So, that’s that then… we’ve reached finals weekend at Roland Garros. The women’s final will feature eighth seed Mirra Andreeva and qualifier Maja Chwalinska. On the men’s side, second seed Alexander Zverev will take on 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.
Over on the doubles court, silverware has already been dished. Evan King and Gabriela Dabrowski leave this year’s French Open as mixed doubles runners-up. The unseeded American-Canadian duo lost out to the defending champions and top seeds Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 in Thursday’s final. It was a case of history repeating itself for King who reached the final last year with Taylor Townsend.
In the junior draw, Brazil’s Victoria Barros reached her first Grand Slam semi-final. The 16-year-old third seed lost out to Chinese second seed and reigning Orange Bowl champion Sun Xinran 6-2, 6-3 on Friday. Both young ladies look like major talents.
Unlike the women’s singles draw, the doubles draw has followed order this year in terms of seedings. Read on to find out more. Plus, a bit of reflection following the men’s quarter-final.
Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
The ever reliable American-Czechia duo are through to the women’s doubles final. This year’s No 1 seeds only dropped one set en route.
They were at their clinical best during their 6-0, 6-1 semi-final victory over fourth seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani on Friday. Townsend, in a giving mood at the end of the match, gave out autographed hats to fans inside Court Simonne-Mathieu.
They will play second seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic in Sunday’s title match. Townsend, a runner-up in 2023 (with Leylah Fernandez), will be looking for her first French Open title, while Siniakova is bidding for her fourth.
Townsend also confirmed Australian Roger Tyzzer as her new coach. Tyzzer, 70, has experience on both tours after coaching world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt and former world No 8 Alicia Molik.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
“I’m destroyed today a little bit. It’s tough. I usually handle losses pretty well, I have to say. My whole career I was going back to training with optimism and positivity, now I feel like I’m not the player I want to be so today is a difficult day.”
That was Auger-Aliassime’s honest and considered outlook following a tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final defeat to eventual finalist Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.
After playing himself into form across the fortnight, the Canadian fourth seed was on a mission to reach his first French Open semi-final. Tenth seed Cobolli, who was playing in just his second Grand Slam quarter-final, stood in Auger-Aliassime’s way and in keeping with the theme at Roland Garros this year, the lower ranked opponent prevailed.
The match had a wacky feel to it at the start thanks to unforgiving, 35mph winds in Paris and it was Auger-Aliassime who settled quickest, taking the opening set before the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof was closed.
That felt favourable for Auger-Aliassime, unofficially known as “the indoor king” – eight of his nine career titles are indoor crowns – but Cobolli, who now leads their head-to-head 3-0, had other ideas. Auger-Aliassime broke first in the second set but was unable to maintain his level as Cobolli upped his – Auger-Aliassime’s serve and big forehand nullified by the slow, heavy conditions.
Auger-Aliassime may not feel like the player he wants to be after a disappointing loss, but his ranking tells a different story. Next week he will rise to a career-high No 4 in the world. You don’t luck your way to any ranking in tennis, especially at the top end. Regardless of this result, and despite how he feels about his game, the 25-year-old Canadian is on the right path and that No 4 next to his name is evidence of that.