case with the mother of his child.)
I listened to most of the women’s final, where Paolini had an unexpected break early in the first set as Swiatek made errors. But the world no. 1 and defending champion reset and broke back, and began a roll of 10 games, leading 6-2, 5-0. To her credit, Paolini won a game, meaning that she wasn’t bagelled, the match lasted longer than an hour and Swiatek had to serve it out. But she just could not get through Swiatek, and there’s a world of difference between someone who has now played their way into the top 10 in their late 20s, and someone who’s at the top of their game (and could yet improve.) Right now, Iga Swiatek is the queen of clay, having won her fourth French Open in five years and her third in a row (which brings her into the elite company of Seles and Henin. And means that people are now mentioning Everett and Nadal’s records.) And that’s following the impressive Madrid-Rome double. As the commentators asked, who could beat her on clay? Osaka’s match point was suggestive, and I think it might have been tougher to play Sabalenka or a Rybakina who was capable of making it to the final, but she thrashed Gauff, Paulino and everyone else she played to get here…
Gauff (with partner Simacova, who is a quality doubles player, but I don’t understand why Gauff isn’t playing with an American in an Olympics year) won the women’s doubles final, meaning that Paolini was twice a runner-up. She was playing with Errani, a fellow Italian, which may bode well for them in the Olympics.
I listened to the first two sets of the men’s final. A nervy beginning from both Alcaraz and Zverev, but the young Spaniard started playing with variety, never giving his opponent a rhythm and won the first set with Zverev acting despondent. But in the second set, Zverev started coming in on his own terms and Alcaraz went into his shell. I caught up with the rest via extended highlights, and Zverev had a comeback to win the third. But in the fourth set, Alcaraz was playing unshackled tennis. There was one point that Zverev should have already won four times, but Alcaraz retrieved impossible balls. Zverev did win that point. But Alcaraz won the fifth set as well and won the championships. I WISH I could have seen it. The manner of Alcaraz’s play, the array of shots he can make, the instinct to go aggressive at big moments and the appealing joy he has in playing are such a boon for tennis.
Alcaraz is now the youngest ever man to win on all three surfaces (sports will always find a record or stat), but it is impressive to have won three slams having just turned 21, and proven yourself to be an all-court champion. And that after a less than brilliant stretch, partly thanks to injury. Will that be a boost for Wimbledon? He’s young, but I’d be surprised if he plays at and defends Queen’s. Winning Wimbledon after the French is seriously impressive. Djokovic is unlikely to play, but Sinner is likely to be hungry, and of course some players take to grass and others…don’t. And it’s a crowded year with the Olympics then following back at Roland Garros, so I think Nadal is skipping the grass with that in his sights. Meanwhile, Zverev is now getting quite the unwanted record about making it to a slam final and not being able to win.
My prediction that Swiatek would win came true, but she was such a strong favourite that that's not anything to boast about. But I am pleased that she won. I didn't dare predict the winner on the men's side, but as you'll have gathered, I'm chuffed it was Alcaraz. I'm also so glad we've reached the grass-court season and devoutly hope the Beeb will show a lot of tennis in between the wretched Euros.
The top players progressed through the early rounds, some more easily than others (Swiatek won three bagels.) Djokovic had a ridiculously late night (the French Open’s night sessions seem to be motivated more by greed than player welfare, and this may be one of the rare areas where sexism is helping women players) for his five-setter against Musetti. That was followed by a fourth-round five=setter against Cerundulo where Djokovic got injured, meaning he – the defending champion – had to pull out of his quarter final. Ruud went through to the semi-final on a bye and Sinner became no. 1, but probably not in the way he’d have wanted. It’s surely more satisfying to get it with a win!
So, when the quarters first began, the seeds were all triumphant, Gauff eventually beating Jabeur to face Swiatek, who thumped Vondrousova. Alcaraz set up a semi with Sinner. The next day, Paolini (an experienced player on the up this year, taking inspiration from her compatriot’s success?) beat Rybakina in three, and then Mirra Andreeva beat an ailing Sabalenka in three, which is not the expected semi. Zverev ended De Minaur’s excellent run to set up a rematch at the same stage as last year with Ruud.
Swiatek beat Gauff in their semi-final, with Gauff now becoming world no. 2, but if the world no. 1 keeps thrashing you, how good will that feel? Swiatek went into the final the strong favourite. In the unexpected semi of two neophytes, Paolini and her surprisingly big hitting for someone of her stature did for Andreeva.
With the men’s semi-final, there was a feeling that the future is now, with Alcaraz and Sinner at four wins each against each other and the Italian having now raised himself to Grand Slam-winning level, which the younger man had already reached. I really wish I could have seen this. The first set to Sinner, the second to Alcaraz, Sinner showing grit to win the third, but Alcaraz finding his joy and shot-making ability to win the next two sets, banishing the memory of last year’s semi and getting through to his first French Open final. Ruud won the first set against Zverev, but after that the German raised his game while Ruud couldn’t (apparently he wasn’t feeling well.) Zverev won in four. (In the same week that he settled a domestic abuse case with the mother of his child.)
I listened to most of the women’s final, where Paolini had an unexpected break early in the first set as Swiatek made errors. But the world no. 1 and defending champion reset and broke back, and began a roll of 10 games, leading 6-2, 5-0. To her credit, Paolini won a game, meaning that she wasn’t bagelled, the match lasted longer than an hour and Swiatek had to serve it out. But she just could not get through Swiatek, and there’s a world of difference between someone who has now played their way into the top 10 in their late 20s, and someone who’s at the top of their game (and could yet improve.) Right now, Iga Swiatek is the queen of clay, having won her fourth French Open in five years and her third in a row (which brings her into the elite company of Seles and Henin. And means that people are now mentioning Everett and Nadal’s records.) And that’s following the impressive Madrid-Rome double. As the commentators asked, who could beat her on clay? Osaka’s match point was suggestive, and I think it might have been tougher to play Sabalenka or a Rybakina who was capable of making it to the final, but she thrashed Gauff, Paulino and everyone else she played to get here…
Gauff (with partner Simacova, who is a quality doubles player, but I don’t understand why Gauff isn’t playing with an American in an Olympics year) won the women’s doubles final, meaning that Paolini was twice a runner-up. She was playing with Errani, a fellow Italian, which may bode well for them in the Olympics.
I listened to the first two sets of the men’s final. A nervy beginning from both Alcaraz and Zverev, but the young Spaniard started playing with variety, never giving his opponent a rhythm and won the first set with Zverev acting despondent. But in the second set, Zverev started coming in on his own terms and Alcaraz went into his shell. I caught up with the rest via extended highlights, and Zverev had a comeback to win the third. But in the fourth set, Alcaraz was playing unshackled tennis. There was one point that Zverev should have already won four times, but Alcaraz retrieved impossible balls. Zverev did win that point. But Alcaraz won the fifth set as well and won the championships. I WISH I could have seen it. The manner of Alcaraz’s play, the array of shots he can make, the instinct to go aggressive at big moments and the appealing joy he has in playing are such a boon for tennis.
Alcaraz is now the youngest ever man to win on all three surfaces (sports will always find a record or stat), but it is impressive to have won three slams having just turned 21, and proven yourself to be an all-court champion. And that after a less than brilliant stretch, partly thanks to injury. Will that be a boost for Wimbledon? He’s young, but I’d be surprised if he plays at and defends Queen’s. Winning Wimbledon after the French is seriously impressive. Djokovic is unlikely to play, but Sinner is likely to be hungry, and of course some players take to grass and others…don’t. And it’s a crowded year with the Olympics then following back at Roland Garros, so I think Nadal is skipping the grass with that in his sights. Meanwhile, Zverev is now getting quite the unwanted record about making it to a slam final and not being able to win.
My prediction that Swiatek would win came true, but she was such a strong favourite that that's not anything to boast about. But I am pleased that she won. I didn't dare predict the winner on the men's side, but as you'll have gathered, I'm chuffed it was Alcaraz. I'm also so glad we've reached the grass-court season and devoutly hope the Beeb will show a lot of tennis in between the wretched Euros.
