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WTA Backspin by Todd Spiker: The Daughter of Destiny

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WTA Backspin by Todd Spiker: The Daughter of Destiny

We’d all seen it. Mirra Andreeva’s age of (eventual/incoming) unlimited potential didn’t take long to identify. Just out of the juniors three seasons ago, she immediately made her presence felt, reaching a Round of 16 in Madrid in her 1000 event debut. A season later, she was playing in the Roland Garros semis at age 17. Last year, she won back-to-back 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, the latter title run historically being an early indicator — see Osaka and Andreescu in the past — that great things are just around the corner.

Already a Top 10 fixture, the only thing that seemed set to (simply) delay the phenom’s path to a major title was her teenaged proclivity to, well, act like a temperamental teenager. Andreeva sometimes let her emotions win out in a tough situation and, ultimately, left the court in tears. But the best of them grow out of such phases, and *this* one has always appeared to figure to one day be included in that group.

Her coach, Conchita Martinez, surely understood that, as over the last few years she’s weathered the occasional “storm” — complete with raised voice and racket tosses — and simply waited for the audible “click” to take place and for her charge to focus in on of what has always been her destiny, to win major titles.

This clay court season, as Andreeva won a nice (but not huge) title in Linz, and made another big step with a final in Madrid, the Russian gradually settled into a stable existence over the past two weeks in Paris, overcoming a few slightly-overractive moments in the early rounds to begin to run off a string of victories at Roland Garros in which she appeared to know *just* where she was going, how to get there, and maybe most importantly, to understand that as long as she kept *herself* under control that maybe her time was *now*.

As the top contenders began to fall in Paris — first the #5 seed, then the four-time champ, the #2, the defending champion and finally the world #1 — it was Andreeva who remained. As the semis rolled around, the 19-year old was the highest seed remaining, with the most clay court wins on tour this spring, and more match wins than anyone else in the WTA in 2026. She downed her Madrid conqueror (Marta Kostyuk) in the semis, remaining unburdened by the windy conditions that had troubled so many, to reach her maiden slam final, with the opportunity to take advantage of the same stage where so many others before her have made their breakthrough.

The likes of Goolalong, Evert, Graf, Sanchez Vicario, Seles, Henin, Barty and Swiatek all won their first major title in Paris, the vast majority doing so while still in their teenage years.

Waiting for the #8 seed in the final was Maja Chwwalinska, the 24-year old Pole who’d been the #8 *qualifying* seed in Paris three weeks ago before putting together a fairy tale run to her first slam final in her maiden appearance in an RG main draw (becoming the first woman in 53 years to do such a thing, since Chris Evert in 1973). A pocket-sized maestro who’d overcome injury and depression to finally see everything come together over a magical few weeks on the terre battue, Chwalinska had quickly filled in what had previously been a virtual “blank slate” as far as her identity was concerned for the majority of tennis fans.

She revealed herself to be a player with a game as creatively large as her size is small. Chwalinska’s ability to vex opponents with a paralyzing combination of defense and wide range of shots, speeds and angles, plus an ingrained resilience earned both inside and outside the lines, made it appear as if the #114-ranked Pole might *really* be being fitted for a glass slipper as she ran her RG winning streak to nine matches and became only the second qualifier in the Open era to play her way into a slam final (five years after Emma Raducanu did it en route to winning the ’21 U.S. Open).

But as fanciful as Chwalinska’s story was, such tales usually run head-first into reality, and on June 6th, on the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings by Allied forces at Normandy, France – aka “Operation Overlord” — that set the course for the end of World War II, it was Andreeva whose destiny rose to the forefront on the red clay of Paris.

In the end, even Maja’s magic wouldn’t be able to alter Mirra’s already-established, *eventual* path to glory. Today, indeed, was *the* day.

The match opened with early signs of the continued presence of the tournament’s late-week friend (or fremeny), the wind. Both women faced BP in the opening three games, and both lost serve. Chwalinska saved her first two in game #1 with (naturally) *both* a drop volley and forehand winner down the line, but it was Andreeva who got on the board first with a crosscourt backhand. Chwalinska immediately broke back, but in her second service game fell behind 15/40 and framed a forehand on Andreeva’s second BP chance.

With the wind causing adjustments with both players’ service tosses, the breaks continued. Andreeva DF’ing on BP for the match’s fourth consecutive break of serve. Finally, it was Chwalinska who took control of a service game first, going up 40/love with a successful drop shot (had she attempted had any other kind at this major?) and high volley lob over Andreeva from behind the Ad-court service box. Not wanting to be all about touch, the Pole used multiple forehands to control the proceeding rally, finally firing a winner behind Andreeva for the initial hold of the day.

Andreeva followed with one of her own, at 15 with a concluding ace, then watched as Chwalinska had to deal with the conditions on serve in the next game, pausing before her toss to allow the swirling clouds of clay dust to settle, then firing a forehand long with the wind at her back to fall down BP yet again. A netted sliced backhand gave Andreeva a break lead at 4-3.

As the 1st set came down the stretch, Andreeva’s game began to pick up pace, both on the scoreboard and off the ground. The teenager’s forehand shot skidded off the sideline and under Chwalinska’s racket to reach GP in game 8, then she won a drop shot battle (yep) with a dropper off one just seconds earlier distributed by the Pole, then a high backhand volley into the open court to hold for 5-3. Stepping into the court and hitting bigger, the Hordette took a love/40 lead a game later, firing a crosscourt backhand winner on her first SP to claim her fourth straight game, and the opening set at 6-3.

Andreeva’s growing momentum carried over into the 2nd. After a hold to start, she quickly took a lead on Chwalinska’s serve. A backhand off a short ball was sent long by the Pole, putting her in a 15/40 hole. Andreeva then teed off on a second serve with a deep return which Chwalinska sent long to lose a sixth straight game and trail 2-0.

Chwalinska now had her back against the wall, really for the first time at this RG, and was in danger of *hitting* it, as well, after three weeks of work and nearly 16 hours of action. She used a backhand drop shot winner to hold a love/30 edge on Andreeva’s serve in game 3, and had triple BP, but the Russian reeled off five straight points, barely blinking at the pressure, to lead 3-0, and perhaps be moments — minutes, really — from lifting the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen.

Andreeva broke Chwalinska at love to lead 4-0, furthing confirming the suspicion. A game later, Andreeva’s backhand off the baseline elicited an error from Chwalinska to give her a 40/15 lead on serve. After an overhead error on her first GP, she fired a backhand winner into the corner on her second.

It was just a matter of time.

Holding on for a bit longer, Chwalinska held to force Andreeva to try to serve it out, then carved out a BP chance from 30/30 (and then a second) in the next game, tightening the score to 5-2 when the teenger fired a forehand error to drop serve for the first time since the fourth game of the opening set.

But it would prove to be the last stand for the qualifier, who fell behind love/40 a game later. On her first championship point, Andreeva took a short ball in the middle of the court and blasted a backhand winner, officially fulfilling her tennis destiny with a 6-3/6-2 win.

She dropped to her knees — with her face in her hands — as she became a first-time major champion at 19, the youngest at Roland Garros since Monica Seles in 1992. In so many ways, as it should be… and maybe as it was destined to be.

Andreeva becomes the first Russian woman, and the first aside from the *Original* Hordette generation, to lift a major title since Maria Sharpova won her second RG in 2014, and the fourth overall to become a major champion (along with Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, both of whom also won titles in Paris).

When Sharapova played in her last slam final (of three) while still a teenager, at the 2007 Australian Open, she, too, was 19 years old. Andreeva was *born* three months later.

Meanwhile, 26 years ago, Andreeva’s coach Martinez lost in her only appearance in an RG final. She fell to France’s Mary Pierce. And who was the presenter of the Coupe Lenglen to Andreeva today? Why, Pierce, of course.

Did someone say “destiny?” It’s almost as if this result, at this specific Roland Garros, has been “scheduled” for quite some time. Those cheeky Tennis Gods.

While Chwalinska’s run won’t be forgotten (she’ll climb to #21 on Monday, though might still have to play Wimbledon qualifying to make an appearance in the MD of the next major), Andreeva’s win marks this tournament as both a completion of *her* journey from phenom to champion, as well as the beginning of a career stretch that will likely see her in this situation, either here or at one of the other slam sites. Or maybe several..

After Andreeva’s rise never gave oxygen to the possibility of “if,” as it was only *when*, now the conversation quickly shifts from “when,” to *how many*?

Let the games begin.

=DAY 14 NOTES=

…while Andreeva’s win was an official coming out party on the slam stage, Diede de Groot’s roll to the wheelchair title was like a homecoming, as the Dutch great claimed her 24th career major singles title, her sixth in Paris, but her first since the 2024 Wimbledon a few months before undergoing hip surgery following that year’s summer Paralympics event.

De Groot, a day after having taken out #1-seeded Yui Kamiji in the semis (her second win over her in two weeks, during which she allowed a total of seven games), defeated first-time slam finalist Ksenia Chasteau 6-1/6-0 in the 20-year old Pastry’s bid to become the first French woman in win a major WC singles crown.

With the win, de Groot passes Esther Vergeer for the most combined career slam titles in women’s WC history, topping her Hall of Fame mentor’s 42 wins with her own 43rd crown. With her health and form restored, her next target is the all-time WC mark of 50 combined wins held by Shingo Kunieda.

…the junior title was claimed by #12-seeded Hordette Alisa Oktiabreva with a 6-2/6-1 win over #2 seed Sun Xinran.

The 17-year old, a semifinalist at RG as a qualifier at age 14 three years ago, becomes the fourth Russian girl (along w/ two during the Soviet years) to win the junior title in Paris, with the most recent being Alina Korneeva in 2023.

That year, Korneeva defeated Oktiabreva in the semis, about four months after she’d also defeated Andreeva in the girls’ singles final at the Australian Open. Today, both Andreeva and Oktiabreva raised titles at Roland Garros, making this the third major at which Hordettes have claimed both the women’s and girls’ titles at the same event.

The others both involved Maria Sharapova winning the big title, joined by junior runs at the 2006 U.S. Open by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the 2014 Roland Garros by Dasha Kasatkina.

Some might say that the Tennis Gods had Their final say with *that* combination of results, too.

In the girls’ doubles, it was another weekend, another *pair* of Crusher champions, as Jana Kovackova (sans big sister Alena) won her third straight junior major title, this time joining with fellow Czech Katerina Zajickova to defeat #8-seeded Bannerettes Jordyn Hazelitt & Welles Newman (whose name would be perfect if she were a third generation Hollywood movie star), 6-1/6-4.

The win sets up 15-year old (16 in a few days) Kovackova with a golden opportunity to become the first player to ever complete a Junior Doubles Career Slam if she can win at SW19. She and her sister lost in last year’s Wimbledon SF to eventual champions Kristina Penickova & Vendula Valdmannova.

…in the week’s three 125 events, Tyra Grant will meet Leyre Romero Gormaz in the final at Foggia (ITA), while Darja Semenistaja will play Maria Timofeeva in Markarska (CRO).

In the season’s opening grass event in Birmingham, Alex Eala will face Nikola Bartunkova for the title.

*WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL*
#8 Mirra Andreeva/RUS def. (Q) Maja Chwalinska/POL 6-3/6-2

=WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. #2 Danilina/Krunic (KAZ/SRB)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA) def. Dabrowski/King (CAN/USA) 4-6/6-3 [10-4]

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#4 Diede de Groot/NED def. Ksenia Chasteau/FRA 6-1/6-0

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) def. Bos/de Greef (NED/NED) 6-3/6-0

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
#12 Alisa Oktiabreva/RUS def. #2 Sun Xinran/CHN 6-2/6-1

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
J.Kovackova/K.Zajickova (CZE/CZE) def. #8 Hazelitt/Newman (USA/USA) 6-1/6-4

=WHEELCHAIR GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Luna Gryp/BEL def. #2 Seira Matsuoka/JPN 6-2/6-2

=WHEELCHAIR GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
Gryp/Matsuoka (BEL/JPN) def. Heald/Lopez Meza (USA/COL) 6-4/6-2

…CONCHITA FINALLY “WINS” HER ROLAND GARROS… ON DAY 14:

…ALL THE BEST SHOTS, and all the best lines, too… ON DAY 14:

…FOR A MINUTE, I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT FORGET (but Andreeva knows the game rules, and she wasn’t going to make not thanking herself be her only disappointment on this day)… ON DAY 14:

…I REPEAT, I REALLY *LIKE* THE NEW TRADITION OF THE WINNER SIGNING THEIR NAME TO A PLAQUE FOR THE WALL OF CHAMPIONS (it takes the idea of the “champion’s wall” first created by Wimbledon up another notch)… ON DAY 14:

…THE REAL INSIGHT COMES FROM FOUR-LEGGED WITNESSES… ON DAY 14:

…ONE FINAL BIT OF STUPIDITY… ON DAY 14:

How dare you cheer the win of the winning team.

…IT WAS ALL FOR THE FINAL PIN… ON DAY 14:



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*AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS*
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = MIRRA ANDREEVA, RUS (2026 RG)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
19 = Coco Gauff, USA (2023 US)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
21 = Coco Gauff, USA (2025 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
22 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2023 RG)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2024 RG)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
24 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2023 AO)
24 = Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (2023 WI)
24 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2025 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)
25 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 AO)
26 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 US)
26 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2026 AO)
27 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2025 US)
28 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2024 WI)
29 = Madison Keys, USA (2025 AO)

*FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT RG – Open era*
1971 Evonne Goolagong, AUS
1974 Chris Evert, USA
1976 Sue Barker, GBR
1977 Mima Jausovec, SLO
1978 Virginia Ruzici, ROU
1987 Steffi Graf, GER
1989 Arantxa Sanchez, ESP
1990 Monica Seles, YUG
1997 Iva Majoli, CRO
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Li Na, CHN
2016 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2018 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Ash Barty, AUS
2020 Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2026 Mirra Andreeva, RUS
—
NOTE: Ann Haydon-Jones won first career slam at ’61 Roland Garros, before Open era began in ’68

*RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS – since 2016*
2016 Australian Open – Angelique Kerber, GER
2016 Roland Garros – Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 Roland Garros – Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2017 U.S. Open – Sloane Stephens, USA
2018 Australian Open – Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2018 Roland Garros – Simona Halep, ROU
2018 U.S. Open – Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Roland Garros – Ash Barty, AUS
2019 U.S. Open – Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 Australian Open – Sofia Kenin, USA
2020 Roland Garros – Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Roland Garros – Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2021 U.S. Open – Emma Raducanu, GBR
2022 Wimbledon – Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Australian Open – Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2023 Wimbledon – Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
2023 U.S. Open – Coco Gauff, USA
2025 Australian Open – Madison Keys, USA
2026 Roland Garros – Mirra Andreeva, RUS

*TEEN SLAM FINALISTS SINCE 2000*
2000 AO – Martina Hingis, SUI (19)
2001 RG – Kim Clijsters, BEL (18)
2001 WI – Justine Henin, BEL (19)
2001 US – Serena Williams, USA (19)
2003 RG – Kim Clijsters, BEL (19) (19y,364d)
2004 WI – Maria Sharapova, RUS (17) – W
2004 US – Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (19) – W
2006 US – Maria Sharapova, RUS (19) – W
2007 AO – Maria Sharapova, RUS (19)
2009 US – Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (19)
2019 RG – Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (19)
2019 US – Bianca Andreescu, CAN (19) – W
2019 RG – Iga Swiatek, POL (19) – W
2021 US – Leylah Fernandez, CAN (19)
2021 US – Emma Raducanu, GBR (18) – W
2022 RG – Coco Gauff, USA (18) – W
2026 RG – Mirra Andreeva, RUS (19) -W

*ACTIVE PLAYERS – WON IN FIRST SLAM FINAL*
1999 U.S. Open – Serena Williams
2012 Australian Open – Victoria Azarenka
2017 Roland Garros – Alona Ostapenko
2017 U.S. Open – Sloane Stephens
2018 U.S. Open – Naomi Osaka
2019 U.S. Open – Bianca Andreescu
2020 Australian Open – Sofia Kenin
2020 Roland Garros – Iga Swiatek
2021 Roland Garros – Barbora Krejcikova
2021 U.S. Open – Emma Raducanu
2022 Wimbledon – Elena Rybakina
2023 Australian Open – Aryna Sabalenka
2026 Roland Garros – Mirra Andreeva

*SLAM FINALS BY NATION – 2020s*
==25 slams/50 finalists==
11 – USA (4-7)
9 – BLR (4-5)
7 – POL (6-1)*
5 – CZE (3-2)
3 – KAZ (2-1)
3 – TUN (0-3)
2 – AUS (2-0)
2 – ITA (0-2)
2 – JPN (2-0)
2 – RUS (1-1)*
1 – GBR (1-0)
1 – ESP (0-1)
1 – CAN (0-1)
1 – CHN (0-1)
[at RG]
4 – POL (4-1)*
3 – USA (1-2)
2 – CZE (1-1)
2 – RUS (1-1)*
1 – BLR (0-1)
1 – ITA (0-1)

*MOST WINS IN FIRST 20 MATCHES AT RG*
19 – Chris Evert
19 – Margaret Court
19 – Monica Seles
18 – MIRRA ANDREEVA
18 – Iga Swiatek

*SLAM SINGLES TITLES – RUS*
5 – Maria Sharapova
2 – Svetlana Kuznetsova
1 – MIRRA ANDREEVA
1 – Anastasia Myskina
[record in slam finals – USSR/RUS]
10 – Maria Sharapova (5-5)
4 – Svetlana Kuznetsova (2-2)
3 – Dinara Safina (0-3)
2 – Elena Dementieva (0-2)
2 – Olga Morozova [USSR] (0-2)
2 – Vera Zvonareva (0-2)
1 – MIRRA ANDREEVA (1-0)
1 – Anastasia Myskina (1-0)
1 – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (0-1)
1 – Natasha Zvereva [USSR] (0-1)

*LOW RANKED IN SLAM FINAL (OPEN ERA)*
NR – Evonne Goolagong (1977 AO – W)
NR – Kim Clijsters (2009 US – W)
NR – Justine Henin (2010 AO)
#181 – Serena Williams (2018 WI)
#150 – Emma Raducanu (2021 US – W)
#114 – MAJA CHWALINSKA (2026 RG – L)
#111 – Chris O’Neil (1978 AO – W)
#83 – Sloane Stephens (2017 US – W)
#81 – Serena Williams (2007 AO – W)

*2020s EARLY-CAREER SLAM BREAKOUTS – SF+, under 10 slams*
2020: Nadia Podoroska to RG SF (2nd career GS MD, age 23)
2020: Iga Swiatek wins RG (7th GS MD, age 19)
2021: Karolina Muchova to AO SF (9th GS MD, age 24)
2021: Tamara Zidansek to RG SF (9th GS MD, age 23)
2021: Barbora Krejcikova wins RG (5th GS MD, age 25)
2021: Leylah Fernandez in U.S. F (7th GS MD, age 19)
2021: Emma Raducanu wins U.S. (2nd GS MD, age 18)
2022: Martina Trevisan to RG SF (8th GS MD, age 28)
2024: Zheng Qinwen to AO F (9th GS MD, age 21)
2024: Mirra Andreeva to RG SF (5th GS MD, age 17)
2024: Emma Navarro to U.S. SF (8th GS MD, age 23)
2025: Lois Boisson to RG SF (1st GS MD/2nd WTA MD, age 22)
2026: Maja Chwalinska to RG F (3rd GS MD, age 24)

*MOST WTA FINALS in 2026*
4 – MIRRA ANDREEVA (3-1)
4 – Aryna Sabalenka (3-1)
3 – Marta Kostyuk (2-1)
3 – Elena Rybakina (2-1)
3 – Elina Svitolina (2-1)
3 – Victoria Mboko (0-3)
2 – Jessie Pegula (2-0)
2 – Karolina Muchova (1-1)
2 – Coco Gauff (0-2)

*ROLAND GARROS GIRLS FINALS – since 2018*
2018 Coco Gauff/USA def. Caty McNally/USA
2019 Leylah Fernandez/CAN def. Emma Navarro/USA
2020 Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. Alina Charaeva/RUS
2021 Linda Noskova/CZE def. Erika Andreeva/RUS
2022 Lucie Havlickova/CZE def. Solana Sierra/ARG
2023 Alina Korneeva/RUS def. Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER
2024 Tereza Valentova/CZE def. Laura Samson/CZE
2025 Lilli Tagger/AUT def. Hannah Klugman/GBR
2026 Alisa Oktiabreva/RUS def. Sun Xinran/CHN

*SOVIET/RUSSIAN JUNIOR SLAM WINNERS*
[USSR]
1965 Wimbledon – Olga Morozova
1971 Roland Garros – Elena Granatourova
1971 Wimbledon – Marina Kroshina
1975 Wimbledon – Natasha Chmyreva
1975 US Open – Natasha Chmyreva
1976 Wimbledon – Natasha Chmyreva
1986 Wimbledon – Natalia Zvereva
1987 Roland Garros – Natalia Zvereva
1987 Wimbledon – Natalia Zvereva
1987 US Open – Natalia Zvereva
[Russia]
1998 Roland Garros – Nadia Petrova
1999 Wimbledon – Lina Krasnoroutskaya
2002 Wimbledon – Vera Dushevina
2002 US Open – Maria Kirilenko
2006 Australian Open – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2006 US Open – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2007 Australian Open – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2009 Australian Open – Ksenia Pervak
2010 US Open – Dasha Gavrilova
2014 Australian Open – Elizaveta Kulichkova
2014 Roland Garros – Dasha Kasatkina
2015 Wimbledon – Sofya Zhuk
2016 Wimbledon – Anastasia Potapova
2023 Australian Open – Alina Korneeva
2023 Roland Garros – Alina Korneeva
2026 Roland Garros – Alisa Oktiabreva

*RUSSIAN WOMEN’S/GIRLS’ WINNERS AT SAME SLAM*
2006 US – Maria Sharapova (WS) & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (GS)
2014 RG – Maria Sharapova (WS) & Dasha Kasatkina (GS)
2026 RG – Mirra Andreeva (WS) & Alisa Oktiabreva (GS)

*RECENT GIRLS SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2020]
AO: Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND
RG: Elsa Jacquemot, FRA
[2021]
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE
WI: Ane Mintegi del Olmo, ESP
US: Robin Montgomery, USA
[2022]
AO: Petra Marcinko, CRO
RG: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
WI: Liv Hovde, USA
US: Alex Eala, PHI
[2023]
AO: Alina Korneeva, RUS
RG: Alina Korneeva, RUS
WI: Clervie Ngounoue, USA
US: Katherine Hui, USA
[2024]
AO: Renata Jamrichova, SVK
RG: Tereza Valentova, CZE
WI: Renata Jamrichova, SVK
US: Mika Stojsavljevic, GBR
[2025]
AO: Wakana Sonobe, JPN
RG: Lilli Tagger, AUT
WI: Mia Pohankova, SVK
US: Jeline Vandromme, BEL
[2026]
AO: Ksenia Efremova, FRA
RG: Alisa Oktiabreva, RUS

*JUNIOR GIRLS’ SLAM FINALS NATIONS – 2020s*
8 – RUS (4-4)*
7 – CZE (3-4)
6 – USA (4-2)
3 – SVK (3-0)
3 – JPN (1-2)
2 – FRA (2-0)
2 – GBR (1-1)
2 – AUS (0-2)
W (1-0): AND,AUT,BEL,CRO,ESP,PHI
L (0-1): ARG,BEL,BLR,CHN*,GER,HUN,PER,POL,SWE

*RECENT RG CHAMPIONS*
[Girl’s Doubles]
2015 Miriam Kolodziejova & Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE/CZE
2016 Paula Arias Manjon & Olga Danilovic, ESP/SRB
2017 Bianca Andreescu & Carson Branstine, CAN/CAN
2018 Caty McNally & Iga Swiatek, USA/POL
2019 Chloe Beck & Emma Navarro, USA/USA
2020 Eleonora Alvisi & Lisa Pigoti, ITA/ITA
2021 Alex Eala & Oksana Selekhmeteva, PHI/RUS
2022 Sara Bejlek & Lucie Havlickova, CZE/CZE
2023 Tyra Caterina Grant & Clervie Ngounoue, USA/USA
2024 Renata Jamrichova & Tereza Valentova, SVK/CZE
2025 Eva Bennemann & Sonja Zhenikhova, GER/GER
2026 Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova, CZE/CZE

*RECENT GIRLS DOUBLES SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2020]
AO: Alex Eala/Priska Madelyn Nugroho (PHI/INA)
RG: Eleonora Alvisi/Lisa Pigoti (ITA/ITA)
[2021]
RG: Alex Eala/Oksana Selekmeteva (PHI/RUS)
WI: Kristina Dmitruk/Diana Shnaider (BLR/RUS)
US: Ashlyn Krueger/Robin Montgomery (USA/USA)
[2022]
AO: Clervie Ngounoue/Diana Shnaider (USA/RUS)
RG: Sara Bejlek/Lucie Havlickova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Rose Marie Nijkamp/Angella Okutoyi (NED/KEN)
US: Lucie Havlickova/Diana Shnaider (CZE/RUS)
[2023]
AO: Renata Jamrichova/Federica Urgesi (SVK/ITA)
RG: Tyra Caterina Grant/Clervie Ngounoue (USA/USA)
WI: Alena Kovackova/Laura Samsonova (CZE/CZE)
US: Mara Gae/Anastasiia Gureva (ROU/RUS)
[2024]
AO: Tyra Caterina Grant/Iva Jovic (USA/USA)
RG: Renata Jamrichova/Tereza Valentova (SVK/CZE)
WI: Tyra Caterina Grant/Iva Jovic (USA/USA)
US: Malak El Allami/Emily Sartz-Lunde (MAR/NOR)
[2025]
AO: Annika Penickova/Kristina Penickova (USA/USA)
RG: Eva Bennemann/Sonja Zhenikova (GER/GER)
WI: Kristina Penickova/Vendula Valdmannova (USA/CZE)
US: Alena Kovackova/Jana Kovackova (CZE/CZE)
[2026]
AO: Alena Kovackova/Jana Kovackova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Jana Kovackova/Katerina Zajickova (CZE/CZE)

*RG WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Esther Vergeer, NED
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Esther Vergeer, NED
2013 Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Marjolein Buis, NED
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Diede de Groot, NED
2025 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2026 Diede de Groot, NED

*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS – active*
31 – Yui Kamiji, JPN (11-20)
28 – DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (24-4)
17 – Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-14)
7 – Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-3)
2 – Li Xiaohui, CHN (1-1)
1 – Wang Ziying, CHN (1-0)
1 – KSENIA CHASTEAU, FRA (0-1)
1 – Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (0-1)
1 – Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)
1 – Zhu Zhenzhen, CHN (0-1)

*RECENT WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS*
2017 WI – un Diede de Groot/NED def. un Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
2017 US – #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 AO – #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG – #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 WI – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Aniek van Koot/NED
2018 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 WI – un Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED
2019 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 AO – #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. un Aniek Van Koot/NED
2020 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 RG – #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. un Momoko Ohtani/JPN
2021 AO – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 RG – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 WI – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. Kgothatso Montjane/RSA
2021 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 AO – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Aniek Van Koot/NED
2022 RG – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 WI – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 AO – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 RG – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 WI – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Jiske Griffioen/NED
2023 US – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2024 AO – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2024 RG – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN
2024 WI – #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #4 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 AO – #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 RG – #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 WI – #4 Wang Ziying/CHN def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2025 US – #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN
2026 AO – #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN def. un Diede de Groot/NED
2026 RG – #4 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Ksenia Chasteau/FRA

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
24 – DIEDE DE GROOT, NED [6-5-6-6]*
21 – Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-x-6]
11 – Yui Kamiji, JPN [3-5-0-3]*
4 – Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]*
3 – Aniek Van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]*
3 – Monique Kalkman, NED [0-0-x-3]
2 – Daniela Di Toro, AUS [0-0-x-2]
2 – Sabine Ellerbrock, GER [1-1-x-0]
2 – Maaike Smit, NED [0-0-x-2]
2 – Chantal Vandierendonck, NED [0-0-x-2]
—
ACTIVE: 1 – Wang Ziying, CHN [0-0-1-0]*

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
43 – DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (24/19)*
42 – Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
34 – YUI KAMIJI, JPN (11/23)*
27 – Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
20 – Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/16)*
13 – Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/12)

*ALL-TIME WC SLAM TITLES (M+W)*
50 – Shingo Kunieda, JPN (28/22)
43 – DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (24/19)*
42 – Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
34 – YUI KAMIJI, JPN (11/23)*
34 – Alfie Hewett, GBR (10/24)*
30 – Gordon Reid, GBR (2/28)*
27 – Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*

*RECENT RG “IT” WINNERS*
2019 [GenPDQ Teens] A.Anisimova/USA, I.Swiatek/POL, M.Vondrousova/CZE
2020 [New Dane on the Block] Clara Tauson, DEN
2021 [Teen] Coco Gauff, USA
2022 [Teens] L.Fernandez/CAN, C.Gauff/USA, Zheng Q./CHN
2023 [One-Name Star] Mirra Andreeva, RUS
2024 [Teen] Mirra Andreeva, RUS
2025 [Française Forehand] Lois Boisson, FRA
2026 [Teen Champion] Mirra Andreeva, RUS

*RECENT RG “JUNIOR BREAKOUT” WINNERS*
2019 Diane Parry, FRA (WS MD win) and Emma Navarro, USA (RU)
2020 Elsa Jacquemot, FRA (W) and Anna Charaeva, RUS (RU)
2021 Linda Noskova, CZE (W)
2022 A Crush of Czechs – Bartunkova, Bejlek & Havlickova
2023 Lucciana Perez Alarcon, PER (RU) and Alisa Oktiabreva, RUS (SF)
2024 All-Crusher Final – Laura Samson vs. Tereza Valentova
2025 Lilli Tagger, AUT
2026 Alisa Oktiabreva, RUS


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Of course, now, I fear that far too many high school-aged students might say, “What’s World War II?”


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Imagine that.


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Well… didn’t everyone know at the time that they only gave the money because they’d get something for it? Every relationship with you-know-who is transactional.


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TOP QUALIFIER: Claire Liu/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #3 Iga Swiatek/POL
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #15 Marta Kostyuk/UKR (con. Top 10 wins to reach first major SF)
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #8 Mirra Andreeva/RUS (maiden slam title at age 19)
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: Oceane Dodin/FRA (PR) def. Kayla Day/USA 6-4/2-6/7-6(15-13) – saved 2 MP in TB, wins on MP #5
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. – #7 Elina Svitolina/UKR def. Anna Bondar/HUN 3-6/6-1/7-6(10-3) – Bondar, who def. in Madrid, led 3-1 in 3rd set; Rome champ Svitolina avoids first 1st Rd. loss in RG career)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. – #28 Anastasia Potapova/AUT def. #4 Coco Gauff/USA 4-6/7-6(1)/6-4 (DC Gauff 2 pts from win in 2nd; up 3-1 in 3rd)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): QF – #25 Diana Shnaider/RUS def. #1 Aryna Sabelanka/BLR 6-3/6-7(3)/6-0 – Sabalenka led 6-3/4-1 30/love; at 5-4, 30/15 missed on volley when had open court for MP; lost last ten games)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #27 Marie Bouzkova/CZE (def. Bronzetti/ITA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #21 Clara Tauson/DEN (1r – lost to Snigur/UKR)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Susan Bandecchi/SUI (1st MD), Marina Bassols Ribera/ESP (2nd MD), Francesca Jones/GBR (7th MD), Oleksandra Oliynykova/UKR (2nd MD), Kaitlin Quevedo/ESP (1st MD), Antonia Ruzic/CRO (3rd MD)
UPSET QUEENS: Switzerland
REVELATION LADIES: Poland (4-0 1st Rd. in consecutive ’26 majors)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: FRA (none of 14 in Q-draw reach MD; wild cards go 0-6 year after WC Boisson to SF; 2-7 1st Rd.; Boisson out 1r)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maja Chwalinska/POL (RU)
LUCKY LOSER WINS: —
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: 0-8 in 1st Rd.
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Jil Teichmann/SUI (in 3r)
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Diane Parry (4th Rd.)
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITÉ : Marta Kostyuk/UKR and Diana Shnaider/RUS
IT “??“: Mirra Andreeva/RUS (maiden slam title at age 19)
COMEBACK: Hordettes (two Russians in RG SF for first time since 2009; at only second major in 17 years; Andreeva first RUS slam champ since 2014 RG; third time women’s/girls’ winners are both Hordettes, w/ ’06 US and ’14 RG)
CRASH & BURN: #5 Jessie Pegula/USA (1r- lost to #83 Birrell, who’d lost 9 con. slam 1r matches and 3-13 career; Pegula led by 6-1/2-1 w/ break; second 1r loss in major since RG20) and #2 Elena Rybakina/KAZ (AO champ out 2r in 3rd set TB to #55 Starodubtseva)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: Elina Svitolina/UKR (1r- trailed Bondar 3-1 in 3rd; avoided first 1r RG loss in 13 app.; 3r- lost 1st to Bencic, faced BP early in 2nd, then won 15/17 pts, 11/14 games to end)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Errani (MX defense), Siniakova/Townsend, Danilina/Krunic
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Sorana Cirstea/ROU (second RG QF 17 years after first)
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: Aryna Sabalenka (def. Osaka in first women’s night session match scheduled since 2023)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Alisa Oktiabreva/RUS
ROLAND-GARROS ROLLER: Ksenia Chasteau/FRA (first slam singles final at age 20)
Légion de Lenglen: 100th anniversary of Suzanne Lenglen’s last “grand slam” titles (RG WS/WD/MX sweep) in 1926 (she’d retire after controversial Wimbledon withdrawal and join professional tour that summer)
Coupe LA-PETIT-TAUREAU: Maja Chwalinska/POL – 5’5″ Pole reaches maiden slam QF in first RG MD on June 1 (Henin’s birthday)

All for Day 14. More tomorrow.

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