That, then is us. At the end of a day that feels like it began a week ago, we’ve seen two shocks in the women’s quarters, Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva seeing off Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka respectively. In the men’s, on the other hand, what was expected to happen happened, Alexander Zverev beating a game Alex de Minaur. Do join us again tomorrow for the women’s semis, but in the meantime, thanks for your company and peace out.
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Zverev is asked about how hard he’s worked to get to this point and says he’s always asked how he recovers. “You don’t recover,” he says, “you recover in the off-season, and do the work so that tennis is easy”. His mindset is that to be the best player you have to outwork everyone else and he’s been doing it for many years; if you do, somehow, playing five sets “isn’t that difficult”.
Asked in particular about the long point in the second-set tiebreak, he says he’s got a coach, his dad, who doesn’t care how he feels, always sending him chasing after things. He notes that he’s both tall and powerful – “I wish I would be more aggressive sometimes” – but if he’s winning he’s happy.
Tennis has given him everything, he says. “The life that I have, my first love, it’s given me heartbreaks, it’s given me the most joyful moments, the most painful moments. If i can give back to the sport in any way, if i can give back to the people watching, have a little bit of joy on my face, I’m happy about that. and i hope i can continue doing that, for as long as I do I’ll keep playing, and that’s the most important thing.”
In the end –well, and in the beginning – Zverev was just too powerful for De Minaur, who tried everything but doesn’t quite have the weapons to beat the best in best of five. He’s improved a lot, though, while Zverev is better at volleying and hiding his forehand – though I’m not sure how he does that against either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, who meet in the other semi. But first, he has to face Casper Ruud – from whom he might receive a more thorough examination of just how good he now is.
Alexander Zverev (4) beats Alex de Minaur (11) 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4
Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4 De Minaur* The crowd are delighted they’re seeing more of this and who wouldn’t be? They and De Minaur are vibing off one another, but when he goes long on the forehand then serves into the net, he’s under it. Zverev, though, has dipped a bit, and quickly goes long himself … then of course he immediately ceases dipping, hitting hard from the back but with good angles to force 30-all. And when he properly gets after one, a forehand deep down the middle, De Minaur can’t respond, and is now down match-point! And again, we see another long rally … and again, it’s the Aussie who errs, a backhand into the net! Zverev will face Casper Ruud in Friday’s semi!
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*Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 5-4 De Minaur Zverev nets a backhand then lets his toss drop. Tension! Pressure! And a double follows! Pension! Tressure! The German is careful next point, De Minaur letting him off by going long on the forehand. A brutal rally follows, Zverev again hitting the harder, eventually eliciting the overhit; 30-all. But have a look! De Minaur scurries along the baseline like David Ferrer, and this time it’s Zverev who gets tight, going long to cede break-back point! Whereupon the Demon plays a demonic point, rushing the net – after Zverev goes safe on the forehand – to punch away a very fine volley! He’s still in the match!
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Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 5-3 De Minaur* In co-comms, Tim Henman notes that De Minaur’s chance was the second-set breaker in which he led 4-0; he’ll be devo’d to learn I don’t really agree. Ultimately – though maybe if he wins it, it changes the temperature – Zverev needs to play significantly less well than this for Demon to beat him over five. As in all individual sports, there’s an athletic ceiling that tends to determine how well someone does, and power is so crucial in tennis. Anyroad, De Minaur holds so Zverev will have to serve for it.
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*Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 5-2 De Minaur In comms, they point out that the break was the first of the match from the less wind-affected end, which means that Zverev is now serving from it; can De Minaur make something of it? Well he gets to 15-all, celebrating to get himself pumped, then an ace is called, he’s certain the ball was well long … and after a check, the umpire concurs. The next rally, though, ends when he goes fractionally long on the forehand and that feels like it’s happened a fair bit at crucial moments: De Minaur works the opportunity to play the shot he wants, then misses by a whisker. Still, a decent approach and volley earns him 30-40 … but Zverev does well to run down a drop then punch away a volley, even if, general circumstances, at least one of those gives him no chance. So, deuce it is, a big serve doing most of the work to earn advantage, and a big forehand followed by a deft forehand volley secures the consolidation. Zverev is a game away.
Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 4-2 De Minaur* A long rally, then De Minaur swipes wide … then net cord does just enough, the finest clip bringing the ball to him faster than otherwise and he can’t control his response; 0-30, Zverev smelling the semi. And, though a pat at the net is shown to be in by a fibre, an unforced error is followed by a double, De Minaur’s pained moan evidencing the sense that this match is five to over.
*Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 3-2 De Minaur Yup, De Minaur isn’t going to die wondering, again unloading the suitcase only to miss after opening the court for a winner down the line. He seems to then remonstrate with his box, blaming them for telling him to hit it harder – they’ll be relieved to know I think that’s good advice – and Zverev holds to 15. Both men are playing well now.
Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 2-2 De Minaur* Since going down 0-4 in the tiebreak, Zverev has been by far the better player, but can he parlay that into a potentially decisive break? He’s feeling good when a De Minaur groundstroke is called out, only for the umpire to overrule on inspection; they replay the point, and down comes an ace. A mahoosive forehand then makes 30-0 – this is is excellent from the Aussie – but at 40-0 he goes long, then makes an error after coming in, patting into the net with Zverev stranded. And, well, eesh: a double follows, deuce handed over … so another colossal serve is disbursed, De Minaur turning up the power before outlasting the German in another brutal rally. He’s doing absolutely everything he can here.
*Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 2-1 De Minaur A dominant hold from Zverev … but of course as I type, De Minaur spanks a forehand down the line, flat, for a clean winner and 40-15; a long backhand then hands over the hold.
Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 1-1 De Minaur* Each man goes long, taking us to 15-all, so De Minaur carves a lush drop that’s far too good … only to be outlasted in the next rally. He badly needs a hold here – you’d fear for him if he’s broken – and he gets it to 30. Zverev, by the way, has stuff going on beyond this match.
*Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 1-0 De Minaur during change of ends, Zverev jaws at the umpire – he received a time violation courtesy of his excessive ball-bouncing, which I must’ve missed taking a comfort break; apologies. Anyroad, it’ll take a big effort from Demon to respond here – he’s done everything he can, is still down 0-2, and somehow needs to find breaks of serve or win a breaker. But he makes 30-all, so Zverev bounces his ball 13 times, not his usual 12, and slams down a service winner, securing the game with a clever slice and forehand down the line.
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Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) De Minaur Well in a rally he’d done well to stay in, helped by a net-cord, Zverev makes a forehand error – De Minaur is hitting to that wing more often now, why he didn’t from the start a mystery. He tries the same tactic next point too but doesn’t offer much more to make it harder; eventually he nets, so we’re back on serve at 4-5. And, er, eesh, is Demon tightening? Another error ruins a point he’s well in then, at the end of the longest rally of the match, 39 strokes, he ups the pace on a forehand down the line and plays a decent slice … but Zverev gets it back, anticipates the pass, and the Aussie can’t return. Set point to the German during which he tries a lob of his own – it’s not deft but it does the trick – seizing momentum in the rally, and De Minaur soon nets. From 0-4 down, playing silllily, Zverev stopes it up and looks impregnable now; he’s 5-0 on breakers in this tournament; as we said, power tends to decide them.
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Zverev 6-4 6-6 (3-4) De Minaur Zverev misses with the forehand by a fortnight, but a netted backhand means he’s one mini-break back at 1-4; consecutive holds, power reupped, and it’s tight again.
Zverev 6-4 6-6 (0-3) De Minaur Oh yes! De Minaur again guesses right with Zverev poised to finish a rally, but even then, he’s to find a forehand cross-court winner that breaks the sideline … and he does, securing a 2-0 lead and with it the mini-break. And what on earth! Another miserable shot falls long and wide; Demon is in charge here!
*Zverev 6-4 6-6 De Minaur A gorgeous backhand volley, swerving away, makes 30-0, but have a look! A return loops high, Zverev comes in with the whole court at which to aim … only to swipe wide! We wind up at 40-30 and Zverev, loping in to put away a backhand, De Minaur having backed away to the opposite corner … goes long! That is some very bad behaviour, but will he be punished for it? Maybe! A lovely slice draws Zverev to the net with no telling response apparent, and when a nothing shot arrives, a perfect lob raises set point; it’s saved but only just, an overhead sent back to the man, but De Minaur can’t control his forehand so we arrive at deuce. Then return to it when he powers a forehand winner, Zverev having bunted from the back awaiting the error. But from there, the German closes out, and as ever, it’s hard not to expect the power to make the difference in the breaker. But De Minaur is playing the more confident tennis currently.
Zverev 6-4 5-6 De Minaur* Up 15-0, De Minaur overhits to the corner, but he was playing the right shot, looking to end the rally quickly; Zverev then does similar, opening up the angle for the shot he wants to hit, then botching it with excessive power. And what a point Demon plays at 30-15, Zverev reasing a putaway and deflecting a lob which De Minaur misses with a wild air-swing, only to scurry around it, send it back into play, and eventually win the point; brilliant! From there, he closes out to secure himself a breaker minimum; can Zverev hang in there?
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*Zverev 6-4 5-5 De Minaur Zverev doesn’t do enough at the net, a poor forehand volley – following an excellent approach – offering the pass, and when it comes even his 36m wingspan can’t get it back. For all the difference it makes, the hold secured to 15.
Zverev 6-4 4-5 De Minaur* Two big forehands help De Minaur to 30-0, and an ace, his first of the match secures a hold to 15. That’s a not insignificant advantage given Zverev will soon serve from the tricky end.
*Zverev 6-4 4-4 De Minaur And a nice inside-out backhand to the corner makes 15-all, then a drop sets up a net exchange that ends when Zverev catches up with a lob only to rush a response into the net; 30-all. From there, though, Zverev closes out, De Minaur doing all sorts to stay in the final rally before chopping into the net. With Demon next to serve from the difficult end, these next two games could be pivotal.
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Zverev 6-4 3-4 De Minaur* Whaddaya know, when Zverev makes another mistake for 30-15, we learn that he has 27 unforced errors to De Minaur’s 23; I stand corrected, though perhaps the Aussie is making them in long rallies so they stand out. Either way, he’s playing better now, looking to be more aggressive and get points over quicker; he holds easily and will now look to get after the Zverev serve.
*Zverev 6-4 3-3 De Minaur I’m not totally sure what De Minaur’s gameplan is here; to my untrained eye at least, there’s nothing he’s doing loads of apart from ending long rallies with unforced errors. He makes 0-15 though … only to face 30-15 after two volleys are too good. But when a net-cord takes a Zverev backhand wide, he’s a sniff at 30-all, and superior slicing raises break-back point … then a double converts it! Just when it looked like the direction of travel was certain, a twist!
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Zverev 6-4 3-2 De Minaur* A strange rally to bring, Zverev assuming a ball’s going wide only for it to catch the line. He rustles up a swift response but De Minaur cleans up at the net, only to find himself with no response when a backhand hurtles past him down the line for 15-all. And when he doesn’t do enough with an overhead, you know he’s going to lose the point because that’s how this match is going; he’ll be relieved when, in a rally he was losing, when Zverev looks for his winner, he drops wide. You sense, though, that a break is coming, and shonuff a double offers the opportunity, then a surprisingly high bounce secures it, and from that same end; De Minaur is in all sorts.
*Zverev 6-4 2-2 De Minaur Zverev catches the top of the net to cede 0-15, then a fine backhand cross alters the flow of the next rally and suddenly De Minaur has 0-30. Normal service is soon resumed, though, another baseline exchange ended via error for 30-all, then an excellent chop behind a less than excellent approach kisses the line to make 40-30 and from there, the game is secured.
Zverev 6-4 1-2 De Minaur* A hooked forehand winner earns Zverev 15-all, but he then nets a forehand when nicely positioned, remonstrating with his coach whose fault it is. This match is moving now, De Minaur quickly closing out, and this now feels more like the kind of match he needs: quick, with the set decided by a point here or there, not full of sapping rallies with accentuate the power differential between the two.
*Zverev 6-4 1-1 De Minaur Again, a long rally ends when De Minaur errs, then another when Zverev dictates; the Aussie is starting to lose patience with himself luzzing ball into net following his next unforced, and another love hold follows.
Zverev 6-4 0-1 De Minaur* Just what De Minaur needs, a love hold. I fear for him because generally speaking, underdogs need to win from the front. But if he can find a way of sneaking this set, he’s in business.
*Zverev 6-4 De Minaur A kicking second serve forces a long return, but a dematerialised overhead, set up by a good, early backhand, brings us to 15-all. Then, just as 30-15 looks guaranteed, Zverev assumed a drop isn’t coming back and when it does, can’t adjust to play it. Another long rally follows, D-Min doing all he can to stick in it … until he errs, and that appears to be a problem: he’s insufficiently metronomic to lengthen points. A body-serve is then returned long, the set secured by violent backhand cross-court and appearing to tell us what we already knew: De Minaur is good and much better than he was, but he doesn’t have a route to victory in this match-up.
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Zverev 5-4 De Minaur* A service-winner followed by a wide backhand bring us to 15-all, Zverev’s weight of shot inciting errors. But two fractionally long groundstrokes make 40-15, and from there, De Minaur forces him to serve out the set.
*Zverev 5-3 De Minaur Consecutive errors from Zverev cede 0-30 without the wind intervening, but three poor shots from De Minaur hand over game-point, and an ace down the T does the rest.
Zverev 4-3 De Minaur* It feels like De Minaur is already doing all he can while Zverev has gears, and after an error cedes 0-15, he stays patient in the next two rallies to await the error, earning 0-40 and three break points. The firsrt disappears with a makeable forehand sent wide, but a double means he doesn’t have to do anything else, and it’s beginning to look like serving into the wind is a problem, all three breaks coming from the end to umpire’s left.
*Zverev 3-3 De Minaur I said earlier that Zverev has improved a lot since returning from injury and his net-play is a big part of that; he’s perfectly positioned to put away a volley for 15-0. And though he makes hard work of securing the hold, a lovely volley followed by a double making the game close, he gets it done to 30.
Zverev 2-3 De Minaur* I didn’t expect Zverev to get broken back like that, but Tiger Tim agrees with our early assessment: weight of shot is likely to prove definitive here. At 15-all, De Minaur finds himself caught at the net, doing well to block back two attempted passes … but the third, the hardest shot of the lot, is too good. No matter: an ace then a Zverev mishit secure the hold.
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*Zverev 2-2 De Minaur Anyone else bothered by who De Minaur resembles? Well I’m here to tell you it’s Thom Yorke. Anyroad, two terrific volleys give De Minaur 0-30 but Zverev quickly levels, a lovely backhand slice doing the job … but he misses off the same flank to end another long rally, and here comes break-back point. A big serve quickly extinguishes it but another opportunity soon follows, and when Zverev’s approach doesn’t do enough, a glorious lob levels us back up.
Zverev 2-1 De Minaur* A cleverly-paced forehand into the corner, hit not too hard but hard enough, makes 0-15, then a 14-shot exchange ends with De Minaur going long for 15-30. And when he sits a ball up – or a ball holds up in the breeze – Zverev punishes him with a winner into the corner, before taking the first break point when Demon nets. That break looked like what we expected the match to look like, and though we’ll see how Zverev fares when serving into the wind, his extra power makes him more likely to push through.
*Zverev 1-1 De Minaur I should say, De Minaur’s new superfan mate Paul is in his box – oh man that’s wholesome – and he’ll be buzzing to see his man end a long rally with a delicious backhand drop for 0-30. But when he comes in to end the next rally, he nets – even at this early stage that could be a missed opportunity – less so when Zverev nets. He’s not got going yet and must now save two break points; the first disappears by way of serve out wide that De Minaur can’t return, the second by way of serve down the middle, same result. And from there, he quickly closes out.
Paul is a legend!!! 👊🙌 We keep on going!!! https://t.co/OCtvnghuBs
— alex de minaur (@alexdeminaur) June 3, 2024
Zverev 0-1 De Minaur* (*denotes server) Zverev nails one return on to the tootsies but it’s 40-0 by then, and his next effort is shanked wide. Good start for the Demon.
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Righto, we’re good to go. De Minaur to serve, a semi-final against Casper Ruud the prize and … play.
Our players are with us and knocking up. Again, Chatrier is far from full, which makes a person question the wisdom of these nighttime sessions.
In the last two rounds, Zverev’s had to play five-setters, which may tell us that he’s not at his best, or may tell us that he’s in phenomenal shape and playing well enough to find a way past inferior players at their best. There was a time when Andy Murray would lose if, say, he bumped into Fernando Verdasco on a good day, and when that stopped happening, you knew he was ready to win a Slam. Perhaps that’s where Zverev now is.
Zverev is one of those players I thought might never win a Slam, because I thought by the time Djokovic and Nadal were ready to let him, Sinner and Alcaraz would be shutting him out. But he’s improved a lot since returning from injury and, utterly convinced by his own magnificence, he isn’t one of those doubting his ability to do it until he’s done it.
After beating Medvedev, De Minaur shouted, jokingly, that he’s a clay-court specialist and loves it in Paris. But actually, I wonder if this is the best surface for his game, given his speed allows him to catch up with almost everything, whereas on grass and hards, the bigger guys can blow him away.
Seventeen!
MIRRA JOINED OUR DANCE CHALLENGE 🔥💃#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PbxYXh37Sh
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
It almost feels like any title won in his absence needs an asterisk, but it might also be that, finally, he’s on the way down having started losing matches he shouldn’t.
So how’s this one going to go? Well, on the face of things, that looks clear: Zverev will win because De Minaur – however much improved – has no weight of shot to stop him doing what he wants. But these are thoughts which I ‘d have disbursed earlier had I been on Sabalenka-Andreeva, so I’m feeling warier than I might’ve been; maybe the speed of Demon’s scurrying allows him to target Zverev’s forehand, and maybe he extends points to elicit errors, but really I’m reaching.
Merci Katy et bon soir mes amis. What a day it’s been – and look at tonight!
And that’s not it for today. We’ve still got Alexander Zverev v Alex de Minaur to come, from around 7.15pm BST/8.15pm Paris time. I’m signing off now, but do stay with us, because Daniel will be here shortly to take you through the last men’s quarter-final. Bye!
How does it feel, Mirra?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/U1W6X4N9ib
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Andreeva is the youngest grand slam semi-finalist since Martina Hingis at the 1997 US Open. Which is kind of appropriate given she’s been compared to Hingis in terms of her style of play. The 17-year-old showed maturity beyond her years to see the match out against Sabalenka and not be distracted by her ailing opponent. We still don’t know what the issue was with Sabalenka, we’ll have to wait for her press conference to find out. Hugely disappointing for her – this defeat ends her run of six consecutive grand slam semi-finals and means she will lose her world No 2 ranking to Coco Gauff next week – and it leaves the winner of tomorrow’s Iga Swiatek v Gauff semi-final as the huge favourite for the title.
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What a way to qualify for your first Grand Slam semi-final 🤯#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/GLSO8LX6tD
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Women's semi-final line-up
(1) Iga Swiatek v (3) Coco Gauff
(12) Jasmine Paolini v Mirra Andreeva
Andreeva is talking to Mats Wilander on court:
I tried to not focus on the score, on the second match point I was trying to imagine I was saving a break point. I didn’t expect the crowd to cheer for me today, so thank you. [Conchita Martinez, her coach] is giving me great support. Having her by my side is an amazing advantage for me.
I played Paolini in Madrid [Andreeva won]. It was really tough, she moves really fast, she goes for it. I will try to play the same level as today with the same cold head and we’ll see what will happen.
Andreeva shocks Sabalenka 6-7, 6-4, 6-4!
Deuce, when Sabalenka hits just beyond the baseline. A drop-shot error from Sabalanka and it’s advantage Andreeva! Match point! Sabalenka hits the ball as if her life depends on it and that’s got too power for Andreeva to get it back. Deuce. Advantage Andreeva, a second match point! And Andreeva leaves Sabalenka stranded with a perfectly weighted lob! Andreeva, the 17-year-old Russian, is into her first grand slam semi-final, where she’ll meet Jasmine Paolini, the earlier conqueror of Elena Rybakina! The script has been torn up here today!
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Andreeva 6-7, 6-4, 5-4 Sabalenka*
Perfect start for Sabalenka with an ace down the T, followed by a deep forehand strike to Andreeva’s left. 30-0. She then targets the other side, but her footwork is a bit awry, and the ball skids wide. 30-15. Another unforced error and it’s 30-all. A crunch point this. Andreeva is two points from the biggest win of her life. And Sabalenka leaves absolutely no margin for error with a backhand down the line, and it pays off! 40-30…
Andreeva 6-7, 6-4, 5-4 Sabalenka*
Andreeva is rolling through this game. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. A brief blip for 40-15 but no bother, the Russian takes the next point and the pressure is now very much on Sabalenka, who must hold serve to stay in this quarter-final…
Andreeva* 6-7, 6-4, 4-4 Sabalenka
Slightly distracted by watching that video, I miss most of Sabalenka’s service game. But she holds to 30, finishing with a flourish as she half volleys from the back of the court and pulls off the winner! Incroyable!
That last point:
A STUNNER OF A POINT#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/3R00kTiQb1
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Andreeva 6-7, 6-4, 4-3 Sabalenka*
Andreeva’s serve is by no means the strongest part of her game, and with a few more first serves (she’s landed only 48% so far), she would have a real chance of finishing Sabalenka off. Andreeva must be listening, because she does make two first serves here, but from 30-0 she’s pegged back to 30-all. Sabalenka then knifes a backhand into the net. Andreeva shows great court coverage to stay in the point, which she absolutely has no right to win, but somehow she does and she nudges ahead in this final set!
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Andreeva breaks back: Andreeva* 6-7, 6-4, 3-3 Sabalenka
But just as quickly as Sabalenka breaks, she’s in danger of getting broken. 0-15, 0-30, 0-40. Three immediate break-back points for Andreeva. The spectators are appreciating Sabalenka’s effort in this match, I think, but the points are so short it’s hard for them to fully get into this. Sabalenka reduces her arrears to 15-40 but makes no further progress.
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Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 6-7, 6-4, 2-3 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka doubles over after winning the previous game and still looks in some discomfort. But then she raises her arms to the crowd asking for more support. Maybe they can carry her through here; but I think they’re quite split about who they want to win. Though they do cheer pretty loudly when she gets to 0-40 on Andreeva’s serve. Three break points. And she needs only one because her return is deep and Andreeva’s reply sails long! Some Djokovic-style rope-a-dope from Sabalenka there.
Andreeva* 6-7, 6-4, 2-2 Sabalenka
Who’s more likely to surrender here: the ailing world No 2? Or the 17-year-old who’s never played in a grand slam quarter-final before today? Neither are bringing their A-game. Sabalenka meekly falls 0-30 down. But then Andreeva throws in an awful shot for 15-30. Sabalenka steps up the level with a backhand down the line. 30-all. And there’s Sabalenka’s second ace of the day. 40-30. Game.
Andreeva 6-7, 6-4, 2-1 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka goes all-out on the return at 15-30. No subtlety there. She misses. 30-all. 40-30, when Sabalenka looks more like a park player than a pro, as she sets it up for Andreeva with a short, high moon ball which the Russian eats up. Game.
Mirra Andreeva levels 6-7(5), 6-4 with a clearly ailing Aryna Sabalenka - who has a streak of six consecutive major semifinals reached.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 5, 2024
Andreeva would be the youngest major semifinalist since Martina Hingis in 1997.
📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/F4MC7woHQ0
Andreeva* 6-7, 6-4, 1-1 Sabalenka
Andreeva skips to the other end after holding to 15. Sabalenka, meanwhile, is walking slowly, while puffing out her cheeks. As the shadows now move over half of the court, Sabalenka refuses to let her dark mood affect her, as she holds to love. Didn’t see that coming given her body language before the game. All she had to do was land four serves – not even at full speed – and Andreeva couldn’t put on any pressure.
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That’s the first set Andreeva has taken off Sabalenka in their three meetings. But then today’s Sabalenka is not the same as the one Andreeva has faced previously. What does Sabalenka have left for this third set? Normally the world No 2 would be the overwhelming favourite in this decider, but not so today.
Teenage grit 👊
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Andreeva evens things up and we've got a third set incoming on Chatrier!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/F7KOLODjfc
Andreeva wins the second set 6-4!
Andreeva is hitting her racket with her hand and chastising herself after thwacking into the tramlines on the first point. But the clunkiness of that shot is balanced out by her touch on the next point, as she delivers a cute drop shot. 15-all. Andreeva hits a winner that lands bang on the sideline for 15-30. Which is then 30-all.
Sabalenka rattles wide and it’s set point! 30-40. Andreeva gets a chance on Sabalenka’s second serve … but the teenager just prods the ball back into play and Sabalenka gobbles that up. Deuce. Andreeva then absorbs Sabalenka’s power and Sabalenka goes wide! Advantage Andreeva, a second set point. And Sabalenka smacks into the net! This second quarter-final is also going the distance. Phew.
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Andreeva 6-7, 5-4 Sabalenka*
15-0. 30-0. 40-0. 40-15, as Sabalenka goes for broke on the return. She doesn’t want these points going on any longer than necessary. 40-30, as Andreeva hits the net post instead of the court. And just as the evening shadows start to spread across the court, Sabalenka lets Andreeva off the hook with a stray return. Sabalenka must now hold to prevent this from going the distance.
Andreeva* 6-7, 4-4 Sabalenka
Sabalenka slides to 15-30. And then summons all her strength to pull off the forehand winner back behind Andreeva for 30-all. Sabalenka sorely needs a hold here; she does not want this going to three sets. And she shows some great footwork to get into prime position to arrow a backhand winner down the line. 40-30. Jeu Sabalenka. Gutsy.
Sabalenka breaks back: Andreeva 6-7, 4-3 Sabalenka*
But just as Sabalenka looks as if she’s about to combust, she breaks to 15. This is so wildly unpredictable, little rhythm, no momentum, it’s hard for the crowd to get into it. And just to puncture the rhythm more, Sabalenka calls the trainer. She takes some more medication but again turns down the chance for any treatment, opting against taking a timeout, which suggests it may be illness rather than anything muscular etc.
Updated
Andreeva breaks: Andreeva* 6-7, 4-2 Sabalenka
Whatever happens for Andreeva from here on in, it’s been a breakthrough tournament for the teenager, reaching her first major quarter-final, which will move her into the top 30 of the world rankings for the first time. But it doesn’t look as if the Russian’s content with that, as she pulls away to 0-40 on Sabalenka’s serve. And she needs just the one break point to seal it! Sabalenka is furious with herself, and whacks the ball so high into the sky it probably clipped the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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Andreeva 6-7, 3-2 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka has a sniff at 30-all on Andreeva’s serve but dumps her return into the net. 40-30. And then Sabalenka drags her backhand just wide! Andreeva holds.
Andreeva* 6-7, 2-2 Sabalenka
Sabalenka, meanwhile, fends off a break point at 30-40. Deuce. Advantage Sabalenka. Game, when Andreeva goes for the winner when perhaps she should have gone for the percentage shot. It must be so hard for the 17-year-old Andreeva here – after all, she was the massive underdog going into this match, but because of Sabalenka’s physical issues she’s now expected to do something.
Elsewhere, Britain’s Neal Skupski and his American partner Desirae Krawczyk have reached the mixed doubles final, beating Hsieh Su-wei and Jan Zielinski 6-1, 6-7 (2) 10-4 in their semi-final. They’ll face either Ulrikke Eikeri and Maximo Gonzalez or second seeds Laura Siegemund and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the final.
Andreeva 6-7, 2-1 Sabalenka*
Most of the spectators who took a break after Paolini’s match are now back, but it’s still not totally full. And the Parisian patrons really don’t know what to make of this – it’s such a bizarre match. Andreeva holds to 15, when Sabalenka goes long with a forehand. The grimacing is back from Sabalenka – perhaps she needs a few more magic pills from the trainer.
Updated
Andreeva breaks back: *Andreeva 6-7, 1-1 Sabalenka
But just when you think Sabalenka is going to gain a stranglehold on this match, she lets Andreeva back in. A few half-hearted points from the Belarusian and it’s deuce. Then advantage Andreeva, break-back point. Sabalenka is crouching down, breathing in heavily. She looks tired again. She eventually steps up to serve… and then throws in a drop shot to try to end the point early, but Andreeva is wise to it, sprints forward and buries the ball into the corner!
Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 6-7, 0-1 Sabalenka*
What a strangely absorbing set, despite the fluctuations in quality. I’ve still got absolutely no idea what’s wrong with Sabalenka physically – I guess we’ll only find out after the match. But that’s 23 consecutive sets she’s won in a row at grand slams now. You wonder just how important it was for Sabalenka that she won that first set – would she stand up to the physical test of three sets today? And she’ll be delighted to assume early charge of this second set by breaking to 15, striking the biggest blow on the final point with a snarling forehand return.
Updated
Zverev is in the building, getting ready for tonight's quarterfinal 👀#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wzjQAjkxeb
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Sabalenka wins the first-set tie-break 7-5!
100% commitment and intensity from Sabalenka here and she brings up two set points. And a gusty Andreeva pulls off another seemingly impossible winner! Incredible. But it’s still set point, 6-5. It’s on Sabalenka’s serve… she draws Andreeva into the net… and the teenager can only scoop it into the tramlines! Sabalenka, having looked down and out 30 minutes ago, has somehow taken the first set!
Updated
Tie-break: Andreeva* 4-5 Sabalenka
A sweetly struck winner from Sabalenka. She’s two points from the set. But Andreeva stands firm and lands a cracker of a return! Wow! Right in the corner.
Tie-break: Andreeva 3-4 Sabalenka*
Andreeva tries to pick Sabalenka off with another winner down the line – but nets. Sabalenka has the mini-break again. Andreeva has Sabalenka covering every grain of the red dirt on the next point … and Sabalenka is left scrambling in the clay.
Tie-break: *Andreeva 2-3 Sabalenka
Andreeva and Sabalenka are now tied on five apiece in the double fault stakes. And Sabalenka, surprisingly, has landed only one ace. Andreeva gets the mini-break back at the first opportunity with a winner down the line – but then nets a disappointing return…
Tie-break: Andreeva 1-2 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka makes up for that mess of a smash with a dismissive overhead on the opening point. Andreeva concedes the first mini-break with a double fault on the third point…
Andreeva 6-6 Sabalenka*
Andreeva starts as she means to go on with a darting backhand down the line. But a fourth double fault and it’s 15-all. Sabalenka, roaring now as she hits the ball, takes charge of the third point but Andreeva, on the back foot, slices a forehand cross-court winner! 30-15. 40-15, after another well-worked point from Andreeva. The way she constructs the points belies her tender age; it’s hard to believe she’s only 17. 40-30. The ball sits up invitingly for Sabalenka to whack it away … but perhaps she has too long to think about it because she flaps it into the tramlines! This is going to a tie-break…
Andreeva* 5-6 Sabalenka
This has been a weird and messy and erratic set – but it’s hard to take your eyes off it. Who knows what will happen next. Perhaps the tablets have worked for Sabalenka, because she’s looking slightly more commanding here – well during the points at least, she still seems pretty unhappy between them. She soon gets to 30-0. But a great return from Andreeva and it’s 30-15. Sabalenka sighs. And sends down a serve out wide that Andreeva can’t back into play. 40-15. Game, with a delightful drop shot from Sabalenka, her second of the game. Andreeva, after serving for the set, must now hold serve to stay in it!
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Mirra on the move 🏃♀️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PEOUhlkQPy
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Whatever's wrong with Sabalenka, worth remembering that she has never retired during a match
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) June 5, 2024
Updated
Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 5-5 Sabalenka*
Andreeva lets an ailing Sabalenka back in here with two cheap points 0-30. It’s no surprise that the 17-year-old is feeling the pressure of serving out this set. A longer exchange ensues on the third point, and now Sabalenka throws in the error. 15-30. But suddenly there’s a bit more life in Sabalenka’s legs and it’s 15-40, two break points. Andreeva hands the break back with a backhand error!
Andreeva* 5-4 Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s only hope here must be to go for the first strike. She shows great resolve to charge to 40-0, but is pegged back when a double fault makes it 40-30. A one-two punch on the next point is then finished off on the third punch with a smash. After a run of four consecutive games for Andreeva, Sabalenka has something to cling on to, but Andreeva will serve for the set.
Andreeva 5-3 Sabalenka*
This doesn’t look good for Sabalenka. The play resumes but it looks as if the world No 2 is considering retiring. Andreeva quickly gets to 30-0, but Sabalenka does steady herself to 30-15. Andreeva’s tactic here must be to move Sabalenka around and draw her in as much as possible. Right on cue, Conchita Martinez encourages her charge to “keep on moving her”. Andreeva holds to 15 and Sabalenka looks all at sea. Sabalenka must somehow rally to hold serve and stay in this set.
Oh the trainer is on. Sabalenka asks for some tablets from the trainer but doesn’t take a timeout. It’s not clear if it’s injury or illness. But her average first-serve speed has dropped today: it’s 94mph, down from 107mph.
Andreeva breaks: Andreeva* 4-3 Sabalenka
This has been messy from Sabalenka so far. The way she plays the game, there’s little margin for error, so when it’s not working it can look pretty ugly. At 15-30, Andreeva displays her craft and guile as she draws Sabalenka in and then anticipates that Sabalenka will hit deep to her forehand … and the teenager scoops out a winning passing shot on the run! This can’t go the same way as the first quarter-final. Can it?
Andreeva 3-3 Sabalenka*
A third double fault from Andreeva makes their combined tally seven. 0-15. But Sabalenka doesn’t take advantage as she completely miscues on the next point. 15-all. Andreeva dinks over a drop shot for 30-15. Sabalenka then marches to the net – is she going to have a word with the umpire? No, she’s changing her racket. But it doesn’t change her fortunes as Andreeva pulls off another winning drop shot. Sabalenka appeals the line call but it’s in vain. 40-15. 40-30. And Andreeva seals her first hold.
Updated
Andreeva breaks back: *Andreeva 2-3 Sabalenka
At 15-all, Andreeva hits an unorthodox mix between a drop shot and a sliced backhand, and it flummoxes Sabalenka. 15-30. Sabalenka sprints forward to put away the short ball, 30-all. Sabalenka comes forward again on the next point but her footwork is too slow and she nets the volley. 30-40. A chance for a fourth consecutive break of serve. Sabalenka saves it in some style, taking her backhand early and bashing it cross-court for a winner. Deuce. But Sabalenka then makes a total hash of the smash! Advantage Andreeva, break point No 2. Sabalenka misses with her first serve, lands the second, but snatches at her backhand which goes long! They’re back on serve. But let’s see if Andreeva can hold hers for the first time in the next game.
Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 1-3 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka strides to 0-30. And now it’s Andreeva’s turn to get in on the double fault act – it’s clearly catching. 0-40. Three break points. And Sabalenka gets a slice of luck from the net. Game. Both are looking a little edgy here, for different reasons: for Andreeva this is a first grand slam quarter-final, for Sabalenka, the second favourite for the title, behind Iga Swiatek, the pressure is on in a match that she’s expected to win.
Andreeva breaks back: Andreeva* 1-2 Sabalenka
But while Sabalenka’s groundstrokes are already firing, her serve is not. That’s a third double fault. 15-30. And Andreeva soaks up Sabalenka’s power on the next point. 15-40. Two break-back points! The camera zooms in on Conchita Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion who is Andreeva’s coach. And Sabalenka double faults for the fourth time to concede the break! Sabalenka sends some choice words in the direction of her box, but she only has herself to blame here.
Updated
Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 0-2 Sabalenka*
Chris Evert on the Eurosport commentary says the 17-year-old Andreeva reminds her of Martina Hingis, because of her high tennis IQ, soft hands and the way she hits the ball early. Andreeva then demonstrates this perfectly with some clever play to bring up game point at 40-30. But for all of Andreeva’s intelligence, she’s up against it today against Sabalenka’s power. Sabalenka is already walloping the ball and whacks her way to deuce. A biting return down the line then sets her up for a winning backhand down the other line. Advantage Sabalenka, break point. Another huge return … and there’s no way Andreeva is getting that back. Sabalenka stamps her authority on his quarter-final early with the break!
Andreeva* 0-1 Sabalenka
So Sabalenka is serving first in this Belarus v Russia quarter-final. Or rather Belarus v neutral flag quarter-final, given that Andreeva is not allowed to have Russia by her name. An inauspicious start for Sabalanka as she opens with a double fault. And then throws in another. But no bother, she still holds to 30.
Updated
The stats don’t make good reading for Andreeva in her first grand slam quarter-final. Sabalenka, the world No 2, has made at least the semi-finals at the past six grand slam tournaments, the Australian Open champion is unbeaten at majors this year and hasn’t dropped a set in any of those matches – and she’s conceded only 18 games in four rounds in Paris, leaving a trail of outclassed opponents in her wake – including Andreeva’s sister Erika in the first round.
Oh and Sabalenka won both her previous matches against Andreeva in straight sets, including in the Madrid quarter-finals last month. But at least Andreeva does have the fearlessness of youth on her side. And maybe Paolini’s giantkilling will give Andreeva a boost too.
No messing about here. The players are out already. Gah! Roland Garros waits for no one, not even this live blog.
Phew. Aryna Sabalenka v Mirra Andreeva is up next. I’m just going to grab a quick sandwich. Back soon …
More good news for Paolini: the victory means that the 28-year-old is guaranteed a place in the world’s top 10 for the first time next week.
Rising to the occasion on Chatrier#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/IAz0fsqLGG
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
The dream continues for Jasmine Paolini ❤️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/W4rFRDdzsD
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Italian women to reach the French Open semifinals in the Open Era:
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 5, 2024
Francesca Schiavone
Sara Errani
Martina Trevisan
Jasmine Paolini
📸Getty Images pic.twitter.com/ky3hA0UtWO
Paolini, with a smile as wide as the Philippe Chatrier court, says:
It was a great match. I was a bit too emotional in the second set. But I just tried to fight and hit every ball. It worked, I’m here, I won. I just tried to stay in every point and forget what happened in the second set. Thank you guys, thank you very much for cheering for me. Merci beaucoup. It’s my first time playing on this beautiful court. It’s a pleasure, it’s a privilege. It’s one of the best courts in tennis for sure.
She then makes a heart shape with her hands and soaks in more applause from the crowd. What a win.
Paolini wins 6-2, 4-6, 6-4!
Rybakina will be furious with herself. Make no mistake, she lost that game; Paolini didn’t do much to win it. Paolini takes the first point on her serve for 15-0. Rybakina has won one point of the last 10. It’s been a curious slump, after working to get back into the mach.
Rybakina does steady herself for 15-all, but then almost takes the umpire’s head off with a wild shot on the next point. The umpire is OK, phew. 30-15. Rybakina finds her range on the next point with a winner. 30-all. And Paolini shows huge guts to hit deep and true to bring up match point! Rybakina rakes long – her 48th unforced error of the day – and Paolini claims the biggest win of her career to reach her first grand slam semi-final, having never been beyond the second round of a major before this year!
Updated
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 5-4 Rybakina
So after two straightforward holds Rybakina decides to rip up the script by slumping to 15-40 without so much as a fight. Two break points! And Rybakina, her radar totally off, goes long! Paolini is fist pumping and charging to her chair; she’s a game away from her first grand slam semi-final!
Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 4-4 Rybakina*
Anything you can do … Paolini decides to get in on the stress-free serving act too, charging to 40-0. Rybakina’s coach urges her to be aggressive. But it’s Paolini who does just that when, with her back against the wall in the rally, she chases down the drop shot and fires straight at Rybakina’s racket from close range. Rybakina can’t react in time. Paolini also holds to love.
Updated
Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 3-4 Rybakina
Predicting how this fluctuating match will end is a perilous business. Paolini has shown so much fight today, but I’d give Rybakina the slight advantage because of her experience. Plus she has the advantage of serving first in this set. And there’s a business-like hold to love from Rybakina, which she rounds off with a serve-volley.
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Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 3-3 Rybakina*
At 15-all, Paolini hits deep enough to prevent a Rybakina attack, and Rybakina is left looking as if she has feet of clay. 30-15. 40-15 after a lengthy rally. Paolini does well to retrieve a drive volley but can’t then get the smash back. 40-30. And from 30-15 it becomes deuce.
Paolini, always wearing her heart on her sleeve, shows her disappointment. But she’s screaming “allez” after getting to her advantage. Rybakina reels Paolini in with the drop shot – a rarity from the Kazakh’s racket today – Paolini gets to it, but Rybakina reads which way the ball is going and buries the ball into the open court. Deuce. Advantage Paolini. Jeu Paolini. That hold could prove to be vital.
Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 2-3 Rybakina
Does anyone want to hold in this set? Yes Rybakina does, as she sprints to 40-15 on serve. Paolini has been so positive for most of this match but has some choice words for herself. And an ace from Rybakina gives her the hold after the flurry of breaks. The world No 4 leads the world No 15 for the first time in this match.
Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 2-2 Rybakina*
Paolini, if you’ve just joined us, is having the season of her life at the age of 28. She says she’s been riding the waves of Jannik Sinner’s success, having been inspired by her fellow Italian’s win at the Australian Open. Reaching the semi-finals here would be an astonishing achievement – which she’ll do if she holds serve for the rest of this match.
But Rybakina has a break point at 30-40 in this game – courtesy of a delicate cross-court response to Paolini’s drop shot. Paolini saves the break point. Deuce. Paolini gets to advantage but can’t put Rybakina away. Rybakina then has a second break point and can’t capitalise. But it’s third time lucky for Rybakina, as she slams away a winner down the line. And that’s now five breaks on the spin and nine in the last 12 games!
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 2-1 Rybakina
A big chance for Paolini at 0-30 on Rybakina’s serve … surely it will become 0-40, but the Italian loses the ascendancy in the point and Rybakina survives. 15-30. Rybakina then shows her skills at the net, getting down low to put away a measured forehand volley. She is a former Wimbledon champion, after all. 30-all. 30-40, break point. And a horrible miss from Rybakina makes it a fourth break in a row!
Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 1-1 Rybakina*
At 15-30, Paolini could do with an easy point, but she doesn’t get it. It’s long and Rybakina then finishes it off with winner. 15-40, two break points. Which very swiftly becomes game. The crowd barely celebrate. It’s clear who they want to win.
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 Rybakina
You’d think Rybakina would be feeling pretty happy with herself, the way she snatched that second set having been two games from defeat. But she throws in some ugly errors in the first game of the decider and Paolini has two break points at 15-40. Then it’s Paolini’s turn to do the same. 30-40. The two go cross-court at each other and then Rybakina decides to mix things up with a forehand down the line … but it’s too flat and hits the tape. Jeu et break Paolini!
Rybakina wins the second set 6-4!
No blinking from Paolini early in this game. 15-0. 30-0. Ach, 30-15, when she disappointingly nets. Her coach is ranting in the stands. 30-all, when the statuesque Rybakina strides into the forecourt and dispatches a backhand winner. The Kazakh is two points from taking this to a third set. Which soon becomes one, when Paolini hoiks long. 30-40, set point. Rybakina rifles a couple of deep shots to Paolini’s backhand, before sending the Italian to t’other side, and even Paolini’s sprinting isn’t enough as, off balance, she can’t get the ball back into play!
Updated
Paolini* 6-2, 4-5 Rybakina
For all the talk of the empty stands earlier, though, it’s a full house now as the second set starts to reach its climax. An absorbing rally at 15-all ends in Rybakina’s favour. 30-15. But at the sun beats down on Chatrier, Paolini hits a scorching forehand winner for 30-all. The crowd liked that a lot. But then the sun quickly goes in, Rybakina gets to 40-30 and then game. Rybakina is still nowhere near her best but she’s dug in and Paolini must hold serve to stay in this second set.
Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 4-4 Rybakina*
But anyway, back to the tennis. The wind is picking up on Chatrier, just to add to the drama. It’s causing both players problems, and Paolini is pegged back to deuce on her serve. Make that break point to Rybakina. But Paolini survives! Deuce. Paolini’s forehand then sits up nicely for Rybakina, who’s able to take command of the rally and bring up another break point. Another long exchange, Rybakina is immovable, and Paolini blinks first with the error! We’re back on serve again.
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“It’s not (only) a French or a misogynist problem, there’s a serious corporate lunch element, too,” emails Peter McDonald. “Remember day 2 of Henman v Ivanisovic? I was there. Centre Court Wimbledon was less than half full, and I’m being generous. It wasn’t a lot more populated when the ladies’ final began.” I agree with the lunch element for sure Peter – though I do think it’s disappointing what the French Open organisers have done with the schedule this fortnight. No women’s matches at all in the night session is so disappointing. And scheduling Gauff v Jabeur at 10am yesterday morning was baffling.
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-3 Rybakina
The errors are creeping back into Rybakina’s game here. 15-30. But the Kazakh is commanding on the next point, peppering Paolini’s forehand side before striking the winner. 30-all. Break point or game point next? Break point, because Rybakina rams into the net! Paolini is screaming! She’s got so much passion and heart – like so many Italian tennis players over the years. Another misfiring forehand from Rybakina and Paolini breaks! If she can hold her next two service games she’s into the semi-finals!
Paolini 6-2, 3-3 Rybakina*
Paolini could do with an uneventful hold here to change the momentum. That she does, getting to 40-0, and despite surrending the fourth point, she emphatically wins the fifth with a beautiful darting backhand down the line. 27 winners in the match so far: Paolini has hit 13 of them. You wouldn’t expect that from the counterpuncher.
The touch 🤌#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/aZgUlVxBkU
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Paolini* 6-2, 2-3 Rybakina
A panicked Paolini slumps 30-0 behind on Rybakina’s serve. And she then goes long on the return. 40-0. Paolini needs to be careful not to get involved in a power contest here, because there will only be one winner. She’s smarter on the next point, and works the angles a bit more, biding her time, before putting away a winner. 40-15. But that’s as far as she gets.
Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 2-2 Rybakina*
Well, well. Look here. 15-40. The first break points of the match for Rybakina. She’s looked so subdued in her body language so far, but she’s jumping up and down as she waits for Paolini to serve. But once again Paolini’s superior court coverage proves to be decisive. On the second break point the pair exchange a few moon balls, then Paolini produces a winning drop shot – her first drop shot of the day I think! What nerves. Deuce. But there’s a double fault. Advantage Rybakina. Deuce. Advantage Rybakina. Game Rybakina! Game on!
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 2-1 Rybakina
Don’t mention lunch, Lucy. I didn’t feel ready for mine before this match, but now my stomach is starting to rumble loudly. Wonder whether there’ll be butterflies in Paolini’s stomach soon, because she’s broken to 30 and is closing in on her first ever grand slam semi-final! That’s 22 unforced errors that have flown off Rybakina’s racket now. She’s usually so smooth and controlled, but she can’t find any rhythm against the Italian today.
An email! “Why Chatrier is so empty?” muses Lucy Taylor. “1) because the French have lunch plans 2) because it’s a women’s match, and France is even more tennis-misogynistic than the rest of the world.. I was there for Osaka-Swiatek, and it was two-thirds empty for the third set. Dinner plans and misogyny!”
Paolini 6-2, 1-1 Rybakina*
Rybakina, finally, is starting to push and probe a bit on Paolini’s serve. The Kazakh gets to 30-all with a backhand winner. Will she bring up a first break point? No, because it quickly becomes 40-30. Paolini is spinning and sliding on the next point and Rybakina puts just a little too much on her shot. It’s long. A let-off for Paolini there, who holds.
Paolini brought her A game today 😤#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/WAHJWY6NfF
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Paolini* 6-2, 0-1 Rybakina
Paolini hit just one unforced error in that set. She’s playing as if she’s been in grand slam quarter-finals for years – but this is her first. And she’s 28. Rybakina, meanwhile, after 16 unforced errors so far has got to find a bit more consistency – and she does at least get off to a solid start in the second set as she holds to 15.
Fire from Paolini #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/MOajJkYIPB
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Paolini wins the first set 6-2!
So Paolini, yet to drop a point on serve in this first set, will serve for it. And she has new balls – as if she needed any more help. A cross-court exchange plays out on the first point, after Rybakina fails to attack the second serve, and Paolini prevails. 15-0. 30-0. Ace, 40-0. Only her fourth ace of the entire tournament. Three set points … and Rybakina’s forehand winner has Paolini stretching and sliding in vain. 40-15. But it’s a brief resistance from Rybakina as Paolini seals the set from there! Well, well. We didn’t expect this.
Updated
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 5-2 Rybakina
Rybakina is again in trouble on serve, at 15-30. And then she balloons long for 15-40! That’s her 13th unforced error compared with just the one from Paolini. The only thing saving Rybakina at the moment is her serve, as she fires down an ace on the first break point. And then a down-the-line winner on the second. Perhaps that’ll get her going. But no, here’s a double fault! Advantage Paolini. And another errant groundstroke from the out-of-sorts Rybakina and Paolini has the double break!
Updated
Paolini 4-2 Rybakina*
15-0. Paolini is yet to drop a point on her serve so far – incredible really, given you’d think her serve would be vulnerable against Rybakina. The second point is a showcase of Paolini’s movement as she scurries around the clay, biding her time, before pinging away a cross-court forehand winner. 30-0. 40-0. Jeu, when Rybakina rams her backhand into the net. Rybakina looks bemused. She needs to rouse herself somehow.
Paolini* 3-2 Rybakina
Rybakina is sending Paolini left and right and left and right, and Paolini – for once –stutters, sending her forehand into the net. 15-all. The pair are again level at 30-all, Rybakina runs into the short ball and unwinds … but her forehand clips the tape and flies wide. 30-40. Another break chance for Paolini. Rybakina rallies to deuce, before bringing up advantage, and she steadies herself with an ace to take the game. It’s 3-2 – but could easily have been 5-0 to the Italian.
Paolini 3-1 Rybakina*
Paolini is moving much better than Rybakina at the moment, and eases to 30-0 on serve as Rybakina throws in her sixth unforced error. Make that seven. 40-0. Rybakina shakes her head. And she slumps her head after the next point, when she draws Paolini in with the drop shot, and Paolini races to it before threading a controlled forehand winner beyond her stranded opponent. That’s two love holds for the Italian underdog.
Paolini* 2-1 Rybakina
Not only is Paolini striking the ball so cleanly, she’s also moving extremely well; a bundle of energy. And here are two more break points for her in the third game. Rybakina rebuffs her on both. Deuce. And there’s a forehand winner for the Kazakh. She needed that. And her serve is starting to click into gear. Another stinging serve and Paolini prods long. Rybakina holds. Perhaps that will settle the nerves.
Paolini 2-0 Rybakina*
You’d expect Paolini to be the crowd favourite here, given the way she fights and plays with a smile on her face. But she didn’t receive a huge applause after winning that first game … probably because the Philippe Chatrier stands are less than half full at the moment. You’d think given the later start today the Parisian patrons would have managed to get to their seats. Paolini charges to 40-0 on serve – she’s hitting the ball very sweetly, this is what we expected of Rybakina – and that’s a love hold.
Updated
Paolini breaks: Paolini* 1-0 Rybakina
Right, we’re off. And it’s Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, to serve first. Rybakina strides to the net on the first point, and Paolini scampers deep to her right and picks Rybakina off with a fizzing forehand pass. 0-15. Which becomes 15-40 when Rybakina double faults! Two break points. Paolini is unable to take them. They’re both looking hit and miss in this first game. But here’s a third break point … and Paolini’s backhand is too good!
As for the head-to-head: Rybakina leads it 2-1 and did beat Paolini on the clay of Stuttgart in April, en route to winning the title there.
Paolini’s huge heart makes up for her lack of physical stature – she’s only 5’4” – and she will need to show all of that passion this afternoon against the big-hitting 6’0” Rybakina. As if to highlight that point, the pair step on to court and pose at the net for a pre-match photo – the physical difference between the two of them is stark.
Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini are on Philippe-Chatrier for their quarterfinal.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 5, 2024
And Paolini has broken Rybakina to open 👀
📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/xbUjCYRWnZ
Updated
The 28-year-old Paolini is something of a late bloomer. The Italian had never been beyond the second round of a grand slam before this year – but she reached the fourth round at the Australian Open and is now in the last eight here. She also won her first WTA 1000-level title in Dubai in February.
Paolini and Rybakina will be on court in about five minutes’ time. Paolini doesn’t look as if she’s feeling the nerves, despite this being her first grand slam quarter-final.
All smiles for Jasmine 😊#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/QES8TzUqIY
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Incidentally it was a meniscus tear that ended Roger Federer’s career. Let’s hope Djokovic has a smoother recovery.
L’Équipe is reporting that Djokovic will undergo surgery in Paris today on the torn medial meniscus in his right knee. That would almost certainly rule him out of Wimbledon, which begins on 1 July – but he could be fit in time for the Olympics, with the tennis event taking place at Roland Garros from 27 July.
Order of play
COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER
2.15pm start/1.15pm BST
(12) Jasmine Paolini (Italy) v (4) Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v (2) Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
Not before 8.15pm/7.15pm BST
(4) Alexander Zverev (Germany) v (11) Alex De Minaur (Australia)
Preamble
Bonjour le monde! Et bienvenue au jour onze de notre couverture de Roland Garros pour l’action quart de finale.
So do you want the good news or the bad news?
Let’s hit you with the bad first. The withdrawal of Novak Djokovic because of injury means that it’s a truncated day session today, with Casper Ruud getting a walkover in their quarter-final, leaving us with two rather than three matches on the schedule.
But don’t despair! We’ve still got two intriguing women’s matches between two champions of the game and two rising challengers playing in their first grand slam quarter-finals, as the 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina faces the in-form Italian Jasmine Paolini and the reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka plays the 17-year-old Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva.
And that’s not all: because we’ve decided to bring you coverage of the night match between Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur as an added bonus. We’re nice like that.
Feeling better? Sure you are. And almost certainly better than Djokovic, as he nurses his knee knack, ponders losing his world No 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner and faces a race to be fit for Wimbledon and the Olympics. He really can’t catch a break this year.
Play begins at: 1.15pm BST/2.15pm Paris time
