TENNIS INSIDE OUT
Angelique KerberDominic ThiemGarbine MuguruzaMadison KeysMaria SharapovaRafael NadalSerena WilliamsSimona HalepSloane Stephens

The French Open 2018 According to Our Friends : Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Joey, Monica and Chandler

Val and J.D.


 
Another anticipated match-up that actually did happen was Halep versus Kerber. As expected, the first set was a battle of strength, brutal rallies, and what Angie thought was a lot of running. After the German dug out the first set on the heels of some helpful Halep errors in the TB, things took a turn in the next set.
 


 
Despite Angie’s best efforts to break up Simona’s patterns of attack, the Romanian was clearly prepared for the Japanese state of total awareness that prepares one for any danger that may befall them…
 

 


 
After obliterating Sharapova in the previous round, Garbine Muguruza seemed poised to slice her way through Halep’s feisty defense in the semifinals. Unfortunately for Gabby’s fans, she crumbled under the weight of 31 errors and some less-than-stellar serve stats, and lost 1-6, 4-6.

The aforementioned fans were left a bit stunned.
 


 
On the other side of the draw, two great friends straight-setted their quarterfinals and were forced to play each other in the seminfinals.
 


 
Madison tried not to think about how her last match-up with BFF Sloane had gone, a 3-6 0-6 loss in the US Open final.
 


Both ladies confessed afterwards that it was difficult to face off against a friend, but Sloane proved she could truly set aside those feelings. She played a focused, dominant match and scooped up the 6-4, 6-4 win to get a shot at another Slam title.
 

 
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American tennis fans rejoiced as Sloane came out guns blazing in the Roland Garros final, with nerves of steel, seemingly effortless power, and the ability to absorb the normally crushing pace of Simona’s rallies. As Sloane wrapped up the first set, 6-3, Simona tried to find that power to thwart any oncoming danger…what was it called again…???
 


 
Oh crapz. As the second set seemed to be going the way of the first, Simona was overcome with a feeling of deja vu….
 

 
Where she would once have wallowed down into her “forever a bridesmaid” role, into a sad pool of fuchsia tulle and taffeta, this time Simona chose to fight. She altered her tactics, upped her game, and capitalized on the unexpected lull when Sloane had perhaps imagined the finish line a bit prematurely.

After over a set of gleeful gloating over Sloane’s GOATing on the court, her fans suddenly found their fave losing more and more momentum by the minute.
 


 
Sloane, who had seemed so cool and collected and invincible, suddenly looked a bit winded and out of ideas. Ultimately she racked up 39 errors, while Simona kept her count to 26, with 18 winners and an impressive climb back from a set and a break deficit.

Simona had done it. Slam champion at the French Open, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
 

 


 
Simona was short and sweet in her trophy acceptance speech, gracious and humble. Of course, you know on the inside she was thinking of all those critiques of her “Slamless #1” status.
 


 
…and feeling pretty damn good as she proved way more powerful than any catfight hype…
 

 
Bravo, Simona!


 
Now, as we head to the reception for Simona, let us spare a thought for Dominic Thiem.
 


 
After working through four-setters against Tsitsipas, Berrettini, and Nishikori, blasting past #NextGen darling Sascha Zverev, and straight-setting the uber talented surprise Nole-slayer, Cecchinato, the young Austrian unfortunately lost his way against the inhuman force that is Nadal at Roland Garros, as so many before him have done.

As if a gutting loss wasn’t bad enough, especially when he had really been feeling like he might be good enough to not only extend the match, but actually win the trophy…
 


 


 
We know Dom would be too gracious to do it himself, so we’ll respond for him:

 
No, this wasn’t the result Dominic or any of his fans wanted, but surely there was plenty in these two weeks of play to be proud of. And on Monday, he’ll move back up a spot in the rankings, to…
 

 

Ahem. Yes, it’s true. Win or lose, there is still a lot of love out there for Domi, aka the peach strudel. And with Simona as inspiration, Dominic fans can take heart that a Slam final is one more step to that eventual Slam win. And hopefully many Slam wins.

And in the meantime…we will enjoy the searing one-handed backhand winners, the blistering serves out wide, the sexy Austrian-accented English cursing on missed points, and well…you know.
 

We hope you have enjoyed our Roland Garros According to Our Friends wrap-up!!! Please RT and share on all your fave social media!




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