Serena makes history and Paris gives back the love at Roland Garros day 14

There was lots to love on day 14 of the French Open at Roland Garros - a second helping of Djokovic/Murray, Safarova showing its never over, Williams showing the same damn thing, Williams loving Paris in French and Safarova being gracious.

Serena Williams marks her victory at Roland-Garros RFI/Pierre René-Worms

The men’s second semi-final day two

Top seed Novak Djokovic and third seed Andy Murray came back onto centre court on day 14 to finish off the match they had started at around 17.15 on day 13. Djokovic was two sets to one up and it was 3-3 in the fourth set. Murray won it to take it into the decider. But it was one-way traffic. Djokovic ran away with it 6-1. And it was a good way to get into the day. But we don’t think the organisers will make it a regular feature.

It’s never over … part one 

No, that’s not the name of a player from eastern Europe. But the reality of the game. Top seed Serena Williams was a set up and leading 4-1 against Lucie Safarova. Williams was 40-15 up and serving. One would not have been considered an idiot for thinking the match was nearly over. The Czech 13th seed Safarova certainly thought the end was nigh. But Williams went on walkabout and lost the next three games. Williams had a chance to serve for the match at 6-5 up but Safarova decided that if she was going to lose, she was going down all guns blazing. “I went for those shots and just went for everything," she recalled of her stand at 5-6 down. "And I managed to break her and played an amazing tiebreak.” Indeed it was amazing, the Czech won it seven points to two to take us into a decider. 

It’s never over … part two

From virtually having the trophy in her grasp, Serena Williams was contemplating life without it at the start of the third and final set. She was trailing 0-2 and certainly in need of a boost. “I got so frustrated,” said Williams. “I was just so angry at myself. I pretty much gave the match away. I think she played really well. But at the same time, I gave it to her. I started hitting double faults. I was really frustrated with myself. I just had to like try to pull it together.” Williams held her service and so it was 1-2 so that helped. Williams won the next five after that. Needless to say, that helped even more. 

Public relations spectacular 

Two-times champion Martina Navratilova presented the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen to Serena Williams after her three-set win over Lucie Safarova. It’s the third time the American 33-year-old has held the trophy aloft. And my, how she jumped up on the podium looking at it with joy and pride. And she deserves to be pleased with herself. She came from behind in the second, third and fourth rounds as well as in the semi-final. The final was the only time during the tournament in which she had to play a third set having won the first. But she did her Serena roll thing of winning loads of games on the trot. After her triumph, she told the packed centre court (in French) that she was really pleased to have won her third Roland Garros title. The fact that it was her 20th grand slam crown – and achieved here in Paris – a city which is so very close to her heart – made it very, very special. The crowd lapped up the lurv.

New look Lucie 

The review asked Ms Safarova how she would cope with being a target now that she has been in a grand slam final. “I hope it's a nice problem,” she replied smiling. And why shouldn’t she smile. It was a sensitive, relevant and charming question. But then again, we would say that. “I'm just enjoying it,” she added. “People have been really nice and I’ve got so many nice messages and support. So I wish that will continue in the future tournaments and I will do my best to play the great tennis that I played here. I hope this is just the beginning.” You see, the question befitted the player.