Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Saturday, June 8, 2024
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
To growl Iga Swiatek hug each other history today.
Jasmine Paolini sees Swiatek accept the Roland Garros record.
Jazz Rocks: Paolini Shocks Rybakina
Moments after Swiatek made it 11 of 12 matches to beat Paolini 6-2, 6-1 to claim his fourth Roland Garros title, the world No. 1 embraced the seven-time French Open champion. Chris Evert, who joined another former No. 1 Martina Navratilova who presents the trophy.
Asked afterward if the 23-year-old Swiatek would break Evert’s women’s record for most Roland Garros titles, Paolini replied “absolutely.”
“I mean, he’s 22. He’s four,” Paolini told reporters in Paris. “I think, yes, he can win three more, but I don’t know. Let’s see.
“It’s hard, you know, it’s not easy. Every year it’s hard to win the championship. He’s already won four times, but yes, I think he can.”
It’s hard to find fault with that concept.
Just think, Swiatek won his third consecutive French Open title, earned his 10th straight victory, increased his Grand Slam finals record to 5-0 and is now tied with the. Justine Henin third on the list of Open Era Roland Garros titles behind seven-time winner Evert and six-time winner Steffi Graf.
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Paolini says time is in Swiatek’s hands and points to his 84-10 clay court record, including a 35-2 mark at Roland Garros to back it up.
“He’s playing unbelievable here,” said Paolini “He takes balls early, takes time from you, but also uses rotation. He can defend really, really well. Clay, it’s unbelievable. And on a hard court, come on, he’s won. a lot of tournaments this year.
“But I think playing him here, it’s different. He’s won four titles, he’s still winning [23] age…
“These numbers are not, let’s say, normal, they are unbelievable. Yes, I think he is an unbelievable player.”
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
