June saw the conclusion of the second Grand Slam of the year: Roland Garros, as well as the build-up to Wimbledon on the grass courts.
Alcaraz wins first Roland Garros
After battling past Lorenzo Musetti in five sets, Novak Djokovic had to come through another five setter against Francisco Cerundolo to reach the Quarter Finals. However, he was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury, giving Casper Ruud a walkover into the Semi Finals. Alex de Minaur managed to take out Daniil Medvedev, but lost in the Quarter Finals to Alex Zverev, who needed five sets to beat Holger Rune in the previous round. Despite Ruud taking the first set, Zverev beat him in four sets to advance to his second ever Grand Slam Final.
In the other half, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were set for a heavyweight clash in the Semi Finals, after the Spaniard beat Stefanos Tsistipas and the Italian beat Grigor Dimitrov in the Quarter Finals. Whilst for large parts it didn’t live up the quality of their previous encounters, it was still dramatic, with Alcaraz triumphing in five sets to make his first Roland Garros Final. He went on to beat Zverev in five sets to win his third Grand Slam title. Results also meant that Sinner became world number 1 for the first time, becoming just the 29th man in the open era to achieve the feat.
Swiatek reigns again in Paris
One youngster making headlines already in her career is Mirra Andreeva, and she made more in Roland Garros by advancing to the Quarter Finals, and then taking out 2nd seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Semi Finals. She set up a meeting with Jasmine Paolini, who took out Elena Rybakina. The Italian, having a breakthrough season on the WTA Tour, beat Andreeva comfortably to make her first Grand Slam Final.
Coco Gauff battled through to the Semi Finals, coming from a set down to beat Ons Jabeur in the Quarter Finals. Unfortunately for her, Iga Swiatek stood in her way. The Pole came within a point from defeat in the Second Round against Naomi Osaka, but that scare seemed to only make her stronger, as she bulldozed through the rest of the field, beating Anastasia Potapova without dropping a game and Marketa Vondrousova dropping just two games. She then came through against Gauff to reach the Final, and defended her title, beating Paolini for the loss of just three games. That was her third Roland Garros title in a row, and fourth overall.
Perfect start to Sinner’s world number 1 reign
Sinner began his Wimbledon preparations in perfect fashion, winning the Halle ATP 500 title, beating Hubert Hurkacz in the Final. Alcaraz was beaten by Britain’s Jack Draper in the Second Round at the Queen’s ATP 500, and after winning his first ATP title the week before in Stuttgart, Draper will lead British male hopes in SW19 this year, and probably for many years to come. Tommy Paul came away with the title at Queen’s, beating Lorenzo Musetti in the Final for his first ATP 500 title.
Jessica Pegula won the Berlin WTA 500 title, beating Anna Kalinskaya in a tightly-contested Final.
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