Prior to this year’s French Open Laura Siegemund was one of two players who had a record that neither of them wanted.
Siegemund and China’s Zheng Saisai were the only active Premier-level champions yet to reach the fourth round of any Grand Slam event. However, for the German world No.66 her previous heartbreaks in the majors has been rectified by what is a dream run at Roland Garros. An event she had only ever won one main draw match at in her career prior to 2020.
After seeing off the likes of Julia Goerges and 13th seed Petra Martic, Siegemund’s latest showdown was against Spain’s Paula Badosa on Monday. A former French Open girls champion who herself was playing in the last 16 of a major for the first time. She prevailed 7-5, 6-2, in just 93-minutes with the help of two aces and 25 winners.
“I think I played very up and down at the beginning of the set, I couldn’t kind of find my groove and consistency,” Siegemund reflected.
“I didn’t get angry when things weren’t going my way, where there would have been a lot of reasons to get angry. I had a lot of chances. I had a lot of errors where I was dominating the point but didn’t execute well.’
“I tried to work it out and I did. She gave me some chances at the end of the first set and I took them. Then in the second was a little bit better. I served much better.”
The success of the 32-year-old on the clay is in some way long overdue. Three years ago she headed into Paris in fine form after winning the Stuttgart Open, which remains the biggest title of her career to date. Although a couple weeks after disaster struck when she seriously hurt her knee at another tournament and subsequently missed 10 months of action. Since then, she is yet to reach another WTA Final.
Now breaking new ground in the French capital, Siegemund is relishing that she is able to do so on her favourite surface. Although she has no intention of being complacent with her performance.
“It was always my dream to be in the second week of a slam,” she said.
“It was one big goal for me to make it in singles into the second week of a slam. That’s where I see myself. That’s where I want to be.’
“I’m glad I’m making that come true now.”
En route to the quarter-finals Siegemund defeated a trio of top 50 players but she faces by far her biggest challenge next. Standing in her way is two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova who is in the midst of her best run at the tournament since 2012. The Czech is one of two Grand Slam winners to make it to the last 16 along with Sofia Kenin.
“I feel like there’s also more in it for me. I want to take it one step at a time. I’m truly excited to be in the quarters and also still in the zone.” She said.
“Petra is a really tough opponent, no question about it. It will be totally different to all the matches I have played here so far. I also played more against clay court players, more with spin and very tactical. She’s not like that. She serves very well. There are no second chances in rallies with her.”
Siegemund is the oldest player remaining in the women’s draw.
