The usual mastery of Sébastien Ogier and the brand new one of Daniil Medvedev but also the setbacks of Fabio Quartararo and Lewis Hamilton in motorsports … find the tops and flops of the editorial team.
TOPS
Sébastien Ogier, the imperturbable
Note : 9/10
While the Sardinia rally was not lacking in twists and turns, in particular because of the Hyundais of Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier had the talent to stay out of trouble. To finally get his 52e WRC career victory – the 4e Sardinian land – even adding two points during the ultimate power stage. The seven-time French world champion, who took the lead on Saturday after Tänak stopped in SS12, widened the gap a little on Elfyn, his runner-up in Sardinia and at the world championship: 106 points to 95, or 11 points d ahead of his young teammate. At 37, Ogier is more than ever the boss of the WRC, in the current best team, but he has already explained several times that 2021 was his last full season, devoted to the conquest of an 8th world title. He has already won three times this season, in Monte-Carlo, in Croatia and therefore in Sardinia, but is not interested in Sébastien Loeb’s record (9 crowns) because he wants to convert to a circuit and spend more time with his family.
Lisa Barbelin, right on target
Note : 8/10
Lisa Barbelin became European archery champion on Sunday in Antalya (Turkey), the conclusion of a perfect week where she landed her ticket for the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8). The young archer, 21, easily defeated Belarusian Karyna Dziominskaya (6-0) in the final and became the first Frenchwoman to win the continental title in recurve (Olympic) since Bérengère Schuh in 2008. Slovakian Denisa Barankova, in bronze , completes this European podium. Hand on heart, eyes closed during the Marseillaise, the Frenchwoman savored her first major title after having confided her emotion. “I am very happy. It was an incredible final. I took this match as a new match (after Olympic qualification). I am very proud ”, she reacted to the microphone of the organizers. Barbelin, world number 8, obtained the Olympic quota on Friday thanks to his success in the quarterfinals against Denisa Barankova (6-2). With these recent performances, Barbelin confirms his very good form of the moment after his victory at the Grand Prix of Porec in March and his second place at that of Antalya in April.
Medvedev’s smile and talent
Note : 7/10
The Russian said he was allergic to the earth. The speech is changing during this Roland Garros. The world number 2 had never crossed a Porte d’Auteuil lap in four participations. He has just chained four victories with art and style. He notably punished Sunday in 8e final the Chilean Christian Garin, a real earthling, 23e world (6-2, 6-1, 7-5), who had yet beaten the same Medvedev in Madrid a few weeks ago. Now place Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, for a shock that promises. And the French-speaking Russian, trained by a French coach, announced to the public: “It’s going to be a very big game, we played in the semi-finals in Australia, we have a little rivalry, but I hope the French public will be on my side and that will help me a lot and say to themselves: “ok, he speaks French, he’s nice… let’s go, we’re for him (laughs)”. After triumphing at Bercy last November, Medvedev is continuing his Porte d’Auteuil seduction operation. Refreshing.
FLOPS
Serena Williams is still chasing her 24e title
Note : 4/10
It was thought that she would take advantage of the early withdrawals of Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty, two of the big favorites in the women’s table, to try to get a 24e coronation in Grand Slam. It missed. The American failed in her quest, knocked out in the round of 16 by one of her fans, the young Kazakhe Elena Rybakina, seeded No. 21. The indestructible youngest of the Williams sisters, aged 39, has not registered her name in one of the four major tournaments since 2017 (US Open). Unfortunately, the weight of the months that pass always takes her a little more than a new crown on the women’s circuit. The Wimbledon tournament (June 28-July 11), which remains his favorite playground with the US Open (7 wins) is on the horizon to allow him to finally complete his formidable collection.
READ ALSO – Roland-Garros: Why Federer gave up before his round of 16
Fabio Quartararo, a demotion that could be expensive at the end of the season
Note : 3/10
On pole for the fifth race in a row, Fabio Quartararo was the favorite of the Grand Prix de Catalunya, where he had his very first podium in the premier class (2nd in 2019) and especially victory last year. But apart from his almost perfect start, nothing went as planned for the Niçois, who dropped back to 6th place on the first lap. With his ease and temerity, the Yamaha rider ended up falling behind to overtake Miguel Oliveira (KTM, winner) before losing his position again, then being overtaken by his compatriot Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac) . Above all, the world championship leader had to give up his place on the podium being penalized by three seconds for having cut a bend irregularly. But instead of 4th place, Quartararo leaves Catalonia with 10 points from 6th place, the fault of a demotion for having finished the GP “without his leather suit properly attached and without the required breastplate”, namely shirtless .
READ ALSO – MotoGP: Zarco was almost there, Quartararo at the foot of the podium
READ ALSO – Perez winner, Gasly 3rd, Verstappen and Hamilton KO … The Azerbaijani GP will have been crazy
Hamilton at fault
Note : 2/10
Seventh in Monaco, the reaction of the seven-time world champion was expected. Dropped out much of the weekend, the Briton had found miracle settings on Saturday morning and this allowed him to grab second place in qualifying. Unexpected. Like seeing leader Verstappen finish his race in the wall three laps from the end. Then second, Lewis Hamilton had a golden opportunity in the championship. He himself repeated to his team before the second standing start: “the season is a marathon”. Obviously, there is no need to take any risks at the restart, the accounting situation is already excellent. But LH44 got off to a good start and attacked Perez at Turn 1. A mistake as he shot straight ahead and lost all hope. On arrival, he finished 15th and did not take advantage of Max Verstappen’s accident. A turning point of the season?
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