Top five Surprise performers at French Open 2024

Startling results make headlines in an unpredictable French Open 2024.

There are always surprise packages at every sporting event, individuals who defy the odds and get the better of higher-ranked or more experienced players. These wins may go under the radar but are no less fulfilling, or in case the vanquished is a favourite, the spotlight shines on that outcome.

The recently concluded French Open 20224 in Paris was a topsy-turvy event, with results not turning out as expected and more than one player taken down by health scares.

ALSO READ: Top five comeback wins at French Open 2024

Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud and Aryna Sabalenka were all brought down by factors beyond their control. 

Read on for an insight into the players who made merry in the light of these unexpected developments to make the most of it at Roland Garros in 2024.  

#5 Mirra Andreeva

When Mirra Andreeva walked onto the court for her French Open 2024 semi-final against Aryna Sabalenka, it was a record in itself. The Russian teen has made it through her first semi-final in what was her fifth Grand Slam main-draw appearance.

Seventeen-year-old Andreeva made history at Roland Garros when she knocked out Australian Open defending champion Sabalenka to become the youngest Grand Slam finalist in nearly three decades. The youngest player is former World No. #1 Martina Hingis, who, at 16, reached the semifinals at Roland Garros and the US Open in 1997.

#4 Jasmine Paolini

Jasmine Paolini ended up making a final run at the clay-court major. She became only the third Italian woman to play a Roland Garros final. Paolini’s appearance in the 2024 French Open championship round was also her debut at a Grand Slam final. 

The 28-year-old’s previous best was at the Australian Open earlier in the year, when she reached the round of 16. 

Following her stellar run at Roland Garros, Paolini has moved up eight spots to become World No. #7, a career-high ranking for the Italian. Earlier this season, she won the WTA 1000 event in Dubai and has now reached the biggest final of her career.

#3 Alex de Minaur

Alex de Minaur reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the first time after a win over World No. #5 Daniil Medvedev. Playing on court Suzanne Lenglen, the Australian won in four sets to become the first Australian man to reach the last eight at Roland Garros since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.

Along with the quarter-final run came the World No. #9 ranking and status of the highest-ranked Australian in men’s tennis. 

#2 Jozef Kovalik

Unseeded Slovakian and lucky loser Jozef Kovalik got the better of 18th seed Karen Khachanov in the second round of this season’s French Open. The journeyman ranked 119th in the world came through qualifying to stun the Russian player in five sets.

The second-round win against Khachanov was a coup for Kovalik, who has never been past the first round of any Grand Slam event. Khachanov had come through with a straight-set victory against Indian hope Sumit Nagal in the first round.

The Slovakian bowed out in the third round, but not before nearly taking a set off Holger Rune in a third-set tiebreak. Kovalik’s reward for his best-ever Grand Slam performance is a 26-spot rise in the ATP Rankings to become the World No. #119.

#1 Varvara Gracheva

Newly baptised Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva made quite the impression at the 2024 French Open. Moscow-born Gracheva caused the biggest upset in the early days of the tournament by defeating the No. #6 seed and 2022 semifinalist, Maria Sakkari, in straight sets. Gracheva went on to reach the fourth round, her best performance at any Grand Slam.

Her progress was cut short by the teen sensation from her former country, Mirra Andreeva. Gracheva jumped 17 spots in the WTA Ranking to wind up at No. #71, still some way off from her career high of No. 39.

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