When Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in Tennis Paradise earlier this year, each the last superstar standing in their respective draws, tennis fans around the world were treated to dazzling displays from two of the most decorated young stars in the sport.
Get TicketsFast forward nearly three months later, and once again it’s the Pole and Spainiard left standing above the rest of the field at Roland-Garros. It's another incredible milestone for two of the sport's brightest young superstars, and it's a historic feat as the first time that both Indian Wells champions have also gone on to win in Paris in the same year.
Swiatek and Alcaraz standing atop the podium on championship weekend is a sight that fans around the world should get used to seeing for years if not decades to come. Here’s a look back at how the 2024 BNP Paribas Open champions took to the clay in Paris to claim the year’s second Grand Slam honor.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek may just be 23-years-old, but that youthful age hasn’t stopped her from being crowned as the Queen of Clay. The two-time and reigning Indian Wells champion is now a four-time champion at Roland-Garros.
Swiatek’s dismantling of Jasmine Paolini (6-2, 6-1) in the Roland-Garros final was a microcosm of the dominance she displayed for practically the entire tournament. After staving off match point and a valiant upset effort from Naomi Osaka in an instant classic second round match, it was all straightforward from that point on for the Pole as she failed to drop a set the rest of the tournament and rolled to the title.
It’s now Swiatek’s fifth major to her trophy case and a third straight title in Paris, a three-peat feat that only the great Monica Seles and Justine Henin have been able to accomplish on the famed clay courts of Roland-Garros. The Pole’s heavy spin and relentless attacking and aggressive play has made her an absolute force to play on any surface, but particularly the clay.
With a dominant recent run of form and no signs of slowing down anytime soon, Swiatek has solidified herself as the WTA's clear top dog. Next on her list to conquer will be a first career Wimbledon crown.
The legend of Carlos Alcaraz continues to grow.
The two-time defending Indian Wells champion pulled off one of the signature victories of his career this past weekend, coming back from a 2 sets to 1 deficit to take down Alexander Zverev in the Roland-Garros final.
This marks Alcaraz’s first Roland-Garros title and third major win overall, which now gives him the honor of having won a Grand Slam on hard court (US Open, 2022), grass (Wimbledon 2023), and now the clay. At just 21-years-old, the Spanish sensation is the youngest ATP player to claim a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces, and it seems as if this is just the start of more record-breaking performances to come in the future. Alcaraz’s compatriot in Rafael Nadal has set the bar rather high when it comes to breaking records at Roland-Garros, but what Alcaraz has been able to accomplish so far in such a short career is an encouraging sign to come that the future of the sport is in great hands.
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