Mood: A Paris Sunday morning with @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/fusWj37lIZ
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 11, 2023
As the spring clay season comes to a close, some bookkeeping (prior to the Clay Court Awards this week)...
| 1. | Iga Swiatek, POL | ...after lagging just off the pace all spring, her second straight and third title in four years at Roland Garros put the emphatic exclamation point on a 19-2 stretch which began (Stuttgart) and ended with title defenses that bookend a final in Madrid (three-set loss to Sabalenka) and 3rd set QF ret. in Rome (vs. eventual champ Rybakina). |
| 2. | Aryna Sabalenka, BLR | ...had the #1 ranking in her sights after knocking off Swiatek in Madrid (after losing to her in the Stuttgart final) and reaching her third straight slam SF, but her Paris meltdown from 5-2 up in the 3rd (w/ a MP) vs. Muchova abruptly ended the story. |
| 3. | Diede de Groot, NED (WC) | ...continued her remarkable run, going undefeated on clay (7-0) and hard (8-0) courts this spring while leading the Netherlands to a World Team Cup crown and picking up her tenth straight WC singles slam at RG. She's won 103 straight singles matches. |
| 4. | Karolina Muchova, CZE | ...her good health allowed her to climb into her maiden slam final in Paris, collecting two Top 10 wins (including the huge SF comeback vs. Sabalenka) en route, then taking the only set lost by Swiatek in four slam finals. A 4th Round in Rome was the best result from the Czech's other two clay outings. |
| 5. | Yui Kamiji, JPN (WC) | ...even while living full-time in de Groot's extremely long shadow (she was 0-4 vs. the world #1 this spring), Kamiji reached RG finals in both singles (record 25th F in a slam) and doubles (winning slam WD #19), was undefeated (22-0 cc/hc) vs. non-Diede opponents and 17-0 in doubles. |
| 6. | Elena Rybakina, KAZ | ...her Rome title run, albeit w/ three opponent retirements (one her third win over Iga in '23), highlighted a spring clay stretch that included BJK Cup (2-0) success but also two early losses (Stuttgart/Madrid) and an illness-related 3rd Rd. exit at RG. |
| 7. | Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA | ...succeeded in singles -- at RG becoming the first BRA to reach a slam SF since 1968, cracking the Top 10 and posting QF at Stuttgart/Rome -- and doubles, winning the Madrid title w/ Azarenka. |
| 8. | Ons Jabeur, TUN | ...started 7-0 as she won in Charleston and reached the Stuttgart semis, but finished 4-3 after a calf injury, going out in the RG QF (but completing a Career QF Slam). |
| 9. | Vernonika Kudermetova, RUS | ...a feast or famine spring, as Madrid/Rome semifinal runs were paired with quick exits (0-3 combined) in Charleston (2r), Stuttgart (1r), and RG (1r, as #11 seed). |
| 10. | Mirra Andreeva, RUS | ...the 16-year old burst onto the pro circuit this spring, going 22-3 on all levels, winning two $60K ITF titles, reaching the Madrid 1000 4th Round, then qualifying and reaching the RG 3rd Round in her slam debut. |
| 11. | Gauff/Pegula, USA/USA | ...failed to win their first clay title as a pair, but were arguably the *most accomplished* duo over the course of the spring with Madrid RU, Rome RU and Roland Garros SF finishes. |
| 12. | Elina Svitolina, UKR | ...re-emerged from maternity leave to win a tour-level title in Strasbourg and reach the RG quarterfinals. |
| HM- | Hunter/Mertens (AUS/BEL) and Hsieh S./Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN) | ...both pairs made their first titles together big ones: Hunter/Mertens in Rome and Hsieh/Wang at RG |
- the AO champ is still the season points (and wins) leader. A title (or even final) in Paris would have padded her "Ms.B" lead, but now it's a real shoulder-to-shoulder contest heading into the grass season. 2. Iga Swiatek, POL
- was running 4th or 5th, and then came Roland Garros. The only player to repeat as "Ms.B" was, naturally, Serena in 2013. Iga is now in the game. 3. Diede de Groot, NED (WC)
- still undefeated, still *expected* to be. If all remains the same, at the very least, the '21 "Ms.B" will never fall below #3 here. 4. Elena Rybakina, KAZ
- the RG w/d really hurts her big stage scorecard after RU-W-RU-2r-W results in the season's previous two-week events (AO-IW-Mia-Mad-Rome) 5. Krejcikova/Siniakova, CZE/CZE
- the Czechs had been undefeated in '23 (11-0) and had 24 straight slam wins until Siniakova's injury kept them off court as a pair all spring, and likely led to a 1r exit in Paris when they were going for the title in a fourth consecutive slam 6. Gauff/Pegula, USA/USA
- no duo has been a full-season force, but the Bannerettes have come the closest, reaching more finals (4, going 2-2) than any other pair, including in big events in Miami (W), Madrid and Rome (both RU), along w/ two slam SF 7. Belinda Bencic, SUI
- her season has gradually started to unravel after a huge start, but she's still reached three finals (2-1) and has a 76% win pct. (19-6) 8. Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
- still has a set of good-to-great singles results, including a win in Dubai (def. #1, #2 and #3), and four AO+1000 4r runs, but crash-landed to end the clay season, falling in the 1st Rd. at RG (she's 0-2 in Paris since winning the women's title in '21) 9. Karolina Muchova/CZE
- she's already got more wins (25) than in any *full* season since 2019, with her RG final at the top of a list of good results that have included 3 QF (two at 1000 events) and a 4th Rd. in Rome 10. Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
- a slam singles semifinalist and 1000-level WD champ with a new Top 10 singles ranking, and she's heading to what could be her *best* surface 11. Yui Kamiji, JPN (WC)
- might be a living wheelchair legend if not for de Groot. 32-0 vs. non-de Groot foes in '23 (w/ 70 con. wins), her 0-7 season mark (and 22-match losing streak) against the world #1 hides the fact that the gap between #2 and the rest might be as big as the one between #1 and #2. 12. Jessie Pegula, USA
- still coming up "just short," as in an AO QF, two 1000 SF (Dubai/Miami, though she won the WD in the latter) and a 1000 QF (Madrid) HM- Petra Kvitova, CZE
- bad slam results (2r/1r) buoyed by good big event runs in Indian Wells (QF) and Miami (W)
??????#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/r5jb5vTMQu
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
What a team ??
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
Hope to see you in Paris again in 2024!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/te3kLabyEO
A battle worthy of the title. Hsieh Su-Wei and Wang Xinyu reign in Paris!
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
Women's Doubles final highlights ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/VxAEUeT1ge
...in La Bisbel d'Emporda, Arantxa Rus claimed the biggest title of her career with a win in the WTA 125 final over Panna Udvardy, 7-6/6-3.
? Arantxa Rus s’ha proclamat campiona del WTA 125 Open Internacional Femení Solgironès.
— Tennis Català (@FCatTennis) June 11, 2023
?? L’holandesa, setena cap de sèrie del torneig, ha sumat el seu primer WTA de la seva carrera després de superar a l’hongaresa Panna Udvardy per 7/6 6/3. pic.twitter.com/MUIdzfYmdQ
In Makarska, the week's other 125 crown went to Mayar Sherif, who staged multiple comebacks in the final vs. Jasmine Paolini, who'd been trying to win her second 125 title this season, one both before and after her 2nd Round exit in Paris. Paolini had saved 5 MP in her 2nd Round match vs. Katarina Zavatska, winning a 12-10 3rd set TB (on her own 5th MP) to advance. In the final, the Italian led 6-2/5-2, and served for the match at 5-3 in the 2nd set. She couldn't do it, failed to convert three MP on return, then lost an 8-6 TB after holding two more MP. In the 3rd, Paolini led 5-3, had a sixth MP on return, served for the match a second time at 5-4, and lost a 40/love lead on serve at 5-5, only to squander all those chances and ultimately fall by a 2-6/7-6(6)/7-5 score that went the Egyptian's way. For Sherif, already the all-time 125 title lead, it's her fifth career win.
Mayar Sherif with a fighting spirit and amazing mentality to pull one of the best comebacks from the year:
— Anna Kalinskaya’s husband (@svitokaya) June 11, 2023
-down 2-5 in the second set and 3-5 in the third set
-down 4-6 in the second set tiebreak
-saved SIX (!) championship points
deserved champion 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0fEvuZ0MsR
...in Surbiton, England, Yanina Wickmayer won the $100K grass court crown with a 7-1 3rd set TB win over Katie Swan in the final. The Belgian teamed with Sophie Chang to win the doubles, defeating Alicia Barnett/Olivia Nicholls 6-4/6-1 in the final.
Respect between competitors
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 11, 2023
Congrats @yaninawickmaye8 on becoming the Lexus Surbiton Trophy champion and @Katieswan99 for a great week pic.twitter.com/VEhzdgZMng
Elsewhere, Bannerette Hailey Baptiste, 21, won her first challenger crown in four years (4-0 career finals) in $60K Caserta (ITA), and Chinese vet Wang Yafan took her fourth title of the season in $25K Tokyo. 2018 NCAA singles champ Arianne Hartono won the $25K Setubal (POR) event, '21 NCAA doubles champ Makenna Jones took the singles in $25K Madrid, and just-crowned NCAA singles champ Tian Fangran is playing in a late final on Sunday (her second straight at the ITF level) in the San Diego $15K vs. Aspen Schuman. ...movers in the new rankings:
#3 Elena Rybakina (new career high)
#10 Beatriz Hadda Maia (first BRA in Top 10 in Open era, sending Kasatkina down to #11)
#16 Karolina Muchova (new career high)
#27 Bernarda Pera (cracks Top 30)
#40 Mayar Sherif (cracks Top 40)
#46 Anna Blinkova (cracks Top 50)
#73 Elina Svitolina (from #192)
#74 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (from #100)
#80 Elina Avanesyan (from #134)
#82 Sara Sorribes Tormo (from #132)
#93 Clara Tauson (back in the Top 100)
#101 Mirra Andreeva (from #142)
#115 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (from #333)
Meanwhile, '22 RG semifinalist Martina Trevisan falls to #63 (from #24), and Leylah Fernandez to #95 (from #49).
#1 Iga Swiatek/POL def. Karolina Muchova/CZE 6-2/5-7/6-4
(PR) Hsieh S-w./Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN) def. #10 Fernandez/Townsend (CAN/USA) 1-6/7-6(5)/6-1
Kato/Puetz (JPN/GER) def. (Alt.) Andreescu/Venus (CAN/NZL) 4-6/6-4 [10-6]
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-2/6-0
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) vs. de Groot/Moreno (NED/ARG) 6-2/6-3
#3 Alina Korneeva/RUS def. #6 Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER 7-6(4)/6-3
#6 Grant/Ngounoue (USA/USA) def. #1 Korneeva/Saito (RUS/JPN) 6-3/6-2
...IT'LL FOREVER BE HARD TO BEAT THE SHARAPOVA-IN-PARIS POST-TITLE SHOTS FROM 2014 ... ON DAY 15:
It's the sight of the crowd and photographers in the shots, I think. It makes it look like a Hollywood premiere, Cannes or the Oscars red carpet.
They say Paris is for lovers, and these two are inseparable. Quite literally. pic.twitter.com/P69Cu8V7ar
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 11, 2023
...BRADY TAKES IN THE ACTION... ON DAY 15:
?? @TomBrady https://t.co/7CFQxzDmkI pic.twitter.com/gUHfMhb6Bn
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
...WELCOME, NEW DOUBLES ICONS?... ON DAY 15:
got your back ??@TaylorTownsend | @leylahfernandez pic.twitter.com/8H0EAuUCa5
— wta (@WTA) June 11, 2023
This should be an example to so many! The leadership and compassion by @TaylorTownsend after the loss of their doubles final @rolandgarros for her partner @leylahfernandez #Respect pic.twitter.com/nfywKElIxS
— SvenTennis.eth (@sventennis) June 11, 2023
?? Team Bubblegum Babes ??
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2023
Congratulations on an amazing run!#RolandGarros | @taylortownsend @leylahfernandez pic.twitter.com/YosnNTfMCX
...IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN,.. ON DAY 15:
More Than Lucky...Wheels On Fire...Oh Happy Ending!...Now You See Her, Now You Don't...A Comeback to Remember..."Upset" Doesn't Begin to Describe It...The Marvelous Ms. Muchova...She Loves Paris In the Spring
— Diane Elayne Dees (@WomenWhoServe) June 11, 2023
My French Open top 10 https://t.co/qqXXyKhe8e #RolandGarros2023 #WTA
...A TREND DEVELOPING?... ON DAY 15:
iga's ICONIC trophy lift ?????
— wta (@WTA) June 10, 2023
but the lid gets further away after every 500 likes
GO ???? pic.twitter.com/A3TxvQOFwF
if you're new here: https://t.co/trIRszRYpE pic.twitter.com/iDtDQ6Q3Tq
— wta (@WTA) June 10, 2023
...SO IS THIS (via NUMBERS GUY) ... ON DAY 15:
Novak Djokovic beats Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 to win #RolandGarros for the 3rd time.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 11, 2023
Men’s record of 23 Slams
First man to win every Slam at least three times.
Back to World Number #1
If there was a GOAT debate (I’m not a fan of those in every sport)… it’s over. pic.twitter.com/MKVMLvFy8r
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 11, 2023
A true Paris icon... and the Eiffel tower in the background, too! pic.twitter.com/vym9TJf3xP
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 11, 2023
[Women's Doubles]
2014 Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2016 Caroline Garcia & Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2017 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2020 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2021 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2022 Caroline Garcia & Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2023 Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu, TPE/CHN
*RECENT WD SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2018]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Ash Barty/CoCo Vandeweghe (AUS/USA)
[2019]
AO: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE)
US: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
[2020]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
US: Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva (GER/RUS)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
[2021]
AO: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
US: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
[2022]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA/FRA)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
[2023]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Venus Williams
7...Barbora Krejcikova
7...Katerina Siniakova
6...Kristina Mladenovic
5...Sara Errani
5...HSIEH SU-WEI
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands
*2020-23 WTA DOUBLES TITLES*
15 - Katerina Siniakova (1/6/6/2)
11 - Barbora Krejcikova (1/5/3/2)
8 - Elise Mertens (1/4/2/1)
7 - HSIEH SU-WEI (4/2/0/1)
7 - Desirae Krawczyk (2/2/1/2)
7 - Jessie Pegula (0/0/5/2)
6 - Shuko Aoyama (1/5/0/0)
6 - Coco Gauff (0/1/3/2)
6 - Nicole Melichar-Martinez (2/2/2/0)
6 - Kristina Mladenovic (2/0/4/0)
6 - Demi Schuurs (2/2/1/1)
6 - Ena Shibahara (1/5/0/0)
6 - Luisa Stefani (1/1/2/2)
*2023 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
4 (2-2) = Coco Gauff
4 (2-2) = Jessie Pegula
4 (2-2) = TAYLOR TOWNSEND
3 (2-1) = Desirae Krawczyk
3 (2-1) = Katerina Siniakova
3 (1-2) = Chan Hao-ching
3 (1-2) = WANG XINYU
3 (0-3) = LEYLAH FERNANDEZ
3 (0-3) = Giuliana Olmos
[2023 finals - duos]
4...Gauff/Pegula, USA/USA (2-2)
2...Krejickova/Siniakova, CZE/CZE (2-0)
2...FERNANDEZ/TOWNSEND, CAN/USA (0-2)
*RG "KIMIKO CUP FOR VETERAN ACHIEVEMENT" WINNERS*
2015 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2016 Martina Hingis/SUI and Samantha Stosur/AUS
2017 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2018 Latisha Chan, TPE
2019 Latisha Chan, TPE
2020 Petra Kvitova, CZE and Laura Siegemund, GER
2021 Anastasia Pavlyuchenova, RUS
2022 Flavia Pennetta & Francesca Schiavone, ITA/ITA (Legends)
2023 Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (WC) and Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
*ALL-TIME WTA 125 SINGLES TITLES*
5 - MAYAR SHERIF, EGY
3 - Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
3 - Vitalia Diatchenko, RUS
3 - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
3 - Zheng Saisai, CHN
A fuel tanker flipped over & exploded, destroying I-95 in Philadelphia, and adding a Michael Bay twist to what has lately been a pretty boring zombie flick. https://t.co/9G4uaEx6Wr
— Dissident Soaps (@DissidentSoaps) June 11, 2023
This is the massive section of I-95 in Philadelphia that has collapsed after a huge tanker caught fire.pic.twitter.com/F7Uh70loVx
— The Maltepes Report (@MaltepesReport) June 11, 2023
They’ll be like “Women had choices!” And these were the choices in question were pushing your organs around for the male gaze or burning at the stake for witchcraft https://t.co/4Gz6eRE6cz
— K. M. Karaya (@cmrdekiki) June 11, 2023
The speed of this merganser running on waterpic.twitter.com/dXAKTq6XqG
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) June 10, 2023
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): (Q) Mirra Andreeva/RUS (6 games lost in fewest in field; 10 con. sets Q+MD)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #1 Iga Swiatek/POL (3rd RG title in 4 yrs.)
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #29 Brenda Fruhvirtova/CZE def. Antonia Ruzic/CRO 3-6/6-2/7-6(10) - Ruzic MP in MTB; B.Fruhvirtova qualifies for first RG
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Anna Blinkova/RUS def. #5 Caroline Garcia/FRA 4-6/6-3/7-5 (Garcia saves 8 MP, but Blinkova gets upset on #9)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA def. Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP 6-7(3)/6-3/7-5 - 3:51 is third longest RG in Open era
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): SF - Karolina Muchova/CZE def. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR 7-6/6-7/7-5 (from 5-2 down and love/30, saved MP; 20/24 points to end match)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Magdalena Frech/POL (def. Sh.Zhang)
FIRST SEED OUT: #29 Zhang Shuai/CHN (1r: Frech/POL)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: M.Andreeva/RUS, Avanesyan/RUS, Grabher/AUT, Navarro/USA, Noskova/CZE, Shymanovich/BLR, Stearns/USA, Waltert/SUI
UPSET QUEENS: ITA
REVELATION LADIES: RUS (11-2 1st Rd.)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: CZE (3-9 1st Rd.; four seeds out 1r; Krejcikova 0-2 since '21 title)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Mirra Andreeva/RUS, Olga Danilovic/SRB, Kayla Day/USA, Clara Tauson/DEN (all 3rd Rd.)
LAST LUCKY LOSER STANDING: Elina Avanesyan/RUS (4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Leolia Jeanjean/FRA, Emma Navarro/USA & Diane Parry/FRA (all 2nd Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS (QF), Elina Svitolina/UKR (QF); Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP (4r)
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Oceane Dodin, Caroline Garcia, Leolia Jeanjean & Diane Parry (all 2nd Rd.)
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITY: Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA (first BRA slam QF since '68) and Karolina Muchova/CZE (first slam final)
IT "One-Name Teen": Mirra Andreeva/RUS
COMEBACK PLAYER: Elina Svitolina, UKR
CRASH & BURN: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (0-2 since winning '21 title; 24 con. slam WD streak ends)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (2nd Rd.: down 5-2 3rd vs. Samsonova; #333 second-lowest ranked RG 4r; 4th Rd.: down set and 3-1, w/ 7 BP for 4-1 vs. Mertens)
DOUBLES STAR: Miyu Kato/JPN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (WC doubles; first Black woman to win WC slam title) and Hsieh Su-wei/TPE
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (won only women's night session match)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER (1st PER slam jr. final) & Alisa Oktiabreva/RUS (qualifier to SF in slam jr. debut)
Légion de Lenglen: UKR/RUS-BLR controversies
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: 20th Anniv. of Justine Henin's first RG title in 2003
