Chapter 56: Djokovic vs Nadal
World’s top two players eye glory in Roland Garros blockbuster
Paris, France - Polish teenager Iga Swiatek won her country's first ever Grand Slam singles title on Saturday as she defeated American fourth seed Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-1 to become the youngest women's French Open champion since 1992.
The 19 year old Swiatek, at 54 the lowest-ranked woman to capture the Roland Garros title in the modern era, is the ninth firsttime major champion in the past 14 Grand Slams.
"Maybe it just had to be like that, another underdog had to win a Grand Slam. In women's tennis right now it's crazy," said Swiatek, who will rise to 17th in the world after her victory. "I don't know what's going on. It's overwhelming for me, it's crazy."
"Two years ago I won a junior Grand Slam (at Wimbledon) and now I'm here," she added. "It feels like such a short time."
Swiatek is the youngest women's French Open winner since Monica Seles 28 years ago. She eclipsed the run of compatriot Jadwiga Jedrzejowska - the most outstanding Polish player of the interwar period - who finished runner-up at Roland Garros in 1939.
Swiatek was only the second Polish woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open era after Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon in 2012. She had never previously been beyond the last-16. Australian Open champion Kenin, 21, was attempting to become the first woman to capture two Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Swiatek, whose only previous tour-level final came at Lugano last year, dispelled any initial fear of nerves as she won 12 of the first 15 points to surge 3-0 ahead.
However, Kenin broke back when Swiatek served an untimely double fault allowing the American to level at three-all.
Swiatek, who bludgeoned her way through to the championship match, conceding just 23 games in six rounds, secured a precious hold before Kenin lost her serve for the second time.
Serving for the first set at 5-3, Swiatek dumped a backhand into the net on set point and Kenin immediately broke back, ripping a blistering backhand return.
Kenin cracked again to present Swiatek with two more set points at 4-5, promptly dragging a backhand wide to hand the Pole the opening set.
The sixth-ranked Kenin, broke to begin the second set. But an undeterred Swiatek responded the following game, smacking a backhand down the line to break once more before holding with ease to go 2-1 up. Kenin subsequently called for a medical timeout to receive treatment on her taped left thigh, but she could not slow the momentum of her opponent as Swiatek broke for a fifth time. Swiatek won the next eight points to storm to the cusp of the title at 5-1, securing a historic win with a cross-court forehand on her first match point.
Paris, France - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal meet for the 56th time on Sunday in a Roland Garros final blockbuster with history on the line for both men. World No 1 Djokovic is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title and a second French Open which would make him the first man in half a century to win all four Slams twice.
Defending champion Nadal, the world No 2, can win a 13th Roland Garros and 20th major which would tie the alltime men's record held by Roger Federer. Victory on Sunday would also give the 34 year old Spaniard a 100th match win in Paris against just two defeats in 15 years. One of those losses came against Djokovic in the 2015 quarterfinals, the last time the pair clashed on the crushed red brick surface of Court Philippe Chatrier.
The Serb has won 37 matches in 2020 with his one defeat self-inflicted via his infa
NOVAK DJOKOVIC describing facing the Spaniard on clay as the sport’s ‘biggest challenge’
mous default at the US Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who pushed Djokovic to five sets in a breathless semifinal, sees few flaws in the top seed's game. "He has reached almost perfection," said the Greek. The 22 year old matched Djokovic when it came to all-out assault on Friday night but at the crunch moments, the Serbian wall stood firm as the world No 1 saved 11 of 15 break points he faced to win
6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.
Djokovic, 33, has a 29-26 edge over Nadal in their longrunning rivalry. He has won 14 of their last 18 meetings and the last three at the Slams. However, the pair's most recent three matches on clay have all gone Nadal's way with Djokovic's last victory on the dirt coming in the Rome quarterfinals four years ago.
At the French Open, Nadal has a 6-1 advantage, including wins in the 2012 and 2014 finals. "This is the house of Rafa," said Djokovic, describing facing the Spaniard on clay as the sport's 'biggest challenge'.
Nadal's run to a 13th final in Paris has been untroubled as he has yet to drop a set. However, he has only faced one seed - Argentine No 12 Diego Schwartzman in the semis. Nadal won the semis 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) on Friday . His other five opponents were all outside the top 70; two were ranked 213 and 236. Nadal is cautious of reading too much into his smooth progress in Paris or his overall 17-7 clay court record over Djokovic.
"Different circumstances, different kind of tournament and different situation," said Nadal ahead of their ninth clash in a Grand Slam final.
"The only thing I know is to play against Novak, I need to play my best. Without playing my best tennis, the situation is very difficult. He is one of the toughest opponents possible."