This year’s French Open saw some incredible tennis in the women’s singles: many upsets, great shots, and phenomenal semifinal and final matches. Below are the best of the best, as we here at LWOT have compiled a list of the best five matches of the women’s tournament.
French Open: Five Best Women’s Singles Matches
5. Elina Svitolina d. Anna Blinkova 2-6 6-2 7-5 – third round
Elina Svitolina’s French Open campaign started out as just a feel-good comeback story, yet this win turned her into a genuine contender. The best matches at Grand Slams tend to feature the best tennis at the end, and this match encapsulated that. Both players hit some incredible shots at the end of grueling rallies in the third set. Svitolina struggled to close the match out at 5-4, but followed up with a break of serve. In a dramatic 21-shot rally, Svitolina finished off the point of the match, returning to the second week of a Major for the first time since the 2021 US Open.
4. Bianca Andreescu d. Victoria Azarenka 2-6 6-3 6-4 – first round
This matchup grabbed people’s attention the second the draw was released, and it certainly delivered. This was only one of two matches played by grand slam champions this tournament, often a rarity on the WTA Tour. Fans were treated to vintage Victoria Azarenka in the first set, with shades of her peak form from a decade ago. However, Bianca Andreescu was able to control her offensive game and fired 36 winners in the last two sets to win. It seemed that such a win would propel her to the second week, yet Andreescu shockingly crashed out to Tsurenko in round three.
3. Beatriz Haddad Maia d. Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7 (3) 6-3 7-5 – fourth round
Beatruiz Haddad Maia, the marathon star of this year’s tournament, put on arguably her best performance of the tournament in this 3h51 epic. This match easily reached the record books as one of the longest women’s matches of the tournament ever. With 65 winners fired by the Brazilian, she was able to break down Sara Sorribes Tormo’s defensive game. On top of this, the third set featured five dramatic breaks of serve, with Haddad Maia clinching the match on her fourth match point. Remarkably, the Brazilian’s run would continue, with Haddad Maia stunning Jabeur in the next round.
2. Iga Swiatek d. Karolina Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-4 – final
Iga Swiatek’s past three Grand Slam final victories have traditionally ended in underwhelming blowouts. Yet, this match absolutely delivered, and exhibited Swiatek’s mental toughness. It seemed that the Pole would blow a 6-2 3-0 lead, with the first-time finalist Karolina Muchova playing virtuosic tennis. Swiatek struggled to deal with Muchova’s high quality shot-making, highlighted by the Czech’s stunning backhand volley to give her a set point in the second set.
With Swiatek down a break at 1-0 and 4-3 in the third set, the Pole had to strategize and stay consistent. It was her belief and fight that pulled her through the third set, giving Swiatek her fourth Grand Slam title. A shame that this match ended on a double fault, but this was a fantastic final.
Honorable Mentions
Iga Swiatek d. Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 7-6 (7) – semifinal
One of two great semifinals at this year’s tournament. This match would certainly make the top five if weren’t for the lackluster first set, as parts of the second set featured some of the best tennis of the whole tournament. Haddad Maia missed a costly volley up 5-3 in the second set tiebreaker, a shot that would likely have take the match to a decider if she had made it.
Coco Gauff d. Mirra Andreeva 6-7 (5) 6-1 6-1 – third Round
Mirra Andreeva was one of the best stories of the first week, with the 16-year-old leaving her mark as a future force to be reckoned with. Up against the defending finalist, the first set featured a lot of nerves with all of the match hype. Ultimately, Gauff played some mature tennis in the last two sets, allowing Andreeva’s game to quickly collapse.
Ons Jabeur d. Olga Danilovic 4-6 6-4 6-2 – 3rd Round
A rowdy crowd, a great comeback, and lots of drop shots highlighted this one. With Jabeur’s injury concerns and subpar form, it seemed that Danilovic would pull off the upset after the first set. Yet, Danilovic’s level dropped, and Jabeur was able to tire out her opponent by simply running her off the court. Jabeur followed up this win with a straightforward victory over Pera, achieving the feat of making the quarterfinals of all four Slams.
1. Karolina Muchova d. Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 7-5 – Semifinal
Something uncommon in the tennis world, 90% of this match featured both players playing their best tennis. With both competitors destroying the ball, the pair combined for 82 winners, full of powerful groundstroke winners in huge moments. Aryna Sabalenka made an impressive comeback from a break down in the second, taking the set in a tiebreak to seemingly dispirit the Czech. With Sabalenka’s game firing in the third, Muchova kept battling to come back from 5-2 and matchpoint down.
The last 10% of the semifinal demonstrated the massive pressure in the moment. Sabalenka hit two double faults at 5-5 to eventually concede the break, and Muchova capitalized. In 3h13, Muchova was able to reach her first Grand Slam final in the match of the tournament.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
