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Thought this was an interesting article to share. Sorry if it has been posted already.
http://www.wtatennis.com/news/20120608/the-french-open-final-stats-at-a-glance_2256076_2806146
PARIS, France - After a tough two weeks just two players are left standing at the French Open: Maria Sharapova and Sara Errani. Here's a plethora of stats to chew on heading into the biggest match of the clay court season...
~ This is the first time a Grand Slam final has been a first-time meeting since the 2009 US Open final (Kim Clijsters against Caroline Wozniacki).
~ This is the first time a French Open final has been a first-time meeting since the 1988 French Open final (Steffi Graf against Natasha Zvereva).
~ Sharapova is trying to become the sixth woman in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam after Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams; she is trying to become the 10th all-time as well (also Maureen Connolly, Shirley Fry and Billie Jean King).
~ Sharapova will spend her 18th career week at No.1 starting on Monday, her first 17 weeks coming in four separate stretches:
- 1 week from August 22 to 28, 2005
- 6 weeks from September 12 to October 23, 2005
- 7 weeks from January 29, 2007 to March 18, 2007
- 3 weeks from May 19 to June 8, 2008
~ Sharapova is in her seventh Grand Slam final and has a 3-3 record in her first six (all of her previous ones have been decided in straight sets):
- 2004 Wimbledon (d. Serena Williams, 61 64)
- 2006 US Open (d. Justine Henin, 64 64)
- 2007 Australian Open (l. to Serena Williams, 61 62)
- 2008 Australian Open (d. Ana Ivanovic, 75 63)
- 2011 Wimbledon (l. to Petra Kvitova, 63 64)
- 2012 Australian Open (l. to Victoria Azarenka, 63 60)
~ Sharapova is 15-0 on red clay this year.
~ Errani is 23-2 on red clay this year, the losses coming in Fed Cup play (retired against Lesia Tsurenko) and Rome (lost to Samantha Stosur).
~ Never had there been four first-time Grand Slam winners in a row before Li Na, Petra Kvitova, Sam Stosur and Victoria Azarenka won the last four - with Errani in this final, that will extend to five in a row if the Italian wins.
~ Errani was 0-28 against Top 10 players coming into the tournament, but is now 2-28 in that stat after back-to-back wins over World No.10 Angelique Kerber and World No.6 Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
~ Errani is the first player since Kim Clijsters in 2003 to reach both the singles and doubles finals here (Errani's doubles partner is Roberta Vinci).
~ Errani is projected to rise from No.24 to No.10 on the new WTA Rankings, regardless of what happens in the final; she will be the third Italian ever to break into the Top 10 (after Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone).
http://www.wtatennis.com/news/20120608/the-french-open-final-stats-at-a-glance_2256076_2806146
PARIS, France - After a tough two weeks just two players are left standing at the French Open: Maria Sharapova and Sara Errani. Here's a plethora of stats to chew on heading into the biggest match of the clay court season...
~ This is the first time a Grand Slam final has been a first-time meeting since the 2009 US Open final (Kim Clijsters against Caroline Wozniacki).
~ This is the first time a French Open final has been a first-time meeting since the 1988 French Open final (Steffi Graf against Natasha Zvereva).
~ Sharapova is trying to become the sixth woman in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam after Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams; she is trying to become the 10th all-time as well (also Maureen Connolly, Shirley Fry and Billie Jean King).
~ Sharapova will spend her 18th career week at No.1 starting on Monday, her first 17 weeks coming in four separate stretches:
- 1 week from August 22 to 28, 2005
- 6 weeks from September 12 to October 23, 2005
- 7 weeks from January 29, 2007 to March 18, 2007
- 3 weeks from May 19 to June 8, 2008
~ Sharapova is in her seventh Grand Slam final and has a 3-3 record in her first six (all of her previous ones have been decided in straight sets):
- 2004 Wimbledon (d. Serena Williams, 61 64)
- 2006 US Open (d. Justine Henin, 64 64)
- 2007 Australian Open (l. to Serena Williams, 61 62)
- 2008 Australian Open (d. Ana Ivanovic, 75 63)
- 2011 Wimbledon (l. to Petra Kvitova, 63 64)
- 2012 Australian Open (l. to Victoria Azarenka, 63 60)
~ Sharapova is 15-0 on red clay this year.
~ Errani is 23-2 on red clay this year, the losses coming in Fed Cup play (retired against Lesia Tsurenko) and Rome (lost to Samantha Stosur).
~ Never had there been four first-time Grand Slam winners in a row before Li Na, Petra Kvitova, Sam Stosur and Victoria Azarenka won the last four - with Errani in this final, that will extend to five in a row if the Italian wins.
~ Errani was 0-28 against Top 10 players coming into the tournament, but is now 2-28 in that stat after back-to-back wins over World No.10 Angelique Kerber and World No.6 Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
~ Errani is the first player since Kim Clijsters in 2003 to reach both the singles and doubles finals here (Errani's doubles partner is Roberta Vinci).
~ Errani is projected to rise from No.24 to No.10 on the new WTA Rankings, regardless of what happens in the final; she will be the third Italian ever to break into the Top 10 (after Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone).
