RG.13- The Day Before the Day

The final is SET ??

???? @iga_swiatek ?? @karomuchova7 ????

Saturday at #RolandGarros! pic.twitter.com/sVMCgWHZq2

— wta (@WTA) June 8, 2023

=DAY 13 NOTES= ...on a day filled up with some great (umm, or not) men's semifinals, there were still other things going on at Roland Garros.

Blasting into the big one ??@leylahfernandez and @TaylorTownsend dominate Gauff/Pegula 6-0, 6-4 to secure their place in the Women's Doubles Final. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/2SusOK5BpP

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023

In women's doubles, #10-seeded Leylah Fernandez & Taylor Townsend defeated #2-seeds Coco Gauff/Jessie Pegula 6-0/6-4, once more turning back Gauff/Pegula in their attempt to win their first clay title together. The Bannerette pair have been RU at RG (2022) and Madrid/Rome (both 2023).

Townsend reached the U.S. Open WD final last year with Caty McNally, while this will be Fernandez's first WD slam final appearance (she's 0-2 in tour-level finals). Not sure anyone would have thought it'd be the case at the time, but now *both* of the recent U.S. Open singles finalists hailing from Canada (Fernandez '21, Andreescu '19) have seen their *second* slam final come as part of a doubles duo (Andreescu reached the MX final this week).

In the final, Fernandez/Townsend will face Hsieh Su-wei & Wang Xinyu (def. #6 Melichar-Martinez/Perez), as Hsieh's return from an 18-month absence from the tour reaches its high point (so far). Hsieh is a four-time slam champ (including RG '14), while this is Wang's first major final.

...after setting up a match-up in the wheelchair singles final yesterday, Diede de Groot and Yui Kamiji did the same in doubles today.

Top seeded Kamiji & Kgothatso Montjane and unseeded de Groot & Maria Florencia Moreno (def. #2 Tanaka/Zhu in a 10-6 MTB) won their SF matches on Friday. De Groot has won the last five RG doubles titles alongside Aniek Van Koot (injured).

...in the juniors, #3 seed Alina Korneeva will get the chance to become the first girl to win consecutive slam crowns since 2013 (Belinda Bencic, RG/WI). She defeated fellow Hordette Alisa Oktiabreva, who'd reached the semis from qualifying in her slam debut, today. Korneeva also reached the girls' doubles final along with Sara Saito.

Storming into her second consecutive Grand Slam final in style!

15-year-old Alina Korneeva makes it 2 finals in 2 Major appearances as she strolls past 14-year-old compatriot Alisa Oktiabreva, who had a stunning run from qualifying, with a 6-1, 6-1 score.

[??: Loïc Wacziak/FFT] pic.twitter.com/Evo8YzKYRQ

— WTARussians (@WTArussians) June 9, 2023

Korneeva will face #6 seed Lucciana Perez Alarcon, who defeated Russian Anastasiia Gureva to become the first Peruvian to reach a junior slam singles final.

???? History ????

Lucciana Perez Alarcon becomes the first Peruvian player to reach a Grand Slam girls’ singles final defeating Anastasiia Gureva 7-6(2), 7-5.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/TDM200ubkk

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023

The GD finalists set to face the top-seeded Korneeva/Saito are #6 Tyra Caterina Grant & Clervie Ngounoue (both from the U.S.). Washington D.C. native Ngounoue won the '22 AO girls' doubles with Diana Shnaider. Saito was RU (w/ Hayu Kinoshita) in this year's AO GD.

...speaking of Shnaider, she's followed up her RG MD appearance by reaching the WTA 125 doubles final in La Bisbal d'Empordà (ESP) with Caroline Dolehide. If the duo win, it'd be Shnaider's biggest career WD title.

The singles semifinalists: #1-seeded Rebeka Masarova, #3 Panna Udvardy, #7 Arantxa Rus and Maria Carle.

In the other 125 in Makarska (CRO), the final four are #2 Jasmine Paolini, #3 Mayar Sherif, #5 Diane Parry and qualifier Rebeka Sramkova.





*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Iga Swiatek/POL vs. Karolina Muchova/CZE

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
(PR) Hsieh S-w./Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN) vs. #10 Fernandez/Townsend (CAN/USA)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
Kato/Puetz (JPN/GER) def. (Alt.) Andreescu/Venus (CAN/NZL) 4-6/6-4 [10-6]

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) vs. de Groot/Moreno (NED/ARG)

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
#6 Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER vs. #3 Alina Korneeva/RUS

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Korneeva/Saito (RUS/JPN) vs. #6 Grant/Ngounoue (USA/USA)

...AWWL... ON DAY 13:

Love this ! ???? https://t.co/JzCBP9J3kB

— Alizé Lim (@AlizeLim) June 9, 2023

Also, from yesterday...

Miyu Kato's winner speech (2/2) pic.twitter.com/oi08eCOUra

— Rio ?? | Abolish clay court tournaments ?? (@impetigorx) June 8, 2023

...EXACTLY ... ON DAY 13:

Djokovic’s technique allows him to go full throttle for hours and hours without getting physically wrecked. Alcaraz, like Nadal, is just not as technically and mechanically efficient as Novak. And really, nobody is.

— The Big Three (@Big3Tennis) June 9, 2023

One doesn't have to agree with or even particularly "like" an athlete personally, but it's dishonest to not recognize the things that set that athlete apart, especially if they've been so clear for so long.


...CORRECT ANSWER... ON DAY 13:

The best answer Novak Djokovic has given in a press conference ever. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/gYdrjtwRgV

— ????? ??? (@divirj04) June 9, 2023

...NUMBERS GUY NUMBERS... ON DAY 13:

Djokovic has won 20 out of his last 21 Major Semifinals. That's mind-bending greatness.

— Gill Gross ?? (@Gill_Gross) June 9, 2023

Grand Slam finals, Men's Singles

Djokovic, 34
Federer, 31
Nadal, 30

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 9, 2023

Novak Djokovic played 70 Grand Slam tournaments.

And reached 34 finals.

Another level.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 9, 2023

Most match wins vs top 10 players:

1) Djokovic 244 ??
2) Federer 224
3) Nadal 186
4) Lendl 164
5) Connors 147
6) Laver 146
7) McEnroe 128
8) Sampras 124
9) Becker 121
10) Borg 117 pic.twitter.com/Hi9bIg7gNT

— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) June 9, 2023

l didn't get the result I want today but it was amazing game by @karolinamuchova ‚congratulations for win today and best wishes for the finals.
It was a wonderful two weeks spent in Paris! I look forward to improving and coming back stronger next year! See you soon ??

— Sabalenka Aryna (@SabalenkaA) June 9, 2023

.@CaroWozniacki & @Clijsterskim teaming up for doubles in the Roland Garros Legends competition. pic.twitter.com/XDY2EEdIzh

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 9, 2023

A Canadian sports legend at only 22 ??

With the US Open title in 2019 and the Mixed Doubles runner-up result at Roland-Garros, @Bandreescu_ is breaking new records! ??@Rogers pic.twitter.com/B1QDzofJ8e

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) June 8, 2023

*CONSECUTIVE JUNIOR SLAM TITLES, since 1990*
1990 AO/RG - Magdalena Maleeva, BUL
1994 RG/WI - Martina Hingis, SUI
1996 US/1997 AO - Mirjana Lucic, CRO
1996 RG/WI - Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
1997 WI/US - Cara Black, ZIM
2000 WI/US - Maria Emilia Salerni, ARG
2006 US/2007 AO - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2013 RG/WI - Belinda Bencic, SUI

*SOUTH AMERICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONS*
1977 US - Claudia Casabianca, ARG
1984 RG - Gabriela Sabatini, ARG
1986 RG - Patricia Tarabini, ARG
2000 WI - Maria Emilia Salerni, ARG
2000 US - Maria Emilia Salerni, ARG
2019 US - Maria (Camila Osorio) Serrano, COL

*SOVIET/RUSSIAN JUNIOR RG WINNERS*
[USSR]
1971 Elena Granatourova
1987 Natalia Zvereva
[Russia]
1998 Nadia Petrova
2014 Dasha Kasatkina

*RECENT RG "DOUBLES STAR" WINNERS*
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
2016 Caroline Garcia & Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2017 Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2020 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2021 Desirae Krawczyk, USA
2022 Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED (WC)
2023 Miyu Kato, JPN

*RECENT RG "JUNIOR BREAKOUT" WINNERS*
2014 Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (W)
2015 Paula Badosa, ESP (W)
2016 Rebeka Masarova, SUI (W)
2017 Whitney Osuigwe, USA (W) and Claire Liu, USA (RU)
2018 Caty McNally, USA (RU) and Leylah Fernandez, CAN (SF)
2019 Diane Parry, FRA (WS MD win) and Emma Navarro, USA (RU)
2020 Elsa Jacquemot, FRA (W) and Anna Charaeva, RUS (RU)
2021 Linda Noskova, CZE (W)
2022 A Crush of Czechs - Bartunkova, Bejlek & Havlickova
2023 Lucciana Perez Alarcon, PER and Alisa Oktiabreva, RUS (SF)

*2023 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
4 (2-1) = TAYLOR TOWNSEND, USA*
4 (2-2) = Coco Gauff, USA
4 (2-2) = Jessie Pegula, USA
3 (2-1) = Desirae Krawczyk, USA
3 (2-1) = Katerina Siniakova, CZE
3 (1-2) = Chan Hao-ching, TPE
3 (0-2) = LEYLAH FERNANDEZ, CAN*
3 (0-2) = WANG XINYU, CHN
3 (0-3) = Giuliana Olmos, MEX
[2023 finals - duos]
4...Gauff/Pegula, USA/USA (2-2)
2...Krejickova/Siniakova, CZE/CZE (2-0)
2...FERNANDEZ/TOWNSEND, CAN/USA (0-1)*

*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
25 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (8-16)*
21 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (17-3)*
14 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-11)
6 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-2)
1 - KG Montjane, RSA (0-1)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)

Remember that this indictment is based on what HIS aides, HIS staffers, & HIS lawyers said. This indictment is based on what HIS PEOPLE testified to under oath.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) June 9, 2023

I repeat:

He’s screwed screwed. pic.twitter.com/pEIR1uhY93

— Angry Staffer ?? (@Angry_Staffer) June 9, 2023

Chris Evert and Yannick Noah to present the trophies to the winners of the women’s and men’s singles tournaments! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/mJK1MCkeBZ

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023

TOP QUALIFIER: Mirra Andreeva/RUS (16; youngest in MD)
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): xx
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): xx
=============================
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): Nominees: Hsieh, Kamiji (wc), Tsurenko (34; oldest in 4r)
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

All for Day 13. More tomorrow.