Iga Swiatek is also into the doubles SF, parnering Nicole Melichar.
And now into the singles final. If she reaches the doubles final, impressive performance it would be - when was the last time a woman (or man) reached both the singles and doubles finals in a slam (or indeed, won both?).
Just having a look back at the record books for the 21st century and looking at non-Williams finalists in the singles and doubles in the same year. Lindsay Davenport was runner-up in both singles and doubles at the 2005 Australian Open. In 2015 Lucie Safarova was runner up in the French singles but won the doubles and Sara Errani did the same in 2012. At Wimbledon in 2010, Vera Zvonareva was runner up in both singles and doubles. In the 2004 US Open Svetlana Kuznetsova won the singles and was runner-up in the doubles.
Iga Swiatek's and Sonia Kenin's last tournaments before the French did not suggest potential finalists. In Rome Swiatek lost in the 1st round in straight sets to Arantxa Rus and Kenin was double bagelled by Vika Azarenka.
Iga Swiatek's and Sonia Kenin's last tournaments before the French did not suggest potential finalists. In Rome Swiatek lost in the 1st round in straight sets to Arantxa Rus and Kenin was double bagelled by Vika Azarenka.
For both of them it was their first match after the USO, and hence a change of surface. Rus had come through qualifying, and Vika was on fire. They are both looking pretty good now though.
Kenin has really grown on me this past year or so. I hope she can take her 2nd slam on Saturday, but it's never a bad thing for the sport when a very talented teenager excels. Hoping for a really good match, but leaning more towards Iga (in terms of a prediction).
I'm afraid I don't think I've ever been more uninterested in a grand slam final. Swiatek is impressive but I just can't warm to her, there's a lack of charisma although she is still young. Kenin is a brat, I can't stand how rude she is to the ball kids - I detest that in players.
-- Edited by markymc1983 on Friday 9th of October 2020 06:10:12 AM
I'll be rooting for Iga. I know it would be deserved, but the thought of Kenin winning two slams, in the same year no less, is... strange.
Apparently commentating on the Tennis Channel, Chris Evert observed that no-one in American tennis had seen this coming. "Kenin was like the 5th or 6th best American junior. She was kind of a pusher with no weapons. Now she is a slam champion with a chance to win another. That tells you a lot about her. "
What a weird final, in possibly one of the weirdest Slams in history. Sweetex has had an amazing tournament and is definitely one for the future but I reckon Kenin's experience will count.
Having said that, I thought experience would benefit Muguruza in the Aussie Open final and look what happened there.....
-- Edited by Priesty on Friday 9th of October 2020 09:45:42 PM
Swiatek won the French singles without dropping a set. The last player to achieve this in Paris was Justine Henin in 2006 and 2007 in her zenith.Prior to that it was Arantxa Sanchez In 1994 and Steffi Graf in 1988. The last player to win a Grand Slam singles without dropping a set was Serena Williams at the 2017 Australian Open. It is not achIeved very often.