With the 2022 French Open in the final week of action, a power-packed roster of BNP Paribas Open standouts are vying for the coveted Roland Garros title.
From living icons cementing their legendary status to unheralded newcomers orchestrating career-defining breakthroughs; Tennis Paradise has consistently created some of the sport’s most notable moments. Especially in recent years, the BNP Paribas Open has become an annual showcase for legacy bolstering victories as well as a launching pad for emerging stars to claim the biggest title of their young careers.
The Tennis Paradise standouts remaining in the French Open draw follow this blueprint exactly, as all-time greats such as Rafael Nadal as well as ascending stars like Iga Swiatek hope to add another milestone moment to their careers this week from the iconic la terre battue in Paris.
With the quarterfinals underway, let’s dive into the Tennis Paradise standouts who have a chance to lift the French Open trophy this weekend:
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal’s personal best 20-0 start to the 2022 season, which ranks third in the Open Era, may have come to an end in the Indian Wells final in March, but the 35-year-old continues to set new standards in the sport. The three-time BNP Paribas Open titlist (2007, 2009, 2013) won his record 403rd ATP Masters 1000 match in the semifinals and has put together a throwback season for the ages throughout the first half of 2022.
Now, the undoubtedly greatest clay court player in history is hoping to replicate the success he’s achieved thirteen times before: winning the French Open title. After dispatching a bevy of top-ranked contenders including Novak Djokovic, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jordan Thompson, and Botic Van de Zandschulp, the legendary Spaniard is the undeniable favorite to claim the title in Paris once again.
Iga Swiatek
Perfection is the only way to describe Iga Swiatek’s winning streak throughout the 2022 season, as the rising Polish star has won five straight tournaments – Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, and Rome. In Tennis Paradise, Swiatek defeated a diverse range of opponents including former champions such as Simona Halep, rising stars like Clara Tauson, and top-10 contenders including Maria Sakkari. It’s safe to say that it’s all coming together for Swiatek, and the newly minted World No. 1 has shown no signs of slowing down so far in Paris.
Opponents Jessica Pegula, Lesia Tsurenko, Alison Riske, and Danka Kovinic have looked completely overmatched, as Swiatek systematically downed them each in straight sets. The sky is truly the limit for the burgeoning 20-year-old superstar, as she’s approaching unprecedented levels of success in a single season. Make no mistake about it, whether or not she wins the French Open title, Swiatek is on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport.
