What Is 2007 French Open - Women's singles

Overview

The 2007 French Open – Women's Singles tournament was a landmark event in women’s tennis, held at Roland Garros in Paris from May 27 to June 9, 2007. It showcased dominant clay-court performances, culminating in a decisive final victory by Justine Henin, who solidified her status as the queen of clay.

The tournament featured 128 players from 35 countries, competing in a single-elimination format across two weeks. Henin’s path to the title was marked by consistency, precision, and mental toughness, as she became the first woman since Monica Seles (1990–1992) to win three consecutive French Open titles.

• Justine Henin won the title by defeating Ana Ivanovic 6–1, 6–2 in the final on June 9, 2007, marking her fourth Roland Garros victory.
• Henin did not lose a single set during the entire tournament, winning all seven matches in straight sets, a rare feat in Grand Slam tennis.
• This victory extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 19 consecutive matches, dating back to her 2003 title run.
• Ana Ivanovic, then 19 years old, reached her first Grand Slam final but was overwhelmed by Henin’s experience and baseline control.
• The final match lasted only 63 minutes, underscoring Henin’s dominance and Ivanovic’s inability to adjust under pressure.

How It Works

The French Open – Women's Singles is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in professional tennis, played annually on outdoor red clay courts at Stade Roland Garros in Paris. The surface and scoring system create unique challenges that favor endurance, heavy topspin, and strategic point construction.

• Clay Courts: The crushed red brick surface slows down the ball and produces high bounces, favoring baseline players like Henin who use heavy topspin and consistency.
• Best-of-Three Sets: Women play best-of-three sets, meaning a player must win two sets to win the match, which can lead to quicker conclusions than men’s five-set matches.
• Seeding System: The top 32 players are seeded based on ATP/WTA rankings to prevent early matchups between top contenders, helping ensure stronger late-round competition.
• Qualifying Rounds: 128-player main draw includes 16 qualifiers who advance through preliminary rounds, testing depth and resilience before the main event begins.
• Match Tiebreak: In the final set, a standard tiebreak is played at 6–6, though in 2007, a full set was required, increasing physical demands on players.
• Prize Money: The 2007 Women’s Singles champion earned €900,000 from a total prize pool of €9.5 million, reflecting the tournament’s elite status.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key performance metrics between Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic during the 2007 French Open final:

Henin’s superior consistency and lower error count were decisive in the match. Her ability to maintain pressure without overhitting allowed her to control rallies and force Ivanovic into mistakes. The data reflects a performance of near-perfect execution under Grand Slam pressure, particularly on clay, where point length amplifies technical precision.

Why It Matters

The 2007 French Open – Women's Singles final was a pivotal moment in tennis history, highlighting generational transition and the enduring dominance of elite players on clay. Henin’s victory reinforced the importance of mental fortitude and tactical discipline in Grand Slam success.

• Henin became the first woman since Chris Evert to win four French Open titles, joining an elite group of clay-court legends.
• The match signaled the arrival of Ana Ivanovic as a future Grand Slam contender, which she confirmed by winning the title in 2008.
• Henin’s decision to retire in 2008 made this her final Grand Slam title, adding emotional weight to her 2007 performance.
• The tournament highlighted the growing influence of Eastern European players in women’s tennis, with Serbians and Belgians leading the rankings.
• Clay-court specialists gained renewed respect, as Henin’s success emphasized strategy over raw power in long rallies.
• The match drew over 11 million viewers in Europe, boosting interest in women’s tennis ahead of the Wimbledon season.

Ultimately, the 2007 French Open – Women's Singles remains a benchmark for excellence on clay, illustrating how preparation, experience, and composure converge at the highest level of the sport.