French Tennis Star Chloé Paquet Stuns at Roland-Garros 2024
In a remarkable display of resilience and skill, Chloé Paquet, currently ranked 136th in the world, has made it to the third round of the French Open for the first time in her career. Playing her seventh French Open, the Versaillaise faced a formidable opponent in the 32nd seed, Katerina Siniakova.
The match began on a positive note for Paquet, who managed the first break but then lost momentum, conceding six consecutive games to lose the first set. Despite being overshadowed in the second set, she turned the tide with immense public support and ultimately clinched the set in a tie-break.
Paquet's dominance was apparent even as the rain disrupted proceedings, halting the match for over two hours. Yet, she remained composed, even as Siniakova returned with renewed vigor. The encounter eventually boiled down to a nerve-wracking super tie-break, which Paquet mastered. By eschewing risks and executing precision plays, she swiftly took a 5-0 lead, ultimately securing the victory.
This triumphant win against the 33rd player in the world marks the pinnacle of Paquet's Grand Slam career. Her next challenge comes in the form of another Czech player, Marketa Vondrousova, the world's sixth-ranked player.
- Notably, Chloé Paquet's victory was not the only dramatic moment for French players at Roland-Garros this week. Adrian Mannarino, the world’s 22nd-ranked player and French No.2, faced a frustrating exit in the first round. Despite taking the first set against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, Mannarino could not maintain his lead, ultimately losing 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. This marks his 16th appearance without advancing past the second round.
- Mannarino, known more for his proficiency on hard and grass courts, had previously indicated his lack of interest in participating in the upcoming Olympic Games at Roland-Garros unless he saw a viable path to winning a medal.
