Saturday, June 07, 2025

Coco Couture

Coco Gauff is the new champion of Roland Garros. And she wears it well.




Long before she physically graced the biggest stages of tennis, Gauff was seen as "the one to watch." Not long after she finally made her much-anticipated slam debut at age 15 (she defeated no less than Venus Williams, at Wimbledon), she was being predicted to fill multiple trophy cases with major silverware before she'd yet collected her first in any potential set.

As the years have progressed, so has Gauff, keeping her head amid the pressure and proving that tennis phenoms need not always "go off the rails" or pass through problematic "coming-of-age" periods filled with rebellion and stress before finally seeing the light and developing a "level-headed" personality, finally psychologically ready to traverse the twisty landscape of the tennis tour. No one has ever really had reason to question whether Coco was "all right."

Though she's seemingly been around "forever," Gauff is still just 21 years of age, with the potential for an epic career ahead of her even as what would qualify -- for a "normal" talent -- as an exceptional one already visibile, and disappearing fast, in her rearview mirror.

It could be that we're about to see Gauff hit what might be considered to be the prime of her career, and her appearance today in her third major singles final and second at Roland Garros (three years after she now admits that she wasn't fully prepared for what awaited her in her first final in Paris) could one day to viewed as the first true step toward what comes next.

Two years ago, Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final to claim her first slam crown, and today the two faced off with a maiden RG title awaiting whomever emerged as the victor. World #1 Sabalenka was playing in her third straight major final, having risen well above the rest of women's tennis in the rankings and two days ago ending the three-year reign (and 26-match winning streak) at RG of Iga Swiatek; while #2 Gauff was competing in her third of the three huge clay court finals this spring, having reached the title matches in Madrid and Rome (but losing both times).

It was the first #1 vs. #2 match-up in a major final since 2018 (AO: Wozniacki/Halep) and the first to occur in Paris since 2013 (S.Williams/Sharapova). Sabalenka and Gauff were tied up a 5-5 in their career head-to-head, 1-1 in majors, and 1-1 on clay (including Sabalenka's win in the Madrid final last month).

The last four years in Paris, Gauff lost to the eventual women's champion, three times vs. Swiatek (once in the final) and once to Barbora Krejcikova. A loss to Sabalenka on Saturday would extend the streak to five. But that didn't happen. Not again.

Still, it was Sabalenka who burst into the match in full flight, acing to open game 2 and completing a love hold. A volley then broke Gauff at love for a 2-1 lead. Gauff got to 30/30 in game 4, but Sabalenka took the lead with an ace and completed the hold of serve.

But it wasn't just Sabalenka's power game that was on point. She had variety, as well. A drop shot and pass combination opened game 5 as the #1 seed took a love/40 lead. Gauff reached and held four GP, the last of which saw Sabalenka successfully direct back a big, hard-to-handle serve to deny the hold, then fired a second serve return winner to go up a double-break at 4-1.

Sabalenka had lost a double-break edge in a set vs. Swiatek in the SF, and Gauff found her way back in, too.

Up 4-1, 40/love, Sabalenka DF'd in the wind on GP (she'd had a potential ace on GP for 5-1 vs. Iga be called a let, and went on to drop serve), what would be a bad omen for the rest of the match, and ultimately saw Gauff cut the double-break lead in half at 4-2.

With her defensive skills sparkling, Gauff would run her winning streak to twelve points. Up love/40 in game 8, Gauff saw Sabalenka blast multiple forehands to reach GP, but then misjudged a high volley and let it pass by, only to see Gauff's shot land inside the baseline to give her her fifth BP of the game. A long Sabalenka error knotted the score at 4-4.

But Gauff allowed some errors to creep back into her game, losing serve and giving Sabalenka the chance to serve out the set. But after what had been a "cruising" set for the Belarusian that had suddenly turned jagged, the tenth game would epitomize the troubles that would hound Sabalenka all day.



It would turn out to be a 13-minute game, with Sabalenka fighting the wind, Gauff's rally-extending defense and her own error-prone self in the face of it all. Sabalenka held two GP (DF'ing on the first, then with a backhand error on the second), and missed on both a drop shot and put-away volley. On Gauff's fifth BP, a forehand error cost Sabalenka the lead.

Gauff DF'd twice in the next game, and saw Sabalenka get to a short ball and finish off a put-away volley to get the chance to serve out the set again at 6-5. Again, though, she couldn't. Gauff forced a tie-break by finding the court with a backhand reply to a Sabalenka overhead.



Gauff jumped out to the lead in the breaker, going up 3-0, then 4-1 and 5-3.



But Sabalenka pulled herself back into contention, and a big return got the TB back on serve. Taking a ball out of the air and producing a forehand winner gave her a third SP, then a big second serve return, followed by a forehand/volley combination, claimed the breaker out from under what had been a streaking Gauff despite Sabalenka having committed 32 UE in the set (more than she had in any of her previous *six* matches over the course of the tournament).



But while Sabalenka got away with such numbers in the opening stanza, the same wouldn't hold true the rest of the day as the more consistent Gauff never again allowed herself to fall into the sort of quick hole that she had in the 1st.

After the opening set, as Gauff's splendid defensive abilities remained while she began to add in more offense, Sabalenka became more and more frustrated. In that way, it played out in similar fashion to the U.S. Open final they contested two years ago, as Gauff overturned Sabalenka's lead and gradually gained control. Gauff's calm triggered Sabalenka's emotional side, and to her great detriment she could never quite get it under control.

With the air out of Sabalenka's balloon, Gauff jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd. She broke serve to go up 4-1. Sabalenka got one break back, but promptly lost her own serve again a game later. Gauff's love hold took the set 6-2, while Sabalenka was left to flail a bit in her own emotions, and occasionally berate the members of her player's box.



Trying to spur herself on, Sabalenka fired a big serve to hold in the opening game of the 3rd, and then yelled, "Come on!" But two games later, when facing a BP, the world #1 DF'd to fall behind 2-1 and then directed her ire at her camp in the stands. In game 4, after missing on a shot at the net, Sabalenka frustratingly picked up the ball and swatted it back over the net, just missing a crossing ball kid.

Maybe Sabalenka recognized in the moment that she needed to get control of her emotions, as immediately afterward she seemed to find a bit of calm, holding for 3-2. But it wouldn't last long, and then the already windy conditions were accompanied by some mist and rain down the stretch, further slowing the bouncing balls and tying Sabalenka up in knots.

Sabalenka got the set back on serve at 3-3, breaking when her slice return skipped off the net and caused Gauff to push her own shot outside the line. But in the next game, the Belarusian fell behind love/30 with another of her many unforced errors on the day. She then DF'd to offer Gauff another break chance, which she converted with a backhand winner off a Sabalenka drop shot to win the game at love and retake the lead.

Serving down 5-3, Sabalenka saw a 40/15 lead slip to deuce. She managed to hold to stay alive, with one more chance to survive as Gauff served for the title. Gauff fell behind 15/30, but climbed back into the game and with a short ball put-away reached MP. Sabalenka's return caught the baseline and the game went on, even seeing Gauff have to successfully stave off a BP with a long return shot from the Belarusian.

But another return error gave Gauff a second MP, and a wide backhand ended the 6-7(5)/6-2/6-4 match.



Afterward, in the wake of her second crushing slam final loss of the season, Sabalenka gave credit to Gauff for handling the conditions far better than she had, calling her own performance her "worst ever" in a final. Her 70 UE total made the assessment difficult to counter, though part of the problem had been Gauff's ability to chase down shots causing Sabalenka to have to hit more groundstrokes while the pressure continued to build, and her emotional state to skate near to and sometimes over the edge.



It was Justine Henin who handed out the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen (hmm, one can't help but wonder if she'd been the pre-planned presenter with the tournament thinking before the start of play that Iga Swiatek might have been trying to best the Belgian's own three straight and four titles in five years run from 2003-07... a run that Henin waited three years to pick back up after having announced her first retirement in 2008).

With a lift of the trophy, Gauff officially took her place as the seventh player in the Open era to win both the girls' and women's singles titles in Paris in their career.



Gauff's win now sets up an intriguing final six months to the WTA season, and maybe a legitimate battle for "Player of the Year" between Coco and Sabalenka. Sabalenka is the solid #1 in the rankings, 3400 points ahead of Gauff, while Gauff is now a secure #2 (1600 up over the field). Sabalenka leads most season categories, but Gauff has a major title while the world #1 (as of now) does not.

Gauff has yet to reach a Wimbledon QF, while two-time Wimbledon semifinalist Sabalenka hasn't played in two of the last three SW19 events. Meanwhle, together they've won the last two U.S. Open titles.

Surely, this story will be continued into the summer, and probably throughout the fall, as well.






=DAY 14 NOTES=
...while Diede has been away (or still working her way back), Yui Kamiji has played. And won.

While there is an intense urge to place an unofficial asterisk next to Yui Kamiji's slam title runs this year at the Australian Open and today at Roland Garros, after a 2 & 2 win over Aniek Van Koot in the final (the same score by which she defeated Van Koot in the AO final), injuries and surgeries *are* a part of sport. Plus, Kamiji did defeat (an admittedly playing-through-pain) de Groot twice late last year before the then-#1's season-ending hip surgery following the Paralympics.



The win is Kamiji's 10th career slam singles crown, her fifth RG win in Paris (where she also swept the s/d Paralympic Golds last summer) and her 32nd overall major title. Van Koot had been trying to join de Groot as the only women to claim all eight slam s/d titles in a career.

Wimbledon has never been Kamiji's best event, having reached the final just once (2022) in eight tries, but should she again be able to take advantage of a less-than-100% de Groot, an SW19 singles title run would add *her* name to the list next to the Dutch woman for having won all eight major titles *and* join her in completing a "Carer Super Slam," i.e. winning the singles and doubles at every major, the year-end championships and Paralympics.

...Lilli Tagger, protege of Francesca Schiavone, became the first Austrian girl to win a slam singles title with the 6-2/6-0 win in the junior final over #8 Hannah Klugman.



Tagger's coach, Schiavone, won the RG women's title in 2010, and then returned to the final a year later.

The junior doubles final saw Germans Eva Bennemann & Sonja Zhenikova defeated the #3-seeded Kovackova sisters (Alena & Jana), 4-6/6-4 (10-8). They're the first all-GER RG winners since Laurence Courtois/Nancy Feber in 1993 (their second straight RG title), and the first at any junior major since the same duo won the '93 Wimbledon.



...in 125 clay court action, Sara Bejlek and Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva will face off in the Markarska final, having prevailed in a pair of SF in which Serbia's Lola Radivojevic, at 20, was the oldest competitor. Andorran VJK, 19, defeated Radivojevic, while 19-year old Czech Bejlek knocked off recent Rabat champion Maya Joint, also 19.

On the dirt in Bari, Anca Todoni (Anca!) will next meet Anna Bondar with the title on the line.

Meanwhile, on the grass in Birmingham, Czech Linda Fruhvirtova advanced to the final, while Rebeka Masarova and Greet Minnen will finish their SF on Sunday.

...on the ITF circuit, NCAA champ Dasha Vidmanova plays for a title in Sumter, South Carolina vs. Cadence Brace on Sunday, while the Jorge sisters -- Francisca and Matilde -- will meet in *singles* for the title in a $50K event in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal. Winners of two 125 and 21 ITF doubles crowns (1 and 5, respectively, in '25), they've never before played against another in a singles final.





*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#2 Coco Gauff/USA def. #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR 6-7(5)/6-2/6-4

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
Danilina/Krunic (KAZ/SRB) vs. #2 Errani/Paolini (ITA/ITA)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
#3 Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA) def. #4 Townsend/King (USA/USA) 6-4/6-2

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED 6-2/6-2

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) def. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN) 4-6/7-5 [10-7]

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
Lilli Tagger/AUT def. #8 Hannah Klugman/GBR 6-2/6-0

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
Bennemann/Zhenikova (GER/GER) def. #3 Kovackova/Kovackova (CZE/CZE) 4-6/6-4 (10-7)

=WHEELCHAIR GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Vitoria Miranda/BRA def. Sabina Czauz/USA 6-3/6-2

=WHEELCHAIR GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
Gryp/Miranda (BEL/BRA) def. Czauz/Gjerseth (USA/SWE) 6-3/6-2







...FORESHADOWING IDENTIFIED IN 3, 2, 1... ON DAY 14:




...LOVE SLOANE STEPHENS, but... ON DAY 14:


Unless *everyone* else has been saying it incorrectly for years (and still are, which isn't a complete *impossibility*, I guess), someone needs to tell her that Sabalenka's name is "Aryna" and not "Iryna." I mean, it's right there in the first letter. They probably announced her name before all five times Stephens and Sabalenka have played, a series which Sabalenka leads 5-0.

Hmm, maybe *that* explains it.

Also, another TNT note... we get it, Gauff is the first U.S. women's winner in Paris in ten years. Really... who cares about that? There really is no more global sport than women's tennis. Just celebrate Gauff winning. Isn't that enough? We were told afterward that "much had been made" about the last U.S. champion being in 2015... but, really, had it? When Swiatek was winning four in five years, was the main topic of discussion, "but she's not American, so...?"

Of course, it just provided another opportunity to bring you-know-who into it (yet again)...



At least that one is straightforward. This one took some real crocheting of stats to work Serena in there. I mean, do social media managers get extra money if they can work Williams' name into as many posts as possible?



Now, if a U.S. *man* were to win RG, dragging out all the "first to win since..." numbers would be fine and go-... haha, yeah, like *that* is gonna happen anytime soon. The next U.S. man to win in Paris probably hasn't even picked up a racket yet... I mean, like *ever in his life* (if he's even been born).


...ALSO... ON DAY 14:


To the TNT crew... Chrissie, Sabalenka isn't "Russian." And Gauff just had one of the biggest moments of her career, does she really need everyone talking about her completing a Career Slam (she has *two*) and winning 12 or 14 majors again (she has *two*), like people did said when she was 15 or 16? Can't she just have *this* moment?

She and her family get a lot of credit for her not being overwhelmed by such stuff in the past, and I suspect that will continue to be the case. Good thing.


...STILL ONE OF A KIND... ON DAY 14:




...OMAR'S COMING!... ON DAY 14:



Yeah, I don't know or care who that guy is... I just wanted to say, "Omar's coming!" [RIP Michael K. Willams]




...HOW IT STARTED... ON DAY 14:




...HOW IT ENDED... ON DAY 14:




...FINAL "PROP PICKS UPDATE... ON DAY 14:


=SLAM "PROP PICK" PREDICTIONS=

TRT TOURNAMENT WINNER... YES or NO?
RG Winner will be a first-time RG champion, age 23 and under (no Swiatek four-peat; out pre-QF) YES (first for Gauff); YES (Coco, 21); YES/NO (no four-peat, but out in the SF... but, grrr, Rybakina had BPs for a 4-2 lead in the 3rd in the 4th Rd.)








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*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
2023 AO: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR*
2023 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 WI: Marketa Vondrousova, CZE*
2023 US: Coco Gauff, USA*
2024 AO: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2024 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL
2024 WI: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2024 US: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2025 AO: Madison Keys, USA*
2025 RG: Coco Gauff, USA
--
* - first-time slam champ

*AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS*
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
19 = Coco Gauff, USA (2023 US)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
21 = Coco Gauff, USA (2025 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
22 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2023 RG)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2024 RG)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
24 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2023 AO)
24 = Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (2023 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)
25 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 AO)
26 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 US)
28 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2024 WI)
29 = Madison Keys, USA (2025 AO)

*RG GIRLS/WOMEN'S SLAM CHAMPS - OPEN ERA*
Sue Barker (1974 Jr. Champion; 1976 Women's Champion)
Jennifer Capriati (1989 Jr. Champion; 2001 Women's Champion)
Mima Jausovec (1973 Jr. Champion; 1977 Women's Champion)
Hana Mandlikova (1978 Jr. Champion; 1981 Women's Champion)
Justine Henin (1997 Jr. Champion; 2003, 2005-07 Women's Champion)
Simona Halep (2008 Jr. Champion; 2018 Women's Champion)
Coco Gauff (2018 Jr. Champion; 2025 Women's Champion)

*ROLAND GARROS #1 SEEDS*
2010 Serena Williams (QF)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki (3rd Rd.)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (4th Rd.)
2013 Serena Williams (W)
2014 Serena Williams (2nd Rd.)
2015 Serena Williams (W)
2016 Serena Williams (RU)
2017 Angelique Kerber (1st Rd.)
2018 Simona Halep (W)
2019 Naomi Osaka (3rd Rd.)
2020 Simona Halep (4th Rd.)
2021 Ash Barty (2nd Rd.)
2022 Iga Swiatek (W)
2023 Iga Swiatek (W)
2024 Iga Swiatek (W)
2025 Aryna Sabalenka (RU)

*2020-25 WTA SINGLES TITLES*
22 - 1/2/8/6/5/0 = Iga Swiatek
15 - 3/2/0/3/4/3 = Aryna Sabalenka
9 - 0/1/0/4/3/1 = COCO GAUFF
8 - 1/5/2 = Ash Barty (ret.)
8 - 0/3/2/2/1/0 = Barbora Krejcikova
8 - 1/0/1/2/3/1 = Elena Rybakina
7 - 0/0/1/2/2/2 = Jessie Pegula

*2025 MULT.DIFFERENT WTA CHAMPIONS BY COUNTRY*
6 - USA: Anisimova,Gauff,Kessler,Keys,Navarro,Pegula
3 - RUS: Alexandrova,M.Andreeva,Potapova
--
[most diffrent from nation; since 2010]
9 - RUS (2010)
8 - USA (2024)
7 - USA (2016)
6 - USA (2019)
6 - USA (2023)
6 - USA (2025)*

*MADRID/ROME/RG FINALS IN A SINGLE SEASON (since Madrid '09)*
2009 Dinara Safina (W-W-L)
2013 Serena Williams (W-W-W)
2017 Simona Halep (W-L-L)
2024 Iga Swiatek (W-W-W)
2025 COCO GAUFF (L-L-W)

*RECENT WTA #1 vs. #2 MATCH-UPS*
2015 Australian Open Final - #1 S.Williams d. #2 Sharapova
2018 Australian Open Final - #2 Wozniacki d. #1 Halep
2019 WTA Finals SF - #1 Barty d. #2 Ka.Pliskova
2023 Stuttgart Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
2023 Madrid Final - #2 Sabalenka d. #1 Swiatek
2023 WTA Finals SF - #2 Swiatek d. #1 Sabalenka
2024 Madrid Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
2024 Rome Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
2025 Roland Garros Final - #2 Gauff def. #1 Sabalenka

*SABALENKA vs. GAUFF*
2020 Lexington 2r (hc) - Gauff 7-6(4)/4-6/6-4
2020 Ostrava!!! 2r (hi) - Sabalenka 1-6/7-5/7-6(2)
2021 Rome 3r (rc) - Gauff 7-5/6-3
2022 Toronto 3r (hc) - Gauff 7-5/4-6/7-6(4)
2023 Indian Wells QF (hc) - Sabalenka 6-4/6-0
2023 US Open Final (hc) - Gauff 2-6/6-3/6-2
2024 Australian Open SF (hc) - Sabalenka 7-6(2)/6-4
2024 Wuhan SF (hc) - Sabalenka 1-6/6-4/6-4
2024 WTA Finals SF (hci) - Gauff 7-6(4)/6-3
2025 Madrid Final (rc) - Sabalenka 6-3/7-6(3)
2025 Roland Garros Final (rc) - Gauff 6-7(5)/6-2/6-4

*MOST CAREER SLAM FINALS - active*
6 - ARYNA SABALENKA (3-3)
5 - Iga Swiatek (5-0)
5 - Victoria Azarenka (2-3)
4 - Naomi Osaka (4-0)
3 - COCO GAUFF (2-1)
3 - Petra Kvitova (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur (0-3)
--
ALSO: 16-V.Williams (7-9), 3-Wozniacki (1-2)

*WTA #1 WINS - 2020-25*
6 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ
4 - COCO GAUFF, USA
4 - Jessie Pegula, USA
4 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2 - Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
2 - Madison Keys, USA
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN

*2025 TOP 10 WINS; (#)-over #1*
8 - Sabalenka
7 - GAUFF(1)
5 - Alexandrova(1), M.Andreeva(1), Keys(1), Swiatek
4 - Ostapenko
3 - Samsonova, Svitolina

*RG WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Esther Vergeer, NED
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Esther Vergeer, NED
2013 Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Marjolein Buis, NED
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Diede de Groot, NED
2025 Yui Kamiji, JPN

*RECENT RG "MADEMOISELLE/MADAM OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2017 Simona Halep, ROU & Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2018 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Ash Barty, AUS & Diede de Groot, NED (WC)
2020 Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Krejcikova/CZE, Pavlyuchenkova/RUS, Sakkari/GRE & Zidansek/SLO
2022 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS and Martina Trevisan/ITA
2023 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA and Karolina Muchova/CZE
2024 Jasmine Paolini, ITA
2025 Yui Kamiji, JPN (WC)

*RECENT WC SINGLES SLAM FINALS*
[2023]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Jiske Griffioen/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2024]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek van Koot/NED
[2025]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
42 - Diede de Groot, NED (23/19)*
32 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (10/22)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
20 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/16)*
13 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/12)

*ALL-TIME WC SLAM TITLES (M+W)*
50 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN (28/22)
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
42 - Diede de Groot, NED (23/19)*
33 - Alfie Hewett, GBR (10/23)*
32 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (10/22)*
29 - Gordon Reid, GBR (2/27)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
24 - Stephane Houdet, FRA (4/20)*

*RECENT ROLAND GARROS GIRLS' FINALS*
2010 Elina Svitolina/UKR def. Ons Jabeur/TUN
2011 Ons Jabeur/TUN def. Monica Puig/PUR
2012 Annika Beck/GER def. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova/SVK
2013 Belinda Bencic/SUI def. Antonia Lottner/GER
2014 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS def. Ivana Jorovic/SRB
2015 Paula Badosa/ESP def. Anna Kalinskaya/RUS
2016 Rebeka Masarova/SUI def. Amanda Anisimova/USA
2017 Whitney Osuigwe/USA def. Claire Liu/USA
2018 Coco Gauff/USA def. Caty McNally/USA
2019 Leylah Fernandez/CAN def. Emma Navarro/USA
2020 Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. Alina Charaeva/RUS
2021 Linda Noskova/CZE def. Erika Andreeva/RUS
2022 Lucie Havlickova/CZE def. Solana Sierra/ARG
2023 Alina Korneeva/RUS def. Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER
2024 Tereza Valentova/CZE def. Laura Samson/CZE
2025 Lilli Tagger/AUT def. Hannah Klugman/GBR

*RECENT RG GIRLS' DOUBLES CHAMPIONS*
2015 Miriam Kolodziejova & Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE/CZE
2016 Paula Arias Manjon & Olga Danilovic, ESP/SRB
2017 Bianca Andreescu & Carson Branstine, CAN/CAN
2018 Caty McNally & Iga Swiatek, USA/POL
2019 Chloe Beck & Emma Navarro, USA/USA
2020 Eleonora Alvisi & Lisa Pigoti, ITA/ITA
2021 Alex Eala & Oksana Selekhmeteva, PHI/RUS
2022 Sara Bejlek & Lucie Havlickova, CZE/CZE
2023 Tyra Caterina Grant & Clervie Ngounoue, USA/USA
2024 Renata Jamrichova & Tereza Valentova, SVK/CZE
2025 Eva Bennemann & Sonja Zhenikova, GER/GER




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TOP QUALIFIER: Nao Hibino/JPN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (5 games lost 1r/2r)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (only player in SF w/o losing a set)
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #2 Coco Gauff/USA (second major title)
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Nao Nibino/JPN def. #17 Bianca Andreescu/CAN 2-6/7-6(5)/6-4 - Andreescu led 6-2/5-3, holding a MP in game #8 of the 2nd and then serving for the win a game later, and led 5-2 in the 2nd set TB; Hibino also saved 2 MP vs. Ella Seidel/GER in Q3
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #10 Paula Badosa/ESP def. Naomi Osaka/JPN 6-7(1)/6-1/6-4 - Badosa SP in 1st, up break at 4-3 3rd and saved BP; Osaka out 1r year after had MP vs. Swiatek 2r and won first pro title on clay in '25)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #5 Iga Swiatek/POL def. #12 Elena Rybakina/KAZ 1-6/6-3/7-5 - trailed 6-1/2-0 in dominant fashion; Rybakina had 3 BP for 4-2 lead in 3rd)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): SF - #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. #5 Iga Swiatek/POL 7-6(1)/4-6/6-0 - ends three-year title reign and 26-match RG streak; Iga first love RG set since 2019; 1000 days since last slam meetings)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #13 Elina Svitolina/UKR (def. Sonmez/TUR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #28 Peyton Stearns/USA (1r: Lys/GER)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Emiliana Arango/COL, Sara Bejlek/CZE, Lois Boisson/FRA, Joanna Garland/TPE, Victoria Mboko/CAN, Leyre Romero Gormaz/ESP, Tereza Valentova/CZE
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: United States
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Australia (2-5 1st Rd.; only wins AUS/AUS 1r and new-AUS Kasatkina)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Victoria Mboko/CAN (3rd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER WINS: Yuliia Starodubtseva/UKR (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Lois Boisson/FRA (SF)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: none
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Lois Boisson/FRA (SF)
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITY: Yui Kamiji/JPN (sweeps AO/RG after de Groot surgery & comeback)
IT "Française Forehand": Lois Boisson/FRA
COMEBACK: Coco Gauff's missing rackets (1r, Day 3 - arrives on court w/ bag without any rackets; eventually reaches second RG final)
CRASH & BURN: #9 Emma Navarro/USA (1r- wins 1 game vs. Bouzas Maneiro)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: #7 Madison Keys/USA (saved MP in second straight major: AO SF vs. Swiatek, RG 3r down 3-0 in 3rd vs. Kenin, saved 3 MP at 5-4)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Errani, "The Bracelet"
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Elina Svitolina/UKR
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: -
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Lilli Tagger/AUT
Légion de Lenglen: 100th anniversary of Suzanne Lenglen's first grand slam French Championship titles (WS/WD/MX sweep) in 1925 (first time event open to non-FRA competitors)
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: On Henin's birthday (June 1), Iga Swiatek passes Henin on all-time RG win streak list w/ #25, def. Rybakina from 6-1 and early 2nd set break, and Rybakina had 3 BP for 4-2 lead in 3rd







All for Day 14. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 8:48 PM 

6 Comments:

Blogger Diane said...

I caught the "Iryna" flub, too. Even worse--someone at the TNT desk made a reference to "Wimbleton." Tennis Channel desk, it wasn't.

Aryna's press conference appears to have upset some people, and their reaction has upset some *other* people. Talking will never be Sabalenka's strong suit, but she has other charming qualities.

Thank you for showcasing my daylily. :)

Sat Jun 07, 09:26:00 PM EDT  
Blogger khan35 said...

Gauff will never complete the career slam, because, she will never win Wimbledon. I would say, overall, she will win 4/5 majors.

Sat Jun 07, 10:28:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-
Yeah, I saw that about Sabalenka, but I didn't really think it was worth the time it would take to talk about it. Frustation is real.

Apparently, some (former, now) players can traditionally always talk about how badly *they* played when they lose and it's okay, but others cannot.

Oh, well. Not a surprise. ;)


K-
It's funny, in a way it feels like Gauff will be similar to Sharapova in a way. Both made their first big mark at Wimbledon, and many associate them with it for that reason. But, for different reasons (as per Sharapova's shoulder injury), that ended up becoming their worst major, and RG (likely) both their best.

Sun Jun 08, 07:48:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D- * -oh, and of course. :)

Sun Jun 08, 07:48:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

Yes, some *could* say whatever they wanted about their sub-par performances. However, in this case, what seemed to have upset people the most is the Iga remark, which--while it has merit--really should have stayed inside Aryna's head until she could let it out at the team dinner. (Coco handled it beautifully.)

Mon Jun 09, 10:54:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Yeah, she probably should have kept that one for behind closed doors. She might have wanted to focus more on the decision to play with the roof open after playing with it closed in the other late rounds on similar weather days.

Wed Jun 11, 06:41:00 PM EDT  

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