French Open Review

Serena Captures Number 20

Serena Williams proved that regardless of in sickness or in health, she can still come out the last woman standing. The world number one entered the 2015 French Open with questions regarding her elbow after was forced to pull out of the mandatory event in Rome a week and a half before the event. Throughout Roland Garros, it was evident that her elbow injury was still a concern given her increased number of double faults, and lower than average serve speed. However, the serving woes were the lesser of Serena Williams’ problems.

Beginning in the 2^nd round, the world number one appeared to be affected by an illness. Frequent coughing, along with a more demonstrative demeanor were tell tale signs that Williams was not 100 percent. In 4 of her last 5 matches prior to the final, Williams dropped the opening set, on the verge of an earlier than expected exit. Given the quality of opponent in those matches (Azarenka, Stephens and Bacsinszky), Williams was still the favorite to come out the victor. Furthermore, as the world number one has proven time and time again, when there is a will, there is a way. Williams stepped up her game, and overcame great adversity, especially in her semifinal match against Bacsinszky, to get one step closer to her 20^th major title.

Heading into the final, Williams was still hampered by the flu. However, nerves overtook the illness as the biggest influence of her game. Up 6-3 4-1 40-15, Williams in her own words “choked” the lead away. Before she knew it, Williams had dropped the second set and found herself down 2-love the in third. Clearly upset with herself, dropping a few f-bombs and other expletives along the way, the world number one went on a tear, winning 6 straight games to take the match. As Lucie Safarova mishandled the backhand to seal the match for Williams, the now three-time French Open champion threw her arms up in triumph, pumped that she conquered the tumultuous fortnight at Roland Garros. 

One can argue that this title run was the most impressive of Williams’ career. Why? The world number one faced a multitude of obstacles along the way: from a challenging early round draw, to overwhelming health concerns. However, Williams was able to handle the adversity and move one major closer to matching Steffi Graf’s seemingly untouchable 22 majors. The world number one has now won three consecutive majors (1 away from her 2nd Serena Slam), and is half way to a calendar year slam. Serena Williams has shown us time and time again that no matter how dire the circumstances; she can still win the match. The 2015 French Open provided a textbook example of this fact.    

Safarova’s Big Breakthrough

When I first watched Lucie Safarova play, I knew she had the potential to be a top player in women’s tennis. She possessed a potent lefty serve, a big forehand, and moved well. However, for a large part of the Czech’s career, she fluctuated between 20 and 30 in the world. Between 2005 ad 2013, Safarova made the second week of a major only ONCE (2007 French Open: 4^th round)! It wasn't until 2014 that, Safarova began to demonstrate the potential that she possesses. The Czech made the second week at three of the four majors in 2014, highlighted by a semifinal run at the All-England Club. Safarova’s success last year proved that she is a potential dark horse to win a major.

When the draw was released for the 2015 French Open, the prospect of a deep run for Safarova looked grim. Her projected draw included Sabine Lisicki in the 3^rd round, defending champion Maria Sharapova in the 4^th round, Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarterfinals, and Simona Halep in the semifinals. However, the run Safarova put together during the fortnight was truly remarkable. In fact, she raced into her first grand slam final without dropping a set! The two victories that were most impressive were her wins over Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.

Facing the defending champion in any event is no small feat, especially one who has made three consecutive finals at Roland Garros. Safarova’s Round of 16 match against Sharapova was an eye opener because of how often Safarova dictated play throughout the match. Even though the Czech has the advantage in movement, Sharapova’s clay-court prowess looked to be enough for the defending champ to clinch the match. But that was not the case. Safarova displayed a perfect balance of offense and defense to secure her first victory of Maria Sharapova since 2010.

In the semifinal against 2008 champ Ana Ivanovic, nerves were bound to play a major role in the outcome of the match. During the initial stages, Ivanovic better handled her nerves, racing out to a 4-1 lead. However, for the next set and a half, the tides had turned in favor of Safarova. The Czech relaxed and played the all-around tennis that got her to her 2^nd career grand slam semifinal. Before tennis fans knew it, she was serving for a spot in her 1^st grand slam final at 5-4 in the second. It was at this moment where I saw the transition from the old Lucie Safarova, to the new and improved version.  After holding several match points at 5-4, Ivanovic broke serve to level the set. The old Safarova would have let the match slip away. However, the improvements she has made in her game over the last year helped her quickly refocus, break serve and close out the match 7-5.

Many could argue that the old Safarova returned after she squandered the 2-love lead to Serena Williams in the final. I on the other hand couldn’t disagree more. As much as Serena Williams “choked” in the 2^nd set of the match, Safarova was able recognize the opportunity and she took advantage. Being down such a large deficit in a major final against the best player of all-time is something very few players have clawed there way back from. Safarova nearly accomplished such a feat. As a result of making the final, Safarova cracked the Top 10 for the 1^st time, achieving a career-high ranking of No. 7. At 28 years of age, Lucie Safarova is finally reaching the potential I knew she was capable of.       

Shake Up at the Top

The 2015 French Open brought about big changes at the top of the women’s game. The fortnight resulted in players reaching highs, as well as players stumbling in the rankings. Here are the ranking winners and losers of the French Open.

Winners

• Petra Kvitova: as a result of early losses from both Simona Halep (2^nd Round) and Maria Sharapova (4^th Round), the 25-year-old leapfrogged to the number two ranking, matching her career-high. As the defending Wimbledon champion, being the number two seed would make her title defense a little simpler because she would not have to face Serena Williams until the final. Timea Bacsinszky ousted Kvitova in the 4th Round of the French Open.  
• Lucie Safarova: cracked the Top 10 for the first time, landing at No. 7. Safarova shattered her previous career-high of No. 11 as a result of making her 1^st grand slam final. Her strong result in Paris should secure the 28-year-old a Top 8 seed at the All-England Club in a few weeks.  
• Timea Bacsinszky: just two years ago, Bacsinszky was working at a hotel. Now, she is a grand slam semifinalist, sitting at a career-high of No. 15. The Swiss number one is having a breakout season: she won her 1^st singles title (Acapulco); won 15 consecutive matches; made her 1^st grand slam semifinal (1^st time in the 2^nd week of a major); and broke into the Top 20. Bacsinszky, who is grateful to even be on the court, is playing the best tennis of her career. Her passion and love of the game is truly a pleasure to watch.
•  Elina Svitolina: became the highest ranked Ukrainian ever as a result of her quarterfinal showing at Roland Garros. Svitolina surpassed Alona Bonarenko’s record of No. 19 when she landed at No. 17 in Monday’s rankings. The 20-year-old has been a youngster to watch over the past few seasons. The rise of the rankings for Svitolina has been steady; however, the Ukrainian has made huge strides in 2015. For example, she pushed Serena Williams in a tight 3-set match at the Australian Open, won her 3^rd career singles title in Marrakech and now made he 1^st grand slam quarterfinal. Following her strong result at the French Open, the former top junior is making her way up the ranks of the women’s game.

Losers

• Maria Sharapova: following her earliest exit at the French Open since 2010, the Russian falls from No. 2 to No. 4 in the rankings. “Claypova,” as she has become known by given her recent success on the surface, made three consecutive finals at Roland Garros, winning 2 of them. Over the past 5 years, Sharapova has been one of, if not the most consistent players on clay. In fact, since 2010, 10 of Sharapova’s 14 titles have come on the red dirt. Can the Russian rebound on what has now become her worst surface, the grass? Given her champion mentality, all signs indicate yes. 
• Eugenie Bouchard: the struggles continued for the breakout star of 2014 at Roland Garros. The Canadian lost in the opening round to WTA rising star Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 6-4. The loss was Bouchard’s eighth loss in 9 matches. To add insult to injury, the 1^st round loss resulted in Bouchard falling from No. 6 to No. 11 in the rankings. The 21-year-old is defending finalist points from Wimbledon last year. If Bouchard cannot rediscover the game that helped her break into the Top 5 in the world, I expected her ranking to continue its rapid descent.