TENNIS.com Podcast: An insider's take on new faces at Roland Garros

Co-hosts Nina Pantic and Irina Falconi give their take on what has stood out the most from a busy fortnight in Paris. There have been underhand serves and a surge in drop shots, shocking upsets and late-night marathons, and an unprecedented flurry of Cinderella runs.

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While some favorites are still alive in the Roland Garros draw, this year has been all about the unexpected—especially in the women's draw. Combined factors like the cold conditions, limited fans, the turbulent calendar and the lack of match play has opened up opportunities for new faces to go deep.

One player that has really made a name for herself is Iga Swiatek, a teenager that Falconi played in 2018 before the Pole enjoyed her breakthrough.

Nicolas Gouhier/FFT

In 2019, Swiatek would reach the fourth round of Roland Garros and appear in her first WTA final. In Paris, she has yet to drop a set and has even enacted swift revenge on her 2019 conqueror, Simona Halep.

Falconi has also faced Nadia Podoroska, the world No. 113-ranked Argentine that has made history in Paris by becoming the first women's qualifier to get this far, ever. Her game, though relatively unknown to most, is especially suited to clay.

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She'll take on Swiatek in the first women's semifinal on Thursday, followed by No. 4-seeded Sofia Kenin facing No. 7 seed Petra Kvitova. That means a first-time Grand Slam finalist is guaranteed as is a first-time Roland Garros champion.

Falconi gives her inside take on both rising stars, as well as looks ahead at what is coming next with another period of uncertainty looming in the calendar.

The views, information, and/or opinions expressed are solely those of the podcast creators and do not necessarily represent those of The Tennis Channel, Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries.