Stiff Winds Helped Make It An Andreeva Day In Paris
BY JAMES BECK
Maja Chwalinska had lost only one set in six main draw matches. She was just a 24-year-old qualifier.
This time, she couldn’t win a set.
The wind blew Maja’s shots everywhere, and Mirra Andreeva was there to watch them sail away in the wind or she would crush them with her powerful strokes.
Saturday was Mirra’s day to become just the ninth different teenager to win the French Open women’s title in tennis’ Open Era. She won nine straight games in the middle of the match, then hit a sizzling backhand winner while her aggressive right foot was on the service line as she finished off a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The 19-year-old then scrambled to her knees.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
It was time for Andreeva to celebrate with her family and team, even with her Bernedoodle Grassy pup.
Chwalinska had a big day, too, coming away with a check for about $1.5 million.
Not a bad day for a qualifier.
Of course, Andreeva had a really big day, about $3.27 million.
As she was from start to finish, Andreeva was terrific while most of the big stars of the women’s game, as well as men’s, took the remainder of the two weeks off while losing in the heat of Paris. But Andreeva didn’t blink an eye as she easily moved up the top tier of the women’s game.
THE WIND APPEARED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Hardly anything troubled Andreeva, definitely not after the first five games. Chwalinka’s left-handed floaters hardly tested Andreeva’s athletic ability and powerful hitting.
Chwalinska often lost the ball in the strong wind as she tried to hit with the popular Andreeva. Her play was well below that of the semifinals of her close match against another Russian, Diana Shnaider.
Between the hard-hitting Andreeva and Shnaider, the Russians gave Chwalinska a half test.
And this time the wind helped make it an easy day for Andreeva.
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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
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