2024 ROLAND GARROS

Coetzer is a great comparison.

Sometimes easy to forget how dominant Chris Evert was, given how she was eclipsed later on by Navratilova and (briefly) Graf. Her World Team Tennis commitments meant she *missed* three French Opens, 1976-78, so she likely should have ten titles, seven of them consecutive. She won 125 straight matches on clay, Aug '73 to May '79, dropping EIGHT sets (Tracy Austin beat her 7-6 in the third, Rome sf). Semi or better in her first 34 Slams across all surfaces ('71 to '83). 90% win/loss all-time. I really only remember her resurgence in the mid-'80s, when she outplayed Martina at Roland-Garros in consecutive finals and got back to #1 - that after something like 13 straight losses to her.

Just looking up Coetzer now. Good stuff.

While that was an awesome effort by Osaka I'd say any challenegers to Swiatek's dominance on clay would need to build consistency on the surface over the clay court season.

Unlike Evert Swiatek is mostly a specialist on clay. Though she gets far in other surfaces I'd say she'd be pushed to get a Wimbeldon title, or many hard court slams, without building some variety. She is 23 so there's time.

On serve, but excellent tennis from Alcatraz to break

Playing at a higher level rn. 4-2

A had two further bps. Z did well to save them

Excellent to get that break. 6-3

1st game at the 2nd has become deuce from 40-0 Alcaraz.

Gets through. Big chance missed by Z

Zverev is more comfortable on his serves this set..but can he take the opportunity?

Z finally breaks!

Awesome get by A. Even better by Z..

Really finding the lines now, Z..

Oh dear df, double break

Damn..

Another df by Alcaraz

Went on to crush that game and big scream at the end. On serve

Two drop shots from A. Z still gets it to deuce but gets through. More fist pumps and screaming. Fighting for his life

A minor slip by Z and now its 0-30. Amazing

Amazing break to love there. Totally against the run of play. Alcaraz made it happen

Drop shot king

Saved 3 bps. 5-3..

Alcaraz to serve it out

One more bp here

He's got it

ugh come on carlito

Oh dear. 0-15..

Lol drop shot, he is the best I've ever seen

:-(

Two more bps..

momentum has swung in this 3rd set several times

Breaks. Zverev to serve for the set. Fuck!

Bar a game or so, Zverev has been dominant for the better part of two sets

30 all

has anyone mentioned why all 8 breaks of serve have come from the umpire’s left? the right side doesn’t have the sun (if the shadows are an indication) and also has a tailwind

Bp! Come on, a couple of awesome points

Awesome rallying and Z is a set away

What a lob..Zverev let that go

Brilliant

Alcaraz response is seriously good..

Amazing!

Lol, this set is not quite over

6-1. Flattering score for the set, I think. Zverev had bps.

Zverev to serve. Didn't win one game on his serve in the 4th which is bizarre as hell

Z was tamely broken

there have been… a lot of breaks

Insane!

He saved bps Alcaraz. 3-1. Feels decisive

Zverev so mad about that super-close call on Alcaraz's shot at 0-40, I think that hurt him through the rest of that game.

Another deuce for A to get through

Alcaraz is getting through these