Maria Sakkari qualified for the semi-finals at Roland Garros. – Thibault Camus / AP / SIPA
At Roland-Garros,
Each year, we tell ourselves that we could not be more surprised than the last. And every year, we are wrong. In Roland even more than elsewhere, the feminine picture is constantly turned upside down. While we saw Iga Swiatek, the comet of last year, become the first player since Justine Hénin (2005-2006-2007) to retain her title, the Polish was ejected in straight sets by the solid Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals this Wednesday.
“It’s a great success,” said the Greek after the meeting. But I don’t want to get carried away too much, since I’m playing again tomorrow [jeudi, en demi-finales]. I’m enjoying the court right now, I’m having fun, my entourage told me that it was coming, but I was impatient, I said “ok, but when?” Well that was for this fortnight. “
“We can all claim the title”
Bizut at this stage of the competition, however, she will not suffer from a disadvantage compared to the other three players. The seed number 17 will even be the best ranked of the bunch. She forms, with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (32nd world), Barbora Krejcikova (33rd) and Tamara Zidansek (85th) the last most improbable square in history. If anyone had dared to bet on it at the start of the tournament, they too could build their own rocket to launch into space.
“The way in which the classification works means that we cannot trust it, however qualifies Sakkari. It’s true that it’s a surprise for everyone, and it happens more with girls than with boys, but all four of us have played very well this year. We can all claim the title. “No way for her to see herself as a favorite, anyway. “The table has changed so much, it doesn’t matter who is top ranked, the ranking doesn’t mean anything anymore. “We promise, this time we will remember for next year.