2013 French Open – Women's singles

Women's singles
2013 French Open
Champion	Serena Williams
Runner-up	Maria Sharapova
Score	6–4, 6–4

Main article: 2013 French Open

Serena Williams defeated defending champion Maria Sharapova, 6–4, 6–4, to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 2013 French Open. Williams' victory in the final earned her a multiple slam set in Women's Singles, her 16th Grand Slam singles title, her second French Open title since her triumph in 2002. She also became the oldest woman to win the French Open (a record she surpassed herself in 2015) and set a record for the longest gap between French Open titles. With her victory, Williams expanded her season winning streak to 31 matches dating back to the Miami Open. Williams only dropped one set the entire tournament, to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals.

The 2013 French Open final was the first time at any Grand Slam event since the 2004 Australian Open that the top two seeded players had played each other in the final. It was the first French Open since 1995 that the top two seeded players played each other in the final.

Seeds

01.   Serena Williams (Champion)

02.   Maria Sharapova (Final)

03.   Victoria Azarenka (Semifinals)

04.   Agnieszka Radwańska (Quarterfinals)

05.   Sara Errani (Semifinals)

06.   Li Na (Second round)

07.   Petra Kvitová (Third round)

08.   Angelique Kerber (Fourth round)

09.   Samantha Stosur (Third round)

10.   Caroline Wozniacki (Second round)

11.   Nadia Petrova (First round)

12.   Maria Kirilenko (Quarterfinals)

13.   Marion Bartoli (Third round)

14.   Ana Ivanovic (Fourth round)

15.   Roberta Vinci (Fourth round)

16.   Dominika Cibulková (Second round)

17.   Sloane Stephens (Fourth round)

18.   Jelena Janković (Quarterfinals)

19.   Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Second round)

20.   Carla Suárez Navarro (Fourth round)

21.   Kirsten Flipkens (Second round)

22.   Ekaterina Makarova (First round)

23.   Klára Zakopalová (First round)

24.   Julia Görges (First round)

25.   Lucie Šafářová (First round)

26.   Sorana Cîrstea (Third round)

27.   Yaroslava Shvedova (Second round)

28.   Tamira Paszek (First round)

29.   Varvara Lepchenko (Third round)

30.   Venus Williams (First round)

31.   Alizé Cornet (Third round)

32.   Sabine Lisicki (Third round)

Qualifying

Main article: 2013 French Open – Women's Singles Qualifying

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• Alt = Alternate
• SE = Special exempt
• PR = Protected ranking
• ITF = ITF entry
• JE = Junior exempt
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted
• SR = Special ranking

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final
	1	Serena Williams	6	3	6
		Svetlana Kuznetsova	1	6	3
								1	Serena Williams	6	6
								5	Sara Errani	0	1
	4	Agnieszka Radwańska	4	66
	5	Sara Errani	6	78
															1	Serena Williams	6	6
															2	Maria Sharapova	4	4
	12	Maria Kirilenko	63	2
	3	Victoria Azarenka	77	6
								3	Victoria Azarenka	1	6	4
								2	Maria Sharapova	6	2	6
	18	Jelena Janković	6	4	3
	2	Maria Sharapova	0	6	6

Top half

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	1	S Williams	6	6
		A Tatishvili	0	1				1	S Williams	6	6
	Q	Y Beygelzimer	3	4				WC	C Garcia	1	2
	WC	C Garcia	6	6											1	S Williams	6	6
		M Niculescu	2	3											26	S Cîrstea	0	2
		J Larsson	6	6					J Larsson	1	4
		K Bertens	7	5	2			26	S Cîrstea	6	6
	26	S Cîrstea	5	7	6																	1	S Williams	6	6
	19	A Pavlyuchenkova	4	77	6																	15	R Vinci	1	3
		A Hlaváčková	6	65	4			19	A Pavlyuchenkova	5	6	4
		P Cetkovská	6	6					P Cetkovská	7	2	6
		O Puchkova	0	2												P Cetkovská	1	6	2
	Q	G Voskoboeva	4	6	7										15	R Vinci	6	2	6
	Q	G Min	6	4	5			Q	G Voskoboeva	4	6	2
	WC	S Foretz Gacon	3	0				15	R Vinci	6	4	6
	15	R Vinci	6	6

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	10	C Wozniacki	6	6
		L Robson	3	2				10	C Wozniacki	62	3
	Q	B Záhlavová-Strýcová	3	2					B Jovanovski	77	6
		B Jovanovski	6	6												B Jovanovski	4	62
		P Parmentier	0	1												S Kuznetsova	6	77
		M Rybáriková	6	6					M Rybáriková	6	2	2
		S Kuznetsova	6	6					S Kuznetsova	1	6	6
	22	E Makarova	4	2																			S Kuznetsova	6	4	6
	29	V Lepchenko	6	6																		8	A Kerber	4	6	3
		M Lučić-Baroni	1	2				29	V Lepchenko	77	6
		R Oprandi	3	6	1				E Svitolina	65	1
		E Svitolina	6	4	6										29	V Lepchenko	4	77	4
		J Čepelová	77	2	6										8	A Kerber	6	63	6
		C McHale	63	6	4				J Čepelová	2	2
		M Barthel	66	2				8	A Kerber	6	6
	8	A Kerber	78	6

Section 3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	4	A Radwańska	6	6
		S Pe'er	1	1				4	A Radwańska	6	6
		M Burdette	6	6					M Burdette	3	2
		D Vekić	3	4											4	A Radwańska	6	6
	Q	D Pfizenmaier	7	6											Q	D Pfizenmaier	3	4
		M Minella	5	1				Q	D Pfizenmaier	6	6
		U Radwańska	77	64	6				U Radwańska	3	3
	30	V Williams	65	77	4																	4	A Radwańska	6	6
	24	J Görges	68	0																		14	A Ivanovic	2	4
	Q	Z Kučová	710	6				Q	Z Kučová	6	2	0
	WC	V Razzano	78	6				WC	V Razzano	4	6	6
	WC	C Feuerstein	66	4											WC	V Razzano	3	2
		C Scheepers	5	1											14	A Ivanovic	6	6
		M Johansson	7	6					M Johansson	2	2
		P Martić	1	6	3			14	A Ivanovic	6	6
	14	A Ivanovic	6	3	6

Section 4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	11	N Petrova	6	5	4
		M Puig	3	7	6				M Puig	6	77
		M Keys	6	6					M Keys	4	62
		M Doi	3	2												M Puig	4	5
	WC	I Pavlovic	3	4											20	C Suárez Navarro	6	7
	WC	S Rogers	6	6				WC	S Rogers	6	4	4
		S Halep	6	2	2			20	C Suárez Navarro	3	6	6
	20	C Suárez Navarro	3	6	6																	20	C Suárez Navarro	7	4	3
	32	S Lisicki	6	6																		5	S Errani	5	6	6
		S Arvidsson	3	4				32	S Lisicki	6	6
		MT Torró Flor	6	7					MT Torró Flor	4	0
	Q	J Glushko	2	5											32	S Lisicki	0	4
		A Morita	2	3											5	S Errani	6	6
		Y Putintseva	6	6					Y Putintseva	1	1
		A Rus	1	2				5	S Errani	6	6
	5	S Errani	6	6

Bottom half

Section 5

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	6	N Li	6	6
		A Medina Garrigues	3	4				6	N Li	7	3	2
		B Mattek-Sands	6	6					B Mattek-Sands	5	6	6
		L Domínguez Lino	4	1												B Mattek-Sands	4	6	6
		T Maria	3	6	0										Q	P Ormaechea	6	1	3
	Q	P Ormaechea	6	4	6			Q	P Ormaechea	6	78
		C Vandeweghe	0	6	2			27	Y Shvedova	4	66
	27	Y Shvedova	6	3	6																		B Mattek-Sands	5	4
	23	K Zakopalová	63	2																		12	M Kirilenko	7	6
		K Kanepi	77	6					K Kanepi	66	6	6
		S Vögele	6	2	6				S Vögele	78	3	8
		H Watson	4	6	4											S Vögele	63	5
	WC	A Barty	7	2	6										12	M Kirilenko	77	7
		L Hradecká	5	6	1			WC	A Barty	3	1
		N Bratchikova	0	1				12	M Kirilenko	6	6
	12	M Kirilenko	6	6

Section 6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	13	M Bartoli	710	4	7
		O Govortsova	68	6	5			13	M Bartoli	77	7
		Kr Plíšková	2	0				Q	M Duque	65	5
	Q	M Duque	6	6											13	M Bartoli	2	1
		M Czink	0	61												F Schiavone	6	6
		F Schiavone	6	77					F Schiavone	6	4	6
	PR	F Pennetta	6	4	0			21	K Flipkens	1	6	3
	21	K Flipkens	2	6	6																		F Schiavone	3	0
	31	A Cornet	7	6																		3	V Azarenka	6	6
		MJ Koehler	5	2				31	A Cornet	6	6
		I-C Begu	3	2					S Soler Espinosa	1	3
		S Soler Espinosa	6	6											31	A Cornet	6	3	1
	Q	S Záhlavová	2	1											3	V Azarenka	4	6	6
		A Beck	6	6					A Beck	4	3
		E Vesnina	1	4				3	V Azarenka	6	6
	3	V Azarenka	6	6

Section 7

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	7	P Kvitová	6	4	6
	WC	A Rezaï	2	6	3			7	P Kvitová	6	6
		S Peng	6	6					S Peng	4	3
		C Giorgi	4	2											7	P Kvitová	1	67
	Q	AK Schmiedlová	77	2	6											J Hampton	6	79
		Y Wickmayer	65	6	2			Q	AK Schmiedlová	5	2
		J Hampton	77	3	9				J Hampton	7	6
	25	L Šafářová	65	6	7																		J Hampton	0	2
	18	J Janković	6	79																		18	J Janković	6	6
		D Hantuchová	4	67				18	J Janković	6	6
		Ka Plíšková	6	5	3				G Muguruza	3	0
		G Muguruza	4	7	6										18	J Janković	3	6	6
		K Mladenovic	6	7											9	S Stosur	6	3	4
		L Davis	0	5					K Mladenovic	4	3
		K Date-Krumm	0	2				9	S Stosur	6	6
	9	S Stosur	6	6

Section 8

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	16	D Cibulková	6	6
		L Tsurenko	1	4				16	D Cibulková	2	6	4
		M Erakovic	6	6					M Erakovic	6	2	6
	PR	E Baltacha	3	0												M Erakovic	4	77	3
	Q	V King	77	6											17	S Stephens	6	65	6
		A Cadanțu	63	1				Q	V King	1	3
		K Knapp	2	5				17	S Stephens	6	6
	17	S Stephens	6	7																		17	S Stephens	4	3
	28	T Paszek	4	3																		2	M Sharapova	6	6
		M Oudin	6	6					M Oudin	3	1
		J Zheng	6	6					J Zheng	6	6
		V Dolonc	4	1												J Zheng	1	5
		E Bouchard	6	77											2	M Sharapova	6	7
		T Pironkova	1	62					E Bouchard	2	4
		S-w Hsieh	2	1				2	M Sharapova	6	6
	2	M Sharapova	6	6

Road to the final

Since winning the French Open in 2002, Serena Williams had not advanced to the final of the event, last semifinal was in 2003 (lost to Henin). In 2008, she was the only former champion left in the draw, she lost to Katarina Srebotnik in the third round. In 2012, she lost in the first round to Virginie Razzano, a player ranked in the 100s. In 2013, however, she made quick work of her opponents advancing to the finals with an average match length of less than one hour and fifteen minutes. She had problems in just one match, in quarterfinals against Svetlana Kuznetsova, when she was down 2–0 and break points in third set. However, she won six of last seven games to close out the match.

After reaching quarterfinals without dropping set, Sharapova needed two three-setters to reach final. First, she met 18th seed Jelena Jankovic and dropped first set 6–0. In that set Sharapova committed 20 errors to just two from Jankovic. However, Jankovic lost opening service game in second set, which looked to be key for Sharapova as she could cool down after horrible first set. In semifinal she faced third seed Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova won first set convincingly, but lost second in the same fashion. But she eased to 5–2 lead in final set and finished match two games later to reach second French Open final.

Final

First seeded Williams faced off against second seeded Maria Sharapova in the women's singles final. Williams came out aggressive, charging the net on the first point. Her aggression set up a triple break-point, but Sharapova fought back and held serve. She then broke Williams for a 2–0 lead. Williams broke back in the next game, then broke Sharapova twice more for a 6–4 first set. In the second set, Sharapova fought off five break points to hold in her opening serve. After Williams held serve, Sharapova dropped a break with two consecutive errors in the fourth game. From there, Williams went on to take a 5–4 lead with her serve coming up. She finished off the match with her tenth ace of the day. "She's always had a big serve," said Sharapova. "I think her second serve is better than it was in the past."

For Williams, it was her 31st consecutive victory, a career best. She has beaten Sharapova 13 times in a row. When asked by a reporter if she still wanted to retire at her peak, Williams replied "That's my goal, but have I peaked yet?" Commentary by Simon Briggs published by The Daily Telegraph described Williams' performance as "almost flawless". "Sharapova actually played a fine match," said Briggs. "But it is so difficult to attack an in-form Williams because she can shut you down with the quality of her serve."

By winning the 1 hour 46 minute match, Williams completed her second career Grand Slam. It was her 16th major title overall, moving her within six of Steffi Graf's modern era record of 22 such wins, and within eight of Margaret Court's all-time record. She also became the oldest women ever to win the French Open.

External links

• Main Draw
• 2013 French Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation