SI

Women's favorites remain, top men win with physical tennis as quarterfinals begin

Five thoughts on Monday's action at the French Open, where Simona Halep, Andy Murray, Karolina Pliskova advanced to the quarterfinals.

Jon Wertheim

Women's favorites remain, top men win with physical tennis as quarterfinals begin
Women's favorites remain, top men win with physical tennis as quarterfinals begin /

PARIS – Five thoughts from the second Monday at the 2017 French Open, where fourth round play wrapped up and the quarterfinalists secured their spots in the final eight in the men's and women's draws.

“In the absence of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, the women’s draw is one giant, gaping chasm.”

This was the received wisdom before the 2017 French Open kicked off. To some extent this has come to pass. At the halfway mark of the tournament, we were already assured that a first-time Slam winner would emerge. And yet most of the favorites remain. Simona Halep, a finalist three years ago and the third seed, is back to playing top-shelf tennis. She stormed past Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-1 on Monday.

19-year-old Jelena Ostapenko reaches first career Grand Slam quarterfinal

Elina Svitolina—who’s already won four titles year—stole victory from the mandible of defeat, beating Petra Martic after being down 2-5, 0-30 in the third set. And Karolina Pliskova, the second seed, required three sets, but held off Veronica Cepede Royg in three sets. Say this about the favorites: they’ve played like it.

“The sport has never been more physical.” 

That’s more received wisdom in tennis. And we got a vivid display on Monday at Roland Garros, an afternoon of body blows. Two competitors may not touch each other until the handshake. But that doesn’t mean they don’t impose their physical will on the opponent. Kei Nishikori didn’t show up for the first set against Fernando Verdasco but then put on the hurt, winning by the unusual score 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.

Rafael Nadal rolls into 11th French Open quarterfinals

Likewise, Stan Wawrinka brutalized Gael Monfils with his heavy strokes and corner-to-corner accuracy, winning in straight sets. And Kevin Anderson lasted just 12 games against Marin Cilic before retiring with a left thigh injury. We talk about the “last man standing” as the draw winnows and is pruned of players. Here, more than any other event, it can be taken literally.

More thoughts on French Open Day 9:

Published
Jon Wertheim
JON WERTHEIM

Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and has been part of the full-time SI writing staff since 1997, largely focusing on the tennis beat , sports business and social issues, and enterprise journalism. In addition to his work at SI, he is a correspondent for "60 Minutes" and a commentator for The Tennis Channel. He has authored 11 books and has been honored with two Emmys, numerous writing and investigative journalism awards, and the Eugene Scott Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Wertheim is a longtime member of the New York Bar Association (retired), the International Tennis Writers Association and the Writers Guild of America. He has a bachelor's in history from Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in New York City with his wife, who is a divorce mediator and adjunct law professor. They have two children.

Home/Tennis