Sunday at the French Open waved goodbye to four Grand Slam champions, leaving the women’s singles draw without players who have won a major title and implying that the 2017 Roland Garros winner will win a maiden Grand Slam title.
Most importantly, defending champion Garbine Muguruza was eliminated by France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the fourth round. Court Suzanne Lenglen was full of people, but barely anyone was on Muguruza’s side and after a very emotional loss the Spaniard even broke down in tears at the post-match press conference when journalists asked her about Mladenovic celebrating her errors by exclaiming “forza”.
The 2009 French Open and 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova fell to Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 4-6 6-2, who hadn’t reached the second week in Paris since 2010, when she was just 19 years old. The 2011 US Open winner Samantha Stosur crashed out to Jelena Ostapenko 2-6 6-2 6-4, hampered by a random hand injury. Lastly, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams lost to Timea Bacsinszky in the fourth round, just as last year!
MORE WTA PHOTOS FROM ROLAND GARROS 2017:
- Saturday: Cornet thrashes Radwanska; Wozniacki & Halep advance
- Friday: V. Williams, Muguruza, Kuznetsova lead successful day for the seeds
- Thursday: Qualifier Martic upsets injured Keys
- Wednesday: Ons Jabeur’s historic triumph, Kvitova’s loss and more
- Tuesday: Konta suffers R1 loss, Halep & Svitolina advance
- Monday: Muguruza’s good start of title defense, Mladenovic and Wozniacki battle through
- Sunday: Main-draw action Day 1 — Kerber historic loss, Kvitova’s spectacular return
- Friday: Final round of qualifying + Kvitova’s comeback announcement
- Thursday: Petra Kvitova’s practice + second round of qualifying
- Wednesday: Roland Garros qualifying Day 3 + injured players Bouchard, Halep & Wozniacki practice
- Tuesday: First day of women’s qualifying + Evian event with Madison Keys and Maria Sharapova
I’m so dissapointed in Muguruza, she has every weapons to be a multiple slam champions, her nerve, her mentality, her attitude needs adjustment. I feel like she doesnt have mindset of a champion. I dont see any hunger of winning in Muguruza like i see it in Serena and Maria. She needs a hard ass coach, i dont think her current coach is shaping her into a consistant player.
I think Jelena Ostapenko is on a silent roll in RG17. She’ll be the favorite to win against Caroline Wozniacki. I think Kiki displayed one of her best tennis. A homecourt advantage on her side, she might win this whole tournament! It’s her best chance to win a slam. Even Simona, I think she has a big chance this fortnight.
Kiki <3
Can’t believe Muguruza’s negative, sore loser display after Kristina “Kiki” Mladenovic took her out. Because of the way she waved her finger and shook her head in a “no” response to the audience, she deserved to lose. “Go, Kiki!” I must admit, I like the fire and fight spirit of Jelena Ostapenko. She impresses me as one who’s got the mentality and fierceness of a true tennis champion, so I’m going with her for the title. Even still, none of these women will ever compare to the GOAT, Serena Williams; she’s truly one of a kind and greatly missed this time around.