Match reports
So, on his 16th visit to Roland Garros, Marin Cilic is finally a semi-finalist – and whether he plays Casper Ruud or Holger Rune next, he will have an advantage when it comes to big-match experience. That all-Scandi battle was supposed to start 10 minutes ago – it could be another late night in Paris.
That’s all from the blog for today, but we’ll have reports and reaction to all the quarter-final action online later on. Thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
The on-court commentator, Alex Corretja, informs Cilic that he is the first ‘super tie-break’ winner ever on Chatrier. “Today it was my day, but Andrey played fantastic. I am more tired emotionally than physically, it was so tough. I just tried to keep my focus in the final set.”
Cilic beats Rublev 5-7, 6-3 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-2)!
The Croat’s first serve is long, but the second serve pops up off the clay, and Rublev nets his return. For the first time, Marin Cilic has made the French Open semi-finals!
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Final-set tie-break: Rublev 2-9 Cilic* That would usually be that, but it’s first-to-10 in this new format. It may not matter – this is an absolute clinic from Marin Cilic, who dominates the next two points to bring up seven match points ...
Final-set tie-break: *Rublev 2-7 Cilic Is Cilic taking charge? Rublev misses his first serve and Cilic devours the second serve, punching back an unplayable return. Another well-worked point, and then an ace – and Cilic leads by five!
Final-set tie-break: *Rublev 2-4 Cilic Neither player offering so much as a half-chance on serve, with a Cilic ace just clipping the line at 2-1 down. The next serve is more central, but Rublev can’t do more than swat his racket at it. On Rublev’s second serve, Cilic steps forward and takes charge of the rally – picking up a mini-break before the changeover.
Rublev v Cilic goes to deciding tie-break!
Rublev holds with the minimum of fuss and after more than four hours on court, this will be settled by a 10-point tie-break.
*Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-6 Cilic (*denotes next server) We’re two holds away from a match-deciding, 10-point mega-tie-break. But what’s this? Rublev creeps to 15-30 – then shanks a forehand, to his own visible chagrin. His next return is too hot for Cilic, though – a big break point. Can Cilic respond? He can, with an ace – and holds with two more pinpoint serves.
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Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server) Cilic holds to 15, and we’re into squeaky-bum territory – Rublev has to hold to stay in the match. He sends a backhand well wide, and an aggressive return puts Cilic two points away at 30-all. Next, one of the best rallies of the match – won by Cilic with a winner down the line! Match point, second serve ... but Rublev hangs on, and a couple of big, angular first serves dig him out of trouble.
*Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 4-5 Cilic (*denotes next server) Cilic gets a glimmer of a chance with a well-struck return but misses on the stretch at 15-all, and Rublev hammers his way to another hold.
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*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 3-4 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server) A tiny spot of bother for Cilic at 30-all, but that mighty first serve gets him out of trouble, an ace arrowed into the corner and a big roar as he gets another game on the board.
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Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 3-3 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
Thanks, John. It’s a routine hold for Rublev, and this one is going to the wire. The later quarter-final, between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune, is supposed to start in 30 minutes.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 2-3 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
Cilic bullseyes the line with a forehand to go 40-15 up and then polishes things off with a crashing serve. A comfortable hold.
And with that I will hand over to Niall McVeigh to take you through the denouement of this one.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 2-2 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
A cracking cross-court forehand gives Cilic a look at 0-30 on the Rublev serve … but, despite going for winners with almost every shot, he can’t capitalise and the Russian battles back to hold to 30.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-2 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
If anything Rublev is looking the more likely at the moment, certainly the younger man looks a touch fresher than his 33-year-old opponent. A Cilic dropshot causes a bit of controversy – it’s called out. Cilic wanders over saying “No, no, no, no, please! The ball is touching the line!”. The umpire says no it isn’t but Rublev concedes the point. Then Hawkeye shows it was out.
Anyway, a lot of fuss for 15-0. Rublev’s reward for his sportsmanship is a double fault from Cilic that sends him 15-30 up. A couple of big serves get him out of jail but then a forehand into the net brings up deuce. But Cilic controls any nerves to hold.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
Cilic looks frustrated after he crunches a forehand long on the Rublev second serve … and he compounds the error by doing exactly the same thing on the next point. 30-0. But the No 7 seed’s failure to get his first serve between the lines comes back to bite him and Cilic is able to clamber his way back to 30-30. A bit of pressure on this point then … and Rublev responds with a couple of thunderous first serves that Cilic can’t quite cope with. He holds.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
Cilic holds it, holds it, holds it … his serve that is.
Rublev wins the fourth set!
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
So are we going the distance here? In short, yes. Cilic goes long with a trio of returns to give his opponent three set points. A dropshot can’t get the job done … and a double fault gets the nerves jangling. 40-30. A booming serve, though, does the work. Two sets all.
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*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 5-3 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
Rublev does well to control a volley at the net to bring up 15-15, goes wide with the next but then a botched Cilic dropshot brings up 30-30. And Rublev gets the better of another long rally to bring up 30-40 and the first break point of the set. Again the Russian gets Cilic scrambling and this time he makes it stick. A break!
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 4-3 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
Rublev sends what should be a winner into the net cord and we’re at 30-30 in the blink of an eye … and Cilic sends a tired looking forehand into the net, then repeats the trick from the final serve of the game. Rublev holds.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 3-3 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
At 0-15 up Rublev fires inches wide with a backhand down the line and groans in frustration. That goes down as a chance really, more so as Cilic tightens up and nets to give Rublev a look at 15-30. But a backhand floats long for 30-all and another booming serve gets Cilic up to 40-30. He looks to have sealed the deal but Rublev gets the umpire out of the chair and … the forehand is wide. Deuce. And … bang-bang. Another pair of too-hot-to-handle serves takes us all square in the fourth set.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 3-2 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
While Cilic looks teak-tough on his own serve, he’s struggling to make much of an impact on the Rublev serve. The Russian holds to love in almost casual fashion.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 2-2 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
New balls for Cilic to serve with. Rublev gets the better of the latest long rally and guesses right from a Cilic smash, diverting the ball back past the Croatian for 0-15. Cilic responds with a couple of brutal forehands to go 30-15 up, then thunders a cross-court backhand into space with Rublev scrambling. An ace (number 26) closes it out.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 2-1 Marin Cilic* (* denotes next server)
At 30-15 there’s an epic rally which Cilic eventually gets the better of … before netting a simple volley. Rublev breathes a sigh of relief then closes out the game with little fuss.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 1-1 Marin Cilic (* denotes next server)
Cilic booms down an ace to bring up 40-0 as he continues to look rock-solid on his serve. Another thumping second serve earns him the game to love.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 Marin Cilic*
Hello all. Rublev rumbles through a routine service game to kick off the fourth set.
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*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-6 Marin Cilic
Serving for the set, the Croat suddenly tightens – Rublev finds himself 0-30 up. Cilic keeps his cool and spanks a forehand crosscourt to reduce the arrears.
Then he winds up to find the centre line with his serve once more, which Rublev can only clip with the end of his racket. His next is utterly irretrievable and brings up set point.
Class the next point, slammed into the net by Cilic, as a chance squandered than a set point saved, but Rublev will doubtless take it either way. But with his second set point, Cilic powers his younger opponent into a mistake.
That’s me done here for the day, but here’s the Very Nice Man John Ashdown to take you through the remainder of the daytime session. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 4-5 Marin Cilic*
Rublev’s looks to the heavens in disbelief are getting more frequent, as he senses the match starting to tilt in his opponent’s favour. He’s taken to 30-30, and then to deuce.
Cilic is unable to take advantage, though, and that’s a welcome hold for the 24-year-old.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 3-5 Marin Cilic
Another ace kicks off Cilic’s quest to consolidate the break. Then his range goes a little awry and a wayward forehand puts him 15-30 down. A couple of tight calls go against Rublev, to his obvious and audible dissatisfaction, and the veteran closes out. Once again the Russian is serving to save a set.
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Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 3-4 Marin Cilic*
Cilic presses, with Rublev’s serve malfunctioning, and swiftly goes 15-40 up – then in the rally of this set so far, he finds a winner. It’s quite the turnaround.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 3-3 Marin Cilic
Three aces for Cilic take his tally in the match to 22 – he serves out to love, with Rublev possibly glad of the breeze generated by each passing ball.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 3-2 Marin Cilic*
A drop shot briefly whips the crowd up and gets Cilic motoring, to no avail in this instance. He soon finds himself 15-30 up too, and then with a break point to play with. Rublev serves majestically to save it.
Cilic has definitely upped the intensity in this game, and rallies superbly to earn another break chance. Rublev serves straight at him to save once more, and he looks relieved to subsequently hold with an ace.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 2-2 Marin Cilic
Rublev is two places down on his career-best ranking of five, achieved last year, while four years ago Cilic was the world’s No 3. Whatever formula this adds up to with surface, age, form and fitness factored in, this is an extremely tight match-up.
The oomph has gone slightly however, as Cilic serves to love with minimal resistance – which, surprisingly given the power on show, is only the second love game in the match so far.
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Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 2-1 Marin Cilic*
Cilic is gradually getting more second serves to return. That could play a part as the match progresses. At 30-30, Rublev looks relieved to take the point, and he raises his fist when Cilic pops a return well wide to hand the game over.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 1-1 Marin Cilic
As the evening shadows start to cut across the court (which I don’t mind telling you, is making it that bit harder to follow the ball on a 21-inch TV), Cilic goes 40-0 up fairly undramatically. The tempo and intensity appears to have dropped slightly. He ultimately holds to 15, capped by another ace down the middle.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 Marin Cilic*
Hard to pick a winner, here – Rublev has won more points on the first serve, but Cilic’s second serve is undoubtedly posing more problems. To kick off the third set, the Russian looks to pick up the pace, and takes the game relatively untroubled.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-6 Marin Cilic
Speaking of straightforward holds … Cilic, from the off, is the big favourite for the game, swiftly bringing up three set points. Rublev picks up a drop shot brilliantly to see off the first, the net cord intervenes to snaffle the second, and suddenly the Russian is at deuce.
Cilic twice tries to put the set away but swings wide, but his fifth set point proves decisive – an ace, straight down the middle.
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Andrey Rublev 7-5, 3-5 Marin Cilic*
A mesmerising sliced drop shot leaves Cilic stranded, on the way to Rublev’s most comfortable-looking hold of the match so far. Still, Cilic now serves for the second set.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 2-5 Marin Cilic
Strangely, Cilic appears to be faring better in rallies beginning from Rublev’s serve than his own. He goes 15-30 down, not helped by a couple of wild swipes, but then sends a storming delivery straight down the middle. Two more serves, the latter another ace (he’s up to 15 now), means Rublev is left needing to hold to avoid the match levelling up.
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Andrey Rublev 7-5, 2-4 Marin Cilic*
Cilic recovers from 30-0 to level up, and then takes Rublev to deuce. He brings up a break point after pummelling his opponent into giving him an opening during another savage rally – Rublev is relieved to see it saved after a looping forehand dips just inside the baseline. From there the Russian holds well.
Elsewhere at Roland Garros … Britain’s Gordon Reid is out of the men’s wheelchair singles, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Tokito Oda. His doubles partner, the top seed Alfie Hewett, is through however, having beaten Tom Egberink 6-1, 6-2.
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*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 1-4 Marin Cilic
More big serving from Cilic, who now has 13 aces to his name today.
Rublev once again takes him to deuce, however, before the veteran puts the game away with a clubbing crosscourt backhand.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 1-3 Marin Cilic*
Rublev speeds to 30-0 before Cilic wraps round, eyes agape, to put away a storming forehand. Still, the Russian seals a fairly regulation hold dinking a tidy drop shot in that his opponent can’t quite get his hands together to deal with.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 0-3 Marin Cilic
Tail suddenly upright like a fox finding the henhouse fire exit ajar, Cilic sets about trying to consolidate his break. Rublev fumes for failing to clear the net with a backhand and seems to have geed himself up, recovering from 15-40 to deuce.
Cilic dominates the next point, forcing Rublev to go one-handed on the backhand and picking off his return in the air, but a lucky break, high into the air after clipping the net, threatens to let the Russian back in. It comes to nought, however, as Cilic dominates the next two rallies and secures the game.
Andrey Rublev 7-5, 0-2 Marin Cilic*
Cilic smells a chance at 15-30 – and slices effectively to upset Rublev’s rhythm and bring up break point. The Russian saves the first with an ace, you may not be surprised to hear, but Cilic picks up a savage serve on the second and then benefits from a net cord to secure the break.
*Andrey Rublev 7-5, 0-1 Marin Cilic
This is Rublev’s second French Open quarter-final, and his fifth overall in grand slams. Cilic is an old hand at this stage of major tournaments, however, and he eases to 40-0 in the opening game of this set having recalibrated his serving sights.
A regulation-looking pick up at the net goes awry, however, and an attempted drop shot sits up invitingl to let Rublev find a way back, all the way to deuce. More effective second serves help him through, sending the Russian deep in the court from the off and setting up the chance of a winner.
Andrey Rublev 7-5 Marin Cilic*
With the Chatrier shadows starting to lengthen, Rublev takes charge, serving out the set to love with minimal resistance, sealed by an attempted return from Cilic arcing harmlessly to hit the net.
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*Andrey Rublev 6-5 Marin Cilic
Cilic double faults, then misreads a savage return, leaving it only to immediately realise it landed in. Rublev has another sniff at 15-30, and swings majestically crosscourt to bring up two more break points.
This time the Croat can’t find an ace to dig him out, and he sends a forehand long to make a mockery of my tiebreak talk. Rublev will serve for the first set.
Andrey Rublev 5-5 Marin Cilic*
More metronomic diagonal exchanges of furious power, but this time Rublev takes the initiative, changing up effectively to take the honours after a 15-shot rally. Make no mistake: when the ball stays in, these fellas can play.
Rublev edges another tight game, and the smart money might be on a tiebreak here.
*Andrey Rublev 4-5 Marin Cilic
I wonder what the highest bounce on the ball ever achieved from a smashed winner is – Cilic slaps one so hard into the ground that people in the Chatrier upper tier were probably holding their hands out thinking they might catch it.
Still, Rublev puts pressure on again. So:
15-40 … ace
30-40 … sends Rublev almost off the court he was reaching so hard
40-40 … ace
adv … errant first serve, then a deep, looping second that Rublev fails to pick
Andrey Rublev 4-4 Marin Cilic*
A gruelling-looking point consisting of punishing diagonal balls, all struck with immense force, comes to an end as Cilic changes up and slams it straight down the line instead. Rublev then takes charge of the game but is left charging vainly when Cilic opts to drop a short one in – his salvage attempt sees the ball float harmlessly wide, but he closes out after Cilic concedes that an ace called out had actually found its range.
*Andrey Rublev 3-4 Marin Cilic
Rublev is starting to get on top of the whole rallying thing, and becomes a quick favourite the longer points go on. He brings up two break points with a spanked forehand crosscourt that the long arms of Cilic can only dream of reaching.
How to respond? Ace, right on the line. He saves the second after pinning Rublev back with the serve, setting up the chance of a winner.
Another break chance soon follows, with Cilic floating (probably harder than I can hit a ball, I realise) a forehand just long. Once again the serve gets him out of trouble, leaving Rublev sprawling to stay in the point.
You have to feel for the officials with the ball being smacked with this kind of force, both in terms of making the calls accurately … and trying to get out of the way of it when it’s heading right for you. Cilic gets a wide call overruled, and eventually closes out.
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Andrey Rublev 3-3 Marin Cilic*
Without wanting to be too unkind to this pairing, I feel more like I’m counting rather than watching and enjoying. The power is absolutely undeniable, however, if you’re into that kind of thing. Rublev wins to 15, and the aces count stands at five apiece with six games played.
*Andrey Rublev 2-3 Marin Cilic
Absolutely no arsing about from Cilic, hitting the ball three times to move to 40-0. Rublev nicks a point back but the next serve almost sends him flying in attempting to return. 3-2 Cilic.
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Andrey Rublev 2-2 Marin Cilic*
Cilic is now 33, having turned pro all the way back in 2005, but I think we’re well past the point now where anyone worries about players at the top of the game not being able to cut it when they have a three in front of their name. He’s understandably keen to close games out quickly on his serve, but is also moving well.
Rublev, no slouch with ball in hand himself, goes to 40-30 with two aces, and he takes the game with a looping forehand that just finds the left-hand line.
*Andrey Rublev 1-2 Marin Cilic
Cilic is already up to four aces in this match, but is also showing erratic shotmaking in open play. He moves to 40-15 with a winner right on the line that Rublev snorts at derisively. Attempting to seal the game, he loops an attempted clincher just long.
The 6ft 6in Cilic lets Rublev in, and they move to deuce. Heavy weight stays on the serve however, and the Russian is unable to get the ball in.
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Andrey Rublev 1-1 Marin Cilic*
Rublev fires in his first ace to make it 30-0 … then his second to move to 40-15, with Cilic sprawling. There’s wildness away from the fire however, and a couple of swings land well adrift of their mark. Still, it’s a comfortable hold, and the match is progressing at such a pace that I can already tell I need to up my WPM.
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*Andrey Rublev 0-1 Marin Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic, the world No 23, eases to a 40-0 lead, helped by a powerful forehand biff down the line. Rublev immediately shows his danger, however, returning at over 200km.
The Croat is undaunted however, and closes the opening game with a weighty ace.
And so on to the men’s singles. Last up on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the daytime session is Andrey Rublev v Marin Cilic.
If we’re going to get bogged down in head-to-head fun and frolics again, Rublev leads 4-2, but their most recent meeting went Cilic’s way, and on a grand stage – the third round of the Australian Open.
Rublev is another who will be absent from Wimbledon due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, and he arrives in this quarter-final with three ATP titles this year: in Belgrade – where he beat Novak Djokovic – Dubai and Marseille.
He goes in favourite, but collides with the 2014 US Open champion, who is in his third quarter-final at Roland Garros. Cilic is targeting his first semi-final in this tournament, Rublev has never progressed past this point at any grand slam. Game on!
Some more reflection on Swiatek’s victory, which brings up her 33rd straight win. In terms of winning streaks this century, only Venus (35) and Serena Williams (34) have bettered that tally. Still, Martina Navratilova’s run of 74 wins remains a distant dream for now.
Obviously there’s plenty of work still to do for the world No 1 in this tournament, but with a 2,150pt cushion in the world rankings over second-ranked Barbora Krejcikova, she is firmly plumbed in as the dominant force of women’s tennis at the moment. Bear in mind also that the winner at Roland Garros gets 2,000 ranking points.
Meanwhile Jessica Pegula, who was occasionally cutting a frustrating figure, was a more even player in their quarter-final than the one-sided scoreline suggests. Once again fine margins were exploited ruthlessly, but the general sense remains that Swiatek must improve drastically on that error-strewn display to win her second French Open title. There is certainly plenty of heart Pegula can take from that match, where she went toe-to-toe gamely.
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Confirmed women's semi-final lineup
Iga Swiatek (1) v Daria Kasatkina (20)
Martina Trevisan v Coco Gauff (18)
Next up: Andrey Rublev v Marin Cilic.
Back very shortly!
Iga Swiatek speaks!
She was changing the rhythm, but I was playing with good dynamics so I could push her back a little bit.
Today is warmer so the ball is flying a little bit faster, and I had to adjust to that with Jessica’s flat game.
When I stop being nervous is when something weird is going on because it’s always nervous, you know? But sometimes stress is a positive thing – it can make you more active and more tense, so you can play your best performance.
Iga Swiatek beats Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2!
A must-hold for Pegula, in a match that the scoreboard suggests is a thrashing but in reality has been anything but. The American swipes a forehand winner, then follows up with a return so wild and wide that it almost misses the outer tramline. She finds net with the next point, and at 15-30 it’s almost game over.
Two match points follow thanks to a glorious backhand winner down the line from Swiatek. The first is saved thanks to an aggressive serve. The second is saved with her second ace of the match.
Swiatek nets an attempted winner to suggest a way out of this game to the American, but the Pole’s speed around the court has made the drop shot almost a gimme of a point, and she can’t string together the two points she needs.
A netted forehand from Pegula gives a third match point … and it’s saved brilliantly as an aggressive rally ends with a lovely forehand winner.
More mistakes lead to deuce No 4, and match point four is a save too far for Pegula. Swiatek secures a semi-final slot with a powerful backhand down the line.
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Swiatek 6-3, 5-2 Pegula*
Two games from victory, Swiatek is still slamming balls long and wide. Pegula gets another glimpse of an opening at 15-30 but falls to her knees as a return of her own falls well beyond the lines. Swiatek goes 40-30 up, then closes out … and Pegula’s racket is flung to the clay as another chance to get back into the set eludes her.
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*Swiatek 6-3, 4-2 Pegula
Pegula applies a powerful and needless volleyed winner to a ball that was going out, perhaps showing that she’s still here to play. Her first double-fault of the match follows, but she swipes a forehand crosscourt to take charge of the game.
It’s a good and essential hold for Pegula, but the time to break Swiatek’s serve is now.
Swiatek 6-3, 4-1 Pegula*
It doesn’t feel like a match in which one of the participants has only won four games, but here were are. Swiatek, definitely flattered by the scoreboard behind her, strings four dominant points together for the first time in a while and closes out to love.
At this stage I’d be surprised if those in attendance weren’t plotting toilet breaks in the next 10-15 minutes.
*Swiatek 6-3, 3-1 Pegula
A brace more wild swipes from Swiatek, but Pegula throws in one or two of her own as the game moves to 30-30. The Pole then smashes following a net cord and a limp Pegula lob to bring up a break point, which she fails to take, going well long and wide with a forehand.
Pegula may be sagging slightly, however, and another chance to break follows immediately. Swiatek dispatches a two-handed backhand powerfully down the line to secure the break.
Swiatek 6-3, 2-1 Pegula*
Swiatek is still throwing errors in for fun but doing just enough in her service games. A lengthy exchange goes Pegula’s way after the world No 1 floats a return long, offering a sniff at 15-30, but Swiatek hangs in there and the game goes to deuce.
Pegula is looking increasingly frustrated at chances going begging, but is channelling it well and not letting her level drop. She then brings up a break point with a superb looping forehand down the line to close out a fine rally.
Chance! But her return goes well wide, and Swiatek mops up the game from there with a fine pass, followed by a powerful drive that forces Pegula too long.
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*Swiatek 6-3, 1-1 Pegula
There’s always the risk with a player as dominant as Swiatek that fine margins in a match suddenly become yawning gulfs, and at 30-30 the worry is that the scoreboard could be about to assume that runaway look.
Pegula keeps cool, finding a winner and then forcing her opponent to go long.
*Swiatek 6-3, 1-0 Pegula
Swiatek’s 16 unforced errors to 14 tells part of the story of an occasionally scrappy first set, but 19 winners to seven in her favour reflects the scoreline.
They exchange more errant swipes, but the Pole goes 40-15 up fairly comfortably then closes out.
The splendidly named VoiceOfTheMysterons on Twitter, in response to two unfortunates delaying play slightly after finding themselves directly in front of one of the coaches in the stands, contributes the following …
Memo to all TV directors at Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments: Stop giving the idiots who delay play, the luxury of camera time. #FrenchOpen #RolandGarros @stuartgoodwin
— VoiceOfTheMysterons (@Mysteron_Voice) June 1, 2022
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*Swiatek 6-3 Pegula
Pegula, suddenly serving to stay in the set, has played very well but in addition to lacking a stroke of luck, she is also getting very slightly outgunned in the critical moments. Swiatek hunts down a drop shot rapidly to take a point. At game point, Pegula nets and takes the world No 1 two points away from 1-0.
It’s a poor time for a weak first serve and a return sent long. Swiatek’s eyes light up with a second serve to play with, and a set point in her lapel pocket … but smashes it well long.
Set point two soon follows, and the set is more handed over than won in the end, Pegula thrashing well wide.
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Swiatek 5-3 Pegula*
Fingers crossed that oversight doesn’t prove the difference. She immediately appears to have put it behind her, and takes Swiatek to deuce. She then repeatedly slaps her thigh in anger (thankfully the unstrapped one) after gifting the next point to the Pole.
Pegula gets back on terms with a fine winner, but fails to get a stroke of luck back after hitting the net cord, and then Swiatek forces her to return long with more powerful hitting. The American clearly sniffed a chance there, and bounces her racket in mild frustration.
*Swiatek 4-3 Pegula
Swiatek piles the pressure on, powering through baseline exchanges and taking the game to 0-30. And then wide eyes greet the scoreboard reaching 15-40, having forced Pegula to return long. The American tries to catch her out with a drop shot, but Swiatek gets there, sliding in low and dabbing it over at the angle to bring up the break.
Good eyes from the Eurosport commentary team, who clock that the ball bounced twice before Swiatek managed to get it over the net. Incredibly difficult to see that conclusively in real time, but still unlucky for Pegula, who had raised a quizzical eyebrow.
Swiatek 3-3 Pegula*
Much, much better from the world No 1, backing up strong serves with irretrievable returns, then aceing – her third – to seal the game to love.
*Swiatek 2-3 Pegula
Pegula tries to switch things up and sends Swiatek rushing with a drop shot. However, she has the legs to get there and forces the American to dump her return low into the net.
The New Yorker regains her composure and takes control, holding fairly comfortably. This is a good performance from Pegula, and Swiatek looks below her best, having already contributed 12 unforced errors.
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Swiatek 2-2 Pegula*
Another wild swing from Swiatek gifts a point Pegula’s way but her second ace makes it 30-15, before a delicious backhand down the line offers breathing space. Pegula goes long and Swiatek holds quickly.
*Swiatek 1-2 Pegula
The early pattern suggested that the longer the rally goes on, the more likely Swiatek is to win the point. She goes 15-30 up on the American’s serve, but Pegula is impressively unruffled and evidently has no intention of being rolled out of the tournament without a fight. And she starts upsetting the pattern, emerging on top of a few lengthy exchanges.
Both net chances to get on top and the unforced error count racks up through a string of deuces, surprisingly so on Swiatek’s side of the net. The Pole’s frustration is clear. Pegula hangs on for the hold.
Swiatek 1-1 Pegula*
No let up from the 2020 champion. She looks well up for this, chasing down an attempted drop shot with ease, getting slightly lucky with a casual-looking smash, then aceing to go 40-0 up.
Pegula returns with interest to keep the game alive, however, then takes it all the way back to deuce by forcing a couple of netted returns – and then a third to bring up her first break point. A good response from the 28-year-old.
The break is secured as the net-cord sends an attempted Swiatek return well wide. 1-1!
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*Swiatek 1-0 Pegula (* denotes next server)
The first point, on Pegula’s serve, goes to the world No 1, but the American – who has sizeable strapping on her left thigh – responds well to go 30-15 up. The Pole then capitalises on an error before thrashing a winner to bring up the first break point of the match.
That’s saved beautifully with a crosscourt forehand, but there’s more work to do as Swiatek forces another mistake. Another break point … and immediately Swiatek gets on top of the baseline exchanges and takes the early initiative.
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Things are heating up at Roland Garros, with the temperature now at 21C, but more pertinently with Iga Swiatek hitting up ready for another quarter-final.
This encounter is an example of how misleading head-to-heads can be in sport. The tally sits at 1-1, with Swiatek having knocked Pegula out in Miami earlier this year, and the American coming out on top at the Washington Open in 2019 – that tournament remains the only one Pegula has won in her career.
Swiatek, meanwhile, has won five this year alone, and is on a 32-match winning streak. To contextualise that, her run matches one managed by Justine Henin, and is only bettered this century by both Venus and Serena Williams (who managed 35 and 34 respectively). If she wins the tournament, she will also reach 35.
Pegula is having a good year, however, at her career-high ranking having reached the Australian Open quarter-final. But can she raise her game even further against the world No 1? Let’s find out …
Semi-finals reminder: Kasatkina will play the winner of the match between Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, which is the next match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The players are emerging now.
In the other semi, Martina Trevisan will face 18th seed Coco Gauff.
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French Open to consider earlier starts to big night matches
French Open chiefs will discuss introducing earlier starts to showpiece night matches following the ludicrous late finish between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Nadal and Djokovic’s quarter-final began just after 9pm local time at the behest of broadcaster Prime Video.
The temperature had dropped to 12C and some spectators had left while others were wrapped in blankets by the time Nadal wrapped up victory in four sets at 1.15am.
Both Nadal and Djokovic later admitted the match started too late. “It is, without a doubt,” said Nadal. “Of course I understand the other part of the business, without a doubt, that televisions pays a lot of money to have matches that late, then the tournament makes money and then the players make money, no? We need to find a balance.”
Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, the former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, said: “Obviously it’s not simple. It’s the first year that I’m the tournament director. I’m learning a lot of things regarding the scheduling of the tournament. Having such late matches could actually trigger some questions. I’m wondering about it myself, to be honest.
“I do not have the answer yet, because we actually see a day at a time and will certainly ask ourselves what to do next and we will try to do some debriefing to see what worked out well, what didn’t work out well with some hindsight, and it definitely will be on the table.”
There has been further controversy surrounding night sessions as only one of the 10 has featured a women’s match, Alizé Cornet’s second-round win over Jelena Ostapenko. But Mauresmo added: “In this era that we are in right now – and as a woman, a former woman’s player, I don’t feel bad or unfair saying that – you have more attraction, appeal [in] general, for the men’s matches.” PA Media
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Daria Kasatkina speaks!
The match was really nervous and tight – especially the tiebreak, the last few points were super-tight. I’m happy at the end that I won, it’s important for me and I’m happy to be in the semis for the first time.
Daria Kasatkina beats Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 7-6 (5)!
Kasatkina gets an early mini-break and quickly goes 3-0 up after another long ‘un from her opponent. The timeout has seemingly even further upset Kudermetova’s slightly wonky rhythm. A wild thrash wide makes it 5-0 – with Kudermetova uncomfortably close to the half-century of unforced errors in the match.
At 1-5 down, Kudermetova nets a regulation return, and suddenly faces five match points against her.
She saves the first with a hefty serve, then the second with a superbly measured winner down the line. Then, improbably, Kasatkina gives up the third and fourth.
For the fifth, a fine rally of power and variety comes to an end, slightly inevitably, with Kudermetova netting an attempted return. Daria Kasatkina has made her first grand slam semi-final!
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Kudermetova 4-6, 6-6 Kasatkina
The medical timeout is over, and happily Kudermetova looks unhampered by any issue. Kasatkina is suddenly serving to stay in the second set.
She double faults at 30-0 up, but gets the chance to hold thanks to another Kudermetova forehand that fails to find its range. Next up, a return goes long. It’s tiebreak time!
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Kudermetova 4-6, 6-5 Kasatkina*
Frustratingly for anyone hoping for a third set, Kasatkina races to 0-30 once more, then 15-40 and two more break points. Kudermetova saves both with a bit of brute force, but sends an attempted pass agonisingly wide, to offer up another. It’s saved absolutely stunningly, with Kasatkina looking every inch the point’s winner, but Kudermetova, sent wide, chops a crosscourt winner into open court.
She closes out the game, but there will be a brief break with Kudermetova calling for a trainer. Her left shoe is off, so I’m going to draw on my extensive medical knowledge and suggest there might be discomfort around her left foot area.
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Kudermetova 4-6, 5-5 Kasatkina*
Kasatkina has been the smarter operator throughout, playing with a slightly casual air that hints there’s more to draw on if things get dicey. But Kudermetova isn’t giving in, and gets a sniff at 15-30 which she presses with a sumptuous crosscourt winner that stays low and give her opponent no chance. Almost improbably given the momentum of the match, she breaks! Brawn beat brains in that game, and keeps Kudermetova with us.
*Kudermetova 4-6, 4-5 Kasatkina
The pattern of the match as a whole has been Kudermetova throwing errors in at critical moments where she needs to push forward and keep pressure on her opponent. More mistakes see the scoreboard apologetically tick over to 15-40, but she serves strongly to save the first break point. She cannot save the second, and now has to break Kasatkina to stay in the tournament.
*Kudermetova 4-6, 4-4 Kasatkina
Kasatkina, a hold and a break away from victory, double-faults to go 15-30 down. She gets back on top thanks to a chopped drop shot from behind the baseline. Kudermetova shows the first signs of frustration but composes herself before – again – responding in kind to take the game to deuce.
And then a break point! Can she take it? Arrrgh … she immediately goes needlessly long to hand it back. It’s nervy out there now, however, as Kasatkina double faults again, this time at deuce, and then the break is secured when she sends a return of her own long.
Kudermetova 4-6, 3-4 Kasatkina*
Kudermetova, realistically, must hold. She takes the initiative at 30-15 with a therapeutic smash, then slams a two-handed backhand winner down the line, and a Kasatkina serve-return into the net keeps the match alive.
*Kudermetova 4-6, 2-4 Kasatkina
Kasatkina eases to 30-0, and after a fine winner in response, she conjures a delicious passing shot down the line to go 40-15 up. Kudermetova ups the pace again and fights back to deuce, but gives up the game after another awful mistake, sending the ball needlessly wide with three-quarters of the court to choose from.
Kudermetova 4-6, 2-3 Kasatkina*
More glorious court-craft from Kasatkina, finding a drop shot from behind the baseline. At 30-15, Kudermetova tries one of her own, wrongfooting her opponent totally, and earns a rare bit of breathing space on her serve. Another double fault immediately makes things hairy … still, Kudermetova holds.
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*Kudermetova 4-6, 1-3 Kasatkina
Kudermetova is chasing the match, but the extra weight behind her shots is only upping her error count. Kasatkina holds fairly comfortably to 15.
Kudermetova 4-6, 1-2 Kasatkina*
Another service game, another 0-30 scoreline. Despite the occasion, both players look impressively unruffled whatever their predicament, and – good lord – are these people having fun?
One thing to remind and reflect on: neither of these women will be allowed to grace Wimbledon this year following the All England Club’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Kasatkina raises the fist again after forcing two more break points. Kudermetova saves the first well, then another … and a third. She then gifts the chance of a fourth with a double fault, but races round the court to salvage it, set up by a well-measured dink over the net. Next up comes possibly her point of the match, arcing a passing shot deliciously after a sliced effort down the line from Kasatkina.
A welcome advantage, but Kudermetova can’t capitalise and goes just long. A fifth break point courtesy of an ill-advised leave, the ball over the top judged (correctly) to be just in, and the longest game of the match ends with a limp dab into the net. Another break.
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*Kudermetova 4-6, 1-1 Kasatkina
Kudermetova evidently lacks the box of tricks her opponent boasts but fights back immediately, pressing Kasatkina with sustained power. She quickly forces the game to 15-40 and is relieved to get back on terms in the set.
Kudermetova 4-6, 0-1 Kasatkina*
The pair have, technically, each won tournaments on clay, albeit both at the Charleston Open, which uses the lesser-regarded green variety, which plays faster, and somewhat closer to a hard court. Both look extremely comfortable on the Roland Garros surface, however, and after a brief pop off the court, Kudermetova re-emerges with a determined puff of the cheeks.
She quickly needs to rekindle her rhythm, however, as immediately she goes 0-30 down. Her ball-striking is more powerful, but more error-strewn, seemingly winning one point with a hefty hit and then losing two with mistakes. Two more break points, then – the first saved, the second handed back tamely.
A third is taken deliciously, Kasatkina finding the cross-court angle viciously with two hands to leave Kudermetova sprawling. The higher-ranked Russian is suddenly well on top.
Kudermetova 4-6 Kasatkina
And that’s the set.
At 30-15, Kasatkina is forced wide and slams her attempted retrieval into the net post. She keeps her cool, however, looping the ball long to mix up the exchanges and forcing her opponent to hand over a set point.
That’s saved after Kudermetova emerges on top of the rally of the match, but she immediately offers up another with another error, and follows it with a wild crosscourt thrash that goes yards wide. That’s met with a wry smile from the erring Russian, who will now have to win in three to make her first grand slam semi-final.
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*Kudermetova 4-5 Kasatkina
More Kudermetova mishaps, not helped by a first serve percentage of 52%, make her sweat a bit at 0-30. At 15-30, she looks every bit like taking the point, and sets up what looks like a shoo-in with a delicious drop shot.
But no! She spanks it long and wide and hands over two more break points. Kasatkina doesn’t need telling twice and wrongfoots her opponent with a sweet crosscourt forehand. The 20th seed, who looks like she may have another gear or two to call on, raises her fist and will now serve for the first set.
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*Kudermetova 4-4 Kasatkina
The meagre early crowd is starting to bulk up a little, and have a decent, well-matched quarter-final to enjoy. Kasatkina races through her service game to love thanks to a string of errors from her compatriot.
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Kudermetova 4-3 Kasatkina*
Two more break points for Kasatkina, and Kudermetova immediately invites pressure, missing with her first serve. The server comes out of a strong rally on top however, and then charges for the net and forces Kasatkina to attempt a lob, which falls just long.
Kudermetova is finding more winners in the extended exchanges, and after a couple of deuces, she forces her opponent into an error and is extremely relieved to hold.
*Kudermetova 3-3 Kasatkina
A good response from world No 29 Kudermetova … and she swiftly gets two more break points of her own. The first is saved wondrously as Kasatkina casually picks a low ball up from her shoe-buckles to tap over a drop shot. She then forces Kudermetova long to take the game to deuce, and Hawk-Eye agrees with her assessment that a viciously struck cross-court blast fell just wide. Honours even once more.
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Kudermetova 3-2 Kasatkina*
Three aces now for Kudermetova, who is bouncing around court confidently. Both players are still exchanging errors fairly evenly, however, and a wild smash long hands Kasatkina two break points. She doesn’t have to work to hard to get things back on serve either – another long forehand from Kudermetova makes it 3-2.
*Kudermetova 3-1 Kasatkina
Kasatkina goes 30-0 up and hops in frustration as a topspin return down the line falls just wide. Two errant forehand swipes then find the net to give Kudermetova the first break point of the match … and Kasatkina goes long to hand it over.
Kudermetova 2-1 Kasatkina*
These players already look extremely well-matched, and you can see why their sole previous meeting – in St Petersburg last year – went the distance. Still, Kudermetova secures another good hold with a fine crosscourt backhand that leaves Kasatkina putting the skids on to carve a pleasing groove in the clay.
*Kudermetova 1-1 Kasatkina
I realise now btw that artful second mentions for this pairing are going to be hard to come by, with both players aged 25 and Russian. Brace yourself for LOTS of surnames. Kudermetova goes 30-15 up but fires long during a range-finding baseline rally, with an early glance at a break seemingly beckoning. Kasatkina is finding the lines well, pressuring her opponent’s forehand, and forces another error to level the scores.
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Kudermetova 1-0 Kasatkina* (asterisk denotes next to serve)
Predictably nervy opening stages see a couple of errors exchanged, but Kudermetova goes 30-15 up with a lovely drop shot, Kasatkina wisely opting against even vaguely trying to chase it. She closes out with an ace down the middle to secure the hold.
To get this far, Kudermetova has seen off two fellow seeds. She overcame 22nd seed Madison Keys in the fourth round, having lost the first set 6-1. This followed a curtailed third-round victory over Paula Badosa, who retired hurt with a knee injury three games into the second set while trailing 6-3, 2-1.
Kasatkina’s sole seeded encounter came last time out against Camila Giorgi, who she impressively saw off 6-2, 6-2. In the third round she gave the dangerous Shelby Rogers similar straight-sets treatment.
The players are on court. In the women’s draw, seeds have been falling quicker than when a hefty local pigeon swoops in to attack the bird feeder at the end of my garden. Swiatek is the only one of the top 10 remaining, with none of the other nine managing to progress beyond the third round.
We already have one unseeded semi-finalist in Trevisan, who will face 18th seed Gauff, while Pegula (11), Kasatkina (20) and Kudermetova (29) make up the remainder of the draw.
French umpire Kader Nouni is in the chair, and hitting up has commenced.
Players are due out on Court Philippe-Chatrier in just under 10 minutes. First up today, we are guaranteed a new grand slam semi-finalist, with 25-year-old Veronika Kudermetova already in uncharted territory, having never gone beyond the third round at a major tournament until this week. Four years ago, her fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina – also 25 – made the quarters but fell to eventual finalist Sloane Stephens.
The winner will take on the victor of Swiatek v Pegula, which immediately follows, in the semis.
Elsewhere at Roland Garros today … Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett will be in wheelchair singles action, against Tokito Oda and Tom Egberink respectively. As a doubles partnership, the British pair are eyeing an astonishing 10 grand slam titles in a row.
Today’s play on Chatrier begins with two women’s singles quarter-finals. Yesterday, Coco Gauff made her first grand slam semi thanks to victory over Sloane Stephens. She’ll play Italy’s Martina Trevisan, the world No 59, who was a surprise winner against 17th seed Leylah Fernandez as the young Canadian struggled with an injury to her right foot. Here’s how Tumaini saw Tuesday’s action …
Gauff and Stephens, 29, go back a long time. As Gauff was growing up surrounded by hype, Stephens watched as she grew from a precocious eight-year-old to an adult with ample experience on the tour. She would attend some of Gauff’s birthday parties and they know each other’s families well. Here they played with so much on the line. This pitted two of the very best athletes in the game against each other, but Gauff outworked Stephens in the numerous long rallies and remained solid as each tried to find a way through the other’s defences. She served well when she most needed to and she brought Stephens forward with regular drop shots, demonstrating the variety that has become a central part of her game.
Most of all, Gauff struck her forehand as well as she has done in any of her big matches. Throughout her young career, Gauff’s forehand has become a big target for all players, the aim to rush her elaborate swing with depth and pace, but it was Gauff frequently pushing Stephens back with her heavy topspin while constantly looking to dictate and finish points.
Earlier on Tuesday, Alexander Zverev saw off a threatened comeback by the massively in-form youngster, Carlos Alcaraz …
Between the phenomenon of Alcaraz’s teenage breakthrough, the attempts of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to tread deeper into tennis’s history books and even the opportunity presented to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the vacant bottom half, few have had much to say about Zverev.
But a player rises to No 3 in the rankings for a reason. On a cool evening at Roland Garros, he showed why, remaining rock solid against an erratic Alcaraz and snuffing out the surrounding hype as he won 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7) to reach the semi-finals.
Alcaraz had started the match immediately trying to impose his brand of high-octane, all-court tennis. But despite his intensity, his timing was completely off. Unforced errors flowed freely from his forehand and backhand alike. Zverev was far more consistent. He soaked up the Spaniard’s inside-out forehand with his own excellent backhand, which remarkably did not concede a single unforced error for two and a half sets. He served well, he pressed when needed and his historic weaknesses, his second serve and forehand, held up.
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It genuinely was an extraordinary four-set match, running to the length of a five-setter. The first four games alone clocked in at well over 30 minutes, which set the tone. Guardian sport’s print team were left sweating and chewing pencils as the clock ticked well beyond midnight, with print site workers and delivery drivers tapping their feet impatiently.
“It was a very tough match,” Nadal said. “Novak is one of the best players in history without a doubt. Always to play against him is an amazing challenge. All the history that we have together, today was another one.
“To win against Novak, there is only one way: to play at your best from the first point to the last. Today it was one of those nights for me. An unexpected level but I am super happy.
“I am just enjoying every day that I have the chance to be here, and without thinking much about what can happen on the future. Of course I’m going to keep fighting to find a solution for [his problematic foot], but for the moment, we haven’t. So just give myself a chance to play another semi-finals here at Roland Garros is a lot of energy for me.”
In response, Djokovic said: “I know I could have played better I’m proud of fighting and staying till the last shot. As I said, you know, I lost to a better player today. Had my chances. Didn’t use them. That’s it. Over four hours’ battle, and I have to accept this defeat.”
For those who had an early night, here’s a taste of what you missed …
As the two greatest rivals in men’s tennis convened at the French Open once more, plenty of factors pointed in favour of Novak Djokovic. While both he and Rafael Nadal had arrived in the clay court season full of uncertainty, only Djokovic had taken notable steps forward since. Nadal, meanwhile, still searched for his best form after his fractured rib. His preparation was complicated with a flareup of his chronic foot injury. His form in Paris was, so far, subpar.
But this is Rafael Nadal. At Roland Garros. He is the man who has won 110 times in his home with just three losses, who has shown over the course of his 17 years there that form and other frivolous trivia have little relevance in the face of total, unprecedented dominance. In a match that began in May and ended in June, Nadal blew Djokovic away in the opening stages, then absorbed multiple strong fightbacks and immense pressure before rising to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) after four hours and 11 minutes at 1.15am local time.
Preamble
Happy Wednesdays everyone! Just 10 short hours and seemingly just a dozen long blinks after John Brewin finally wrapped up on Rafael Nadal’s victory over Novak Djokovic … the overnight Roland Garros goblins have done their thing to have Court Philippe-Chatrier back looking pristine for another day of quarter-final action.
Here’s what’s in store during today’s daytime session:
Order of play
(first match 11am BST, seeds in brackets)
Veronika Kudermetova (29) v Daria Kasatkina (20)
Iga Swiatek (1) v Jessica Pegula (11)
Andrey Rublev (7) v Marin Cilic (20)
Night session, not before 7.45pm BST
Casper Ruud (8) v Holger Rune
