In search for a new superstar

For the first time since 1984, both the men's and women's Roland Garros singles finals featured the world No. 1 and No. 2.

- Ashish Magotra

NEW DELHI: One of the big takeaways from this statistic was that the world's best players got through the draw as expected, and in the cruel Majors world the chances of that happening are very rare.

Still, seedings and rankings count for something. There are indicators of form, mindset and match-ups. That is usually true, but in the women's game you need to come prepared for everything and anything. Upsets have often been the order of the day and world No. 361 Lois Boisson's run to the semi-final on Grand Slam debut while taking down seeds Elise Mertens, Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva was an indication of that.

Coco Gauff really took to clay this year, winning in Paris after reaching the finals at Madrid and Rome. Her 18 match wins on the surface are a tour high. But what won her the Roland Garros final was heart. More than the game or the tactics, it was her spirit that prevailed. But it doesn't always happen that way. Gauff, 22, is one of the undisputed stars of the women's game and her marketing potential is great too. But her game is still evolving. She can find a way past volatile players such as Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys, but can struggle against the more patient opponents.