Friday, June 11, 2021

Doubles action at Roland Garros gets more exciting, but watching it is another matter

The second seeds, Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova, will contest the French Open title on Sunday against the 14th seeds, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Swiatek. Swiatek, of course, is out of singles competition, but she still has a chance to hold a trophy. Krejcikova will play in the singles final on Saturday, and--should she win--she would then be trying to become the first woman since Mary Pierce (2000) to take both titles.

Mattek-Sands and Swiatek (who has a leg injury) have already experienced quite a bit of drama. Down 1-5 in the third set against the tops seeds, Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens, they saved seven match points and went on to win the their third round match.

You'll probably want to watch the doubles final on Sunday, but good luck with that. Neither Tennis Channel nor NBC is broadcasting it; you have to view it on the Peacock Premium network.

In the meantime, Californian Desirae Krawczyk, with partner Joe Salisbury, won the mixed doubles title, defeating Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev in the final. Vesnina and Salisbury lost, yes, but the Russian WTA player made quite a statement, getting to a final upon her return to the tour after a two-year break. Vesnina, a former doubles world number 1 with five major women's doubles titles, also has an Australian Open mixed doubles title.

Krawczyk and Salisbury were mixed doubles semifinalists at this year's Australian Open.

No comments: