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Carlos Alcaraz declared Iga Swiatek the current world number one as she maintains her ruthless dominance at the French Open

The tennis world is still enthralled with Iga Swiatek’s reign at the French Open 2024. Her performances at the French Open have been extraordinary as she attempts to complete a historic three-peat.

Carlos Alcaraz, a male tennis player, has acknowledged Swiatek’s brilliance by naming her the greatest player in the world.

According to Alcaraz, “Iga is the best player in the world right now,” CBS Sports reported. “She’s become really good at tennis. “What she has done is simply amazing.”

Alcaraz’s commendation is highly significant. Swiatek is one of the most talented men’s tennis players, and his recognition of her abilities brings attention to her remarkable abilities and dependability on the court.

Swiatek is a powerful force in women’s tennis thanks to her remarkable accomplishments along the way to the top.

The top-ranked player in the world, Swiatek, has dominated women’s tennis in recent years. She is only 23 years old, but she has already accomplished incredible feats.

She became the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title in 2020 when she won her first French Open championship. This marked the beginning of her ascent to fame.

Swiatek’s career has taken off ever then. Her 37-match winning streak in 2022—the longest WTA winning streak since Martina Hingis in 1997—was evidence of her brilliance and consistency.

Her dominance was cemented by these performances, which also brought her the WTA Player of the Year title for two years running—a feat last accomplished by Serena Williams.

Swiatek has had a combination of strong performances and resilience moments as she attempts to win the French Open for the third time in a row.

She faced Naomi Osaka in the second round of the French Open, which was a pivotal milestone in her current campaign. It was an intense struggle, and Swiatek almost missed an upset.

This close call seemed to light a flame in her, as she went on to put on one of her best performances to date, defeating Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0 in just forty minutes, the shortest tour-level match of her career.

Swiatek’s supremacy has been on full display in her subsequent matches. She easily defeated Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinals, winning 6-0, 6-2.

She then squares off against American celebrity Coco Gauff in a much awaited semifinal match. This is a rematch of the French Open final from 2022, which Swiatek won handily 6-1, 6-3.

Swiatek is the obvious favorite given her current form, but Gauff’s skill and tenacity suggest an interesting competition.

Swiatek has received praise for her domination from peers as well as fans and commentators. Notable is Carlos Alcaraz’s declaration that Swiatek is the world’s greatest player.

Alcaraz acknowledges the greatness that Swiatek gives to the sport and appears on the cover of Top Spin 2K25 with Francis Tiafoe and Swiatek.

“Those two? Alcaraz referred to Roger Federer and Serena Williams as “legends.” “In sports in general as well as in tennis. They are idolized by many sportsmen, and it’s wonderful that they represent tennis.”

By contrasting Swiatek with these icons, one can see the difference she is making in the sport. Her current position is a result of her technical skill, mental tenacity, and capacity for high-level performance on a regular basis.

Future prospects for Swiatek in tennis seem promising. She has already accomplished at the age of 23 what many players can only hope for.

She doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon based on her current form. She might follow in the footsteps of tennis greats like Serena Williams and Steffi Graf if she keeps going in this direction.

Swiatek’s supremacy at Roland Garros and her potential three-peat at the French Open are evidence of her tremendous talent, hard effort, and dedication.

She is not only guaranteeing her spot in tennis history but also serving as an inspiration to a new generation of players as she keeps up her success.

The narrative of Iga Swiatek’s rise to prominence in women’s tennis is one of skill meeting opportunity. She is the greatest player in the world, and Carlos Alcaraz rightfully believes so, considering her recent form and unwavering supremacy.

The tennis community will be keenly observing her as she advances in her career, curious to see what new heights she will scale.

Tennis players in the future will surely be motivated by Swiatek’s legacy, as her path serves as a potent reminder of the amazing potential in the game.

*This is an opinion based article by Priya Singhania, @09sports.com

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Sports News Tennis

Ons Jabeur Calls for More Prime Time Spotlight on Women’s Tennis at French Open

The ninth-ranked player in the world right now, Ons Jabeur, has urged the French Open organizers to do more to highlight women’s tennis during the tournament’s prime time periods. Jabeur believes that despite attempts, there is still a big difference between the men’s and women’s schedules for the highly sought-after night sessions.

Disparity in Night Time Scheduling

Jabeur’s remarks draw attention to a bigger problem at the French Open and perhaps in tennis generally: the underrepresentation of women’s matches during prime time. Women’s singles matches were played in just two of the twenty night sessions in the 2022 and 2023 championships. In 2024, the first four days of the night sessions will feature just men’s singles matches, maintaining the skewed distribution. These spots have been occupied by well-known athletes including Andy Murray, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, highlighting the tournament’s bias for male competitors during these intensely watched periods.

The Importance of Prime Time Exposure

Sporting events must be scheduled at prime time to maximize visibility and promotion. Evening matches typically draw bigger crowds for both live and broadcast viewing. enhanced interest in the sport, more money made by advertising, and bigger chances for the participating athletes can all result from this enhanced exposure. The French Open unintentionally reinforces the false belief that men’s tennis is more significant or interesting than women’s tennis by mostly scheduling men’s matches during certain times.

Notable Women’s Matches Overlooked

Some of the most interesting matches in women’s tennis, according to Jabeur, aren’t getting enough attention. For instance, Sinner’s match versus French veteran Richard Gasquet was slated for prime time, while the much awaited match between world number one Iga Swiatek and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was set for the afternoon. Jabeur and other supporters of women’s matches believing they might attract a sizable audience if given the same opportunity as men’s matches were disappointed by this decision.

Support from Fellow Players

Jabeur’s criticism is not unique. The three-time major champion Andy Murray showed his support on social media by drawing attention to the squandered chance to screen the Swiatek-Osaka match during a night session. Murray’s support demonstrates how male players as well as female athletes understand the importance of gender equity in sports scheduling.

The Role of Amelie Mauresmo

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, a former world number one, has been acknowledged by Jabeur for her efforts to balance the scheduling. Mauresmo’s position as a former top player gives her unique insight into the importance of fair representation. However, as Jabeur noted, significant changes take time. The hope is that Mauresmo’s influence will gradually lead to a more balanced approach in the allocation of prime time slots.

The Broader Implications

Jabeur’s advocacy goes beyond just tennis; it is part of a larger movement to promote women’s sports more generally. Increased visibility in prime time can have a ripple effect, encouraging more young girls to take up sports, increasing the popularity of women’s competitions, and ensuring that female athletes receive the recognition and financial rewards they deserve.

Final Thought

Jabeur is dedicated to advocating for change and is still upbeat about the future. Her call to action serves as a helpful reminder that despite recent advancements, much work remains. We anticipate seeing a more equal representation of women’s matches in prime time slots at the French Open and other big athletic events with sustained player lobbying and support from tournament organizers.

The discussion that Ons Jabeur started on the differences in schedule at the French Open highlights a larger problem with gender parity in sports. Even if this disparity is being addressed, it appears that there is still more work to be done, based on the French Open’s current scheduling. Athletes such as Jabeur, by persisting in their advocacy for increased prime time opportunities for women’s matches, are pivotal in propelling the necessary change to attain full equality in sports.

This Article was edited by Anmol, author @09sports.com

Source – France24

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