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It’s springtime in Paris so that can only mean one thing: The French Open is upon us!
The start of the season has been eventful, to say the least. With Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia, Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking 21st Slam victory, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty’s shocking retirement and the rise of young superstars Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, it’s almost hard to believe we’re at just the second major of the year.
But we’ve made it to the red clay and there is a lot worth watching at Roland Garros.
Djokovic, the defending champion, is ready to play in his first Slam of 2022 and Barbora Krejcikova makes her return from a lengthy injury layoff just in time to defend her titles in both singles and doubles. While Serena and Venus Williams and Roger Federer are still not back in action, most of the sport’s big names, and soon-to-to-be big names, will be there.
So what are the biggest storylines going into this year’s tournament? Which players do you have to keep your eyes on? Is it too early to print out “Iga Swiatek vs. Everybody” shirts? We try to answer all that and more ahead of Sunday’s opening-round matches.
No. 1 is far from done
For the first time in a long time, we have a clear favorite on the women’s side — and even saying that doesn’t do justice to what Iga Swiatek has been able to do over the past three months. To recap: Swiatek, 20, has won five titles since February, including four Masters 1000-level events, and has taken over the world No. 1 ranking. Even more impressive? She hasn’t lost since Feb. 16 and is riding a 27-match win streak.
It’s the longest such streak since Serena Williams in 2014-15.
So, yeah, suddenly the WTA has become Swiatek’s world and everyone else is just living in it. She has won two titles on clay this season, and, as the 2020 French Open champion, it is still considered her best surface. In fact, she’s dropped just one set on the red clay…
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Source : espn
