By: Catherine Cai
It was something out of a storybook, like David versus Goliath, or the mysterious warrior duking with the king’s finest. On June 10th, the final match at the French Open between the women’s number one tennis player, Iga Swiatek, and the unknown unseeded player, Karolina Muchova, was truly something for the ages.
Everything about this match seemed destined for the stage. Starting with their styles, Swiatek was lauded by peers as someone who had a very fiery, “aggressive approach built around taking every opportunity to blast her forehand and pound opponents off the court” (The Natural and the No. 1 Will Face Off in the French Womenʼs Final – NYT). Muchova was the opposite, receiving praise for the flowing, “varied, all-court style”, along with her “buttery smooth strokes, her deceptive power, sublime balance… and seemingly effortless movement” (The Natural and the No. 1 Will Face Off in the French Womenʼs Final – NYT).
Even their professional lives seem scripted. Muchova, who plays the misfortunate antagonist constantly dogged “by a series of nagging injuries, including a sprained ankle…and back and knee problems,” and Swiatek, the shining protagonist, winning “her first Grand Slam title when she was 19 years old and [becoming] the world No. 1” (The Natural and the No. 1 Will Face Off in the French Womenʼs Final – NYT).
The final would either cement an old legend or propel a new one. During the final, Swiatek pounded through the first set, winning 6-2. Muchova came back for another round, and extinguished Swiatek’s flame to win the second set 7-5. Then, in a final match reminiscent of the World Cup Final, Swiatek snatched the trophy off Muchova’s missed serve. Even though Muchova did not win against the world No. 1, this does not discredit her, as “Muchova has played five matches against players ranked in the top three, and she has won every time” (The Natural and the No. 1 Will Face Off in the French Womenʼs Final – NYT). No one is fooled by this win – Muchova will return.
The queen may have vaporized the knight, but not for long.
Source: The Natural and the No. 1 Will Face Off in the French Womenʼs Final – NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/sports/tennis/french-open-women-swiatek-muchova.html