Havlickova defeats Sierra to claim girls’ singles title in Paris

Considering the number of Czech players that have featured at the very highest level of the women’s game in recent years, it seems remarkable that Linda Noskova’s title-victory in 2021 saw her become the first Czech player to win the Roland Garros girls’ singles title in more than three decades.

But now, following victory for another Czech player in the girls’ event this year, it seems that yet another golden generation of Czech players is ready to take the sport by storm. There were nine Czechs in the Roland Garros’ girls singles draw this week, more than from any other nation – and at the end of the tournament, it was Lucie Havlickova who stood holding the trophy aloft on Court Simonne Mathieu.

Havlickova earned a 6-3 6-3 victory against Solana Sierra in the Paris sunshine on Saturday. And after the match, she explained how she hoped this title was just the first step in a distinguished tennis career.

“It's amazing to be part of the history, but still, it's just the beginning of something,” she said, smiling. “Hopefully it's gonna be better some day, like maybe women’s champion or something.”

Just six girls’ singles champions have gone on to win the women’s singles at Roland Garros (including one Czech player, Hana Mandlikova) – but on the evidence of this week’s performances, there is no reason that Havlickova could not one day add her name to that list.

While she was dominant throughout the final on Saturday, the Czech No. 9 seed has had to dig deep to advance through the draw. Four of her six matches here have gone to a deciding set and she had spent nearly 10 hours on court in singles matches alone prior to the final. 

“I feel amazing, even though I spent a million hours here on the court,” she laughed. “It was very tough mentally and physically. I played a lot of three sets' matches, because every time, something went wrong.

“But there is a good chance to recover with the ice baths and everything. So I was well prepared, even though I spent a lot of time on the court.”

Those powers of recovery have been pushed to the limit all week, with Havlickova also enjoying success in doubles. She and partner Sara Bejlek – whom she defeated in the singles semi-finals on Friday – recorded a 6-3 6-3 win against Nikola Bartunkova and Celine Naef in the girls' doubles final later on Saturday afternoon.

That result makes Havlickova just the fourth player to win both the Roland Garros girls’ singles and doubles titles in the same year, and the first since Agnes Szavay in 2005.

For Sierra, her disappointment at her performance in the final was tempered by her pride in her achievements over the last week.

“I'm disappointed now but I'm still happy for the way that I played these five matches,” she said. “Today I didn't play my best but it was unreal to play in in that stadium. So it's been a really great experience for me.”

Sierra, who also has a US Open girls’ semi-final appearance to her name, can certainly leave Paris with her head held high. She has already begun her transition to the professional game, most notably with four excellent victories for Argentina in the Billie Jean King Cup earlier this year.

“I think this tournament will help me a lot for the future,” she added. “I'm really happy for the experience and I learned a lot this week.”

Both Noskova and the 2021 runner-up, Erika Andreeva, are now inside the world’s Top 200, suggesting that the players who enjoy success at junior level may not be too far away from breaking through on the biggest stage

Discerning tennis fans will no doubt be keeping an eye on the progress of both Havlickova and Sierra in the months and years to come.