"These 2 are the best" - Martina Navratilova invited Chris Evert to join her for French Open trophy presentation to Iga Swiatek, reveals journalist
The 2024 French Open champion Iga Swiatek was presented with her trophy by two of the greatest players tennis has produced - Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. However, a journalist claimed that Navratilova was supposed to present the trophy alone but she suggested Evert be there to present it with her.
Swiatek won her third consecutive French Open title after getting the better of Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1 in the final.
Although the Pole has been dominating the Paris Slam, Paolini had the crowd's backing and started strongly to break and lead 2-1. However, the World No. 1 was not chasing for long as she broke back to make it 2-2 and did not lose a game after that in the first set.
The second set was close to being a bagel as the Pole led 5-0 but the Italian won a game before Swiatek sealed her fourth French Open title in five years.
After the triumph, Swiatek was presented with the trophy by Navratilova and Evert. Watch the video of the Pole embracing the tennis legends below:
Jon Wertheim, a tennis journalist, took to X and claimed that Martina Navratilova was supposed to present the trophy alone. However, the 67-year-old tennis icon suggested that her friend Chris Evert should also join her as it was the 50th anniversary of the latter's first-ever French Open triumph (1974).
"She will hate me for writing this but @Martina was supposed to present the winner's trophy and felt it only appropriate that -on the 50th anniversary of her first title here - @ChrissieEvert join her. What a lovely touch.. These two are simply the best... #rolandgarros," Wertheim wrote on X.
Following her French Open triumph, Iga Swiatek joins Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in an elite club
Iga Swiatek's French Open title defense has helped etch her name into history with several records.
In the round of 16, she defeated Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0, then she defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinal. Against Coco Gauff in the last-four stage, Swiatek won the match 6-2, 6-4, and the final went her way 6-2, 6-1.
In total, she lost 11 games from the round of 16 stage to securing a Grand Slam. Such a feat, in the women's game, has only been achieved by Martina Navratilova (US Open 1983) and Chris Evert (US Open 1976).
Moreover, this is Iga Swiatek's fifth Grand Slam title in five finals. She is only the second person in the Open Era after Monica Seles to achieve this feat.