What Is 2000 French Open - Women's Singles

Overview

The 2000 French Open Women's Singles tournament marked a historic moment in tennis, as Mary Pierce claimed her first and only Roland Garros title. Held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, the event took place from May 29 to June 10, 2000, and featured a 128-player draw on clay courts.

Pierce's victory was significant not only for her career but also for French tennis, as she became the first Frenchwoman to win the title since Françoise Dürr in 1967. Her dominant performance throughout the tournament underscored her status as a top clay-court player.

• Final Date: The championship match occurred on June 10, 2000, concluding two weeks of intense competition on red clay.
• Winner:Mary Pierce, seeded fourth, won her second Grand Slam singles title after her 1995 Australian Open victory.
• Runner-up: Spain’s Conchita Martínez, a former Wimbledon champion, was aiming for her second French Open final appearance.
• Score: Pierce defeated Martínez 6–2, 7–5 in straight sets, showcasing powerful baseline play and consistent serving.
• Historic Achievement: Pierce became the first Frenchwoman in 33 years to win the French Open Women's Singles title.

How It Works

The French Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and features a single-elimination format for the Women's Singles event. Players compete across seven rounds, with matches played in best-of-three sets.

• Surface: The tournament is played on red clay courts, known for slower ball speed and higher bounce, favoring endurance and consistency.
• Draw Size: The Women's Singles draw includes 128 players, with 32 seeded based on WTA rankings.
• Qualification:16 players earn spots through qualifying rounds, while the rest enter via ranking or wild cards.
• Match Format: All matches are best-of-three sets, with a tiebreak at 6–6 in each set except the final set.
• Seeding: The top 32 players are seeded to avoid early matchups, based on WTA rankings and clay-court performance.
• Duration: The tournament spans 14 days, with early rounds played Monday to Friday and finals on the weekend.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2000 French Open Women's Singles compares to other Grand Slam events in the same year:

This comparison highlights the diversity of surfaces and champions across the 2000 season. Pierce’s victory stood out as a rare French triumph on home soil, contrasting with the dominance of players like Hingis and Williams on other surfaces.

Why It Matters

The 2000 French Open Women's Singles had lasting significance for tennis history, national pride, and player legacies. It elevated Mary Pierce’s career and inspired future French athletes.

• National Pride: Pierce’s win ended a 33-year drought for French women at Roland Garros, sparking nationwide celebration.
• Career Impact: The title marked Pierce’s second Grand Slam singles victory, solidifying her place among elite players.
• Clay-Court Legacy: Her performance demonstrated that aggressive baseline play could succeed on slow clay surfaces.
• Media Attention: The win received extensive coverage in France, boosting interest in women’s tennis domestically.
• Historical Context: She became only the third Frenchwoman in the Open Era to win the title, joining Suzanne Lenglen and Françoise Dürr.
• Inspiration: Young players in France, including future champions like Amélie Mauresmo, cited Pierce as an early influence.

The 2000 French Open remains a landmark event in tennis history, symbolizing national achievement and individual excellence on one of the sport’s grandest stages.