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me I have just arrived in Paris and am heading to Roland Garros for what promises to be an unforgettable fortnight to close the 2020 Grand Slam season.
Roland Garros is a reflection of how the French do things. Everything has an extra touch of class and style. Comparing it to the other three big tournaments, Paris is by far the most elegant and cool. The city is full of trendy people and dinners are like no other. Whenever I pack for this tournament, I always wear the most glamorous outfits in my wardrobe!
This tournament was good for me as a player. There is such a nice atmosphere, especially on the outside courts during the first week when the games happen everywhere. When I did the fourth round for the first time in 2002, I played Monica Seles, who was my childhood heroine. The fans were always friendly and respectful, even when I played French girls like Nathalie Dechy, whom I ended up defeating in a final set 10-8 in 2006.
The game I played against Caroline Wozniacki here in 2011 really stands out for me. It was one of the best games I ever played and she was the number one seed at the time. I also won the mixed doubles in 2005 with Fabrice Santoro, who I am working with again, this time in the comment booth. I remember getting the best seeds together on court 2. We had unreal crowd support; We could barely hear each other between the dots! After beating Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes in the final, we celebrated with chips in the players’ lounge.
I used to love to treat myself to candy after a victory, and few cities have better candy than Paris. Whether it’s a Nutella crepe or truffles, I think I remember those moments more than the victories themselves. My team took walks in Saint-Germain after dinner, so I have many beautiful memories of the city.
This year marks the debut of a new roof over Court Phillipe-Chatrier. It looks amazing and it will be interesting to take in the sounds and image of how the matches will look when it is closed.
You never know what you’re going to get when it comes to time. It has been so beautiful in Europe until yesterday when things got quite cold. That may still change, but it’s actually nice to be in Paris at the end of September. Autumn is just beginning, so it’s different in that sense, but Paris is Paris and Roland Garros is Roland Garros. I am sure it will be as beautiful as any other time of the year.
Where the US Open had no fans on the field, a few will be present during matches, and I think that will help players feel more like they are competing in a tournament. I think Petra Kvitova mentioned in New York how she would have to remind herself that she was not playing a practice match!
Another thing I noticed at the US Open was that because we were away from the game for so long, all the players are fighting a lot more for every point. This season has been shorter than usual and you never know where the next opportunity will come.
Sometimes, as a player, it can be easy to take comfort in thinking that there will be another tournament next week, but now there is no such guarantee. I think that’s why we watched so many games back in New York, and I predict that will be the case in Paris as well.
Who will win in the end? To me, Simona Halep is the clear favorite, with Victoria Azarenka perhaps second. Simona seems to be at a level above everyone else, and he’s been playing amazing tennis the last few weeks. She is a former champion and has a 14 match winning streak. that definitely helps your confidence.
He played exceptionally well in Rome, especially during the match with Garbiñe Muguruza. He has really worked hard to strike the right balance of being defensive, but also being aggressive when he needs to be.
Halep is in the same half of the draw as Azarenka, and what impresses me the most about Azarenka is the transition she has been able to make as a person. Has a new attitude on the court, and there’s no way a change like that was easy to make. She is a great example for the younger players. how far things like meditation can take you by working on yourself. In her press conferences, she has talked about how work means more to her than results, because the latter is simply a consequence of the former. It’s a great story, and she has all my respect after seeing her do so well on the court.
She could play Serena Williams in the fourth round. Could slightly favor Vika to win rematch of her US Open semi-final, but I think Serena is in a good position anyway. Obviously, she has a great chance of winning any major tournament she’s involved in, and people don’t talk about her as much as in New York. You may feel less pressure arriving in Paris a little off the radar – As under the radar as Serena can be, anyway! She had the opportunity to prepare at the Mouratoglou Academy and has spent a lot of time in Paris.
This fortnight could be a rare opportunity for her to relax and enjoy playing. With that mindset, she’s unstoppable.
Elina Svitolina is probably one of the best clay court players currently on the road.. She just won Strasbourg this weekend and is surely much more comfortable in Paris due to all the time she has spent with her boyfriend, Gaël Monfils. It should be like a home tournament for her, that way. I believed the lockout would ultimately benefit the hard-working players, and it clearly benefited her. At times like that, you need that discipline and work ethic, and she’s a player who has both. I would not rule it out.
Looking at the draw, I can’t remember the last time there were so many exciting matchups from the beginning.
I really want to see the match between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. It is a confrontation between two girls of my generation, more or less a few years. We all go back and it’s great to see Sveta especially still playing so well. It’s one of those games where you can see the winner turn the result into a deep run, because they are both high-quality players. I’ve played both of them a couple of times, so I know how hard it is to beat them!
Coco Gauff and Johanna Konta will be another exciting first round match, as well as Maria Sakkari against Ajla Tomljanovic. Kristina Mladenovic faces Laura Siegemund; It will be an interesting contrast of styles and a rematch of her thrilling finale at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart a few years ago. I’d say the most intriguing of all are Anett Kontaveit and Caroline Garcia, who are scheduled to meet on Sunday.
Over the years, the game has changed and seeded players tend to have their toughest games in the early rounds. Everyone is still looking for rhythm, just trying to find their way into the tournament. This is when non-seeded players are most dangerous. Once you enter the second week, the advantage returns to the seeds and they are the favorites again.
Having said that, in today’s world and how the season has been so far, it is very difficult to speak of favorites. The field is wide open and ultimately anything can happen. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
