Thanks for reading and to Daniel for all his work earlier. Our rolling French Open coverage will return tomorrow but don’t forget to return to our website tonight for Tumaini Carayol’s report from the Aryna Sabalenka v Naomi Osaka match.
The showpiece match tonight is the women’s singles fourth-round match between Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, and Naomi Osaka, the 16th seed. And the big news from today is the return of Serena Williams, who announced she will be competing at Queen’s Club next week.
Next up for Felix Auger-Aliassime, the fourth seed, is the Italian 10th seed, Flavio Cobolli. Matteo Berrettini will play either Frances Tiafoe, the 19th seed, or the unseeded Matteo Arnaldi.
Men’s quarter-finals
Zverev v Jodar
Fonseca v Mensik
Auger-Aliassime v Cobolli
Berretini v Tiafoe/Arnaldi
Auger-Aliassime wins 6-3, 7-5, 6-1
Auger-Aliassime wins! The Canadian fourth seed was far too good for Alejandro Tabilo, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time at Roland Garros after a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 victory. He tells the crowd of how he’s dreamed of this since being a child.
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Back on Chatrier and Auger-Aliassime is running away with the third set. He leads 5-1.
Berrettini wins in straight sets
Berretini wins! He takes advantage of Cerundolo’s poor second serve to force an error. The Italian reaches his first quarter-final at Roland Garros since 2021 on his last appearance after a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (8) victory
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A pinpoint forehand from Berrettini into the far corner gives the Italian match point…
Cerundolo squanders the first, now for the second set point on his serve and what a point. Both players are dragged across court exchanging baseline-and-beyond strokes which ends when Cerundolo finds the net. He still has one set point but it’s on Berrettini’s serve and the Italian takes advantage to make it 6-6.
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Cerundolo backs up the mini-break by winning the next two points on his serve to lead 5-2. A net-cord lands kindly for Berrettini to swot away to reduce the deficit but on the next point a Berretini backhand hits the top of the net and drops wide. Cerundolo has three set points.
Auger-Aliassime breaks Tabilo to lead 2-1 in the third set. He is closing in on a place in the last eight. Cerundolo has a mini-break after a Berrettini backhand finds the net. He leads 3-2.
The first three points go with serve. Cerundolo leads 2-1.
And Cerundolo holds. He recovered well after being broken in his previous service game. We’re going to a tie-breaker in the third set. Berrettini leads 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-6
Berrettini looks like he senses he can finish it in this set. The Italian is targeting Cerundolo’s backhand with some punishing strokes. The Argentinian will be serving to stay in the match at 5-6 in the third.
Back on Lenglen, Berrettini roars after a winning forehand breaks Cerundolo’s serve. We’re 5-5 in the third set.
The shadow is creeping across Chatrier. Tabilo miscues a backhand well wide and Auger-Aliassime is two points from the set at 30-15. Next, a lengthy rally ends when Tabilo tried to fire a forehand down the line but finds the net. Two set points. Tabilo saves the first one but not the second. Auger-Aliassime leads by two sets
Auger-Aliassime turns up the pressure and Tabilo finds the net. Break point. Another big forehand from the Canadian forces another error from Tabilo. Auger-Aliassime breaks and will be serving to win the second set.
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Cerundolo is ‘looking more and more assured when he comes forward now’ says the commentator on TNT. Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, misses an easy shot at the net for break point at 5-5. Tabilo has the advantage to make it 6-5 … but it’s back to deuce.
Cerundolo backs up his break by comfortably holding his next service game. Can he take this to a fourth set? Back on Chatrier, Auger-Aliassime holds to love and it’s 5-5 in the second set.
Auger-Aliassime holds but over on Lenglen Cerundolo breaks Berrettini to lead 3-2 in the third set. He badly need that trailing by two sets.
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Thanks, Daniel. Auger-Aliassime has been taken to deuce on his serve at 3-4 in the second set.
Righto, my watch is over so, with Berrettini leading Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 2-1 on serve, and Auger-Aliassime leading Tabilo 6-3 3-4 on serve, here’s Stephen Flynn to hang with you through the next bit. Thanks for your company until now; until tomorrow, peace out.
I don’t actually mind it, relatively speaking – it’s nice to hear kids try and get the “Ole!” response.
That bull-fighting call the French crowds do is all over the place, all of the time; I can’t wait* to see how Wimbledon respond.
*I can wait, forever.
In comms, they note that Tabilo is allowing Auger-Aliassime to hit forehands as his +1, which I think is because he likes to go inside-out on his own forehand. But he’s got to know that isn’t the way to win this match and he isn’t, a hold secured through deuce for a 6-3 3-3 lead.
Ah Cerundolo takes a medical timeout – I’m not quite sure what the issue is – while on Chatrier, we’re on serve in the second, Augeer-Aliassime leading 6-3 2-3 on serve.
Berrettini, by the way, hasn’t played this competition since 2021, when he made the last eight. It’s such a shame injuries have affected him so profoundly, because his ability is excellent, perhaps not quite excellent enough to win a slam, but not far off.
Cerundolo does really well to stay in a rally down 2-5, but then goes long on the forehand, meaning a double min-break and four set points … of which Berrettini only needs one, scampering ands skidding in to glide a volley-retrieval across the face of the net. He takes the breaker 7-2 and leads by two sets to love.
A deep forehand from Berrettini, hooked uppishly from the corner, kicks off the clay and Cerudolo frames his response; that’s the mini-break at 3-2, and the way the Italian’s serving, it may be enough.
Cerundolo is the better player on Lenglen but he’s not really threatening a break and, at 6-3 5-6, a booming serve and overhead seal a love hold that takes us to a second-set tiebreaker
Berrettini holds for 5-5 in the second, but looking for 1-1, Auger-Aliassime tries a drop that Tabilo retrieves, forcing deuce in the process. But on advantage, he tries a retrieval of his own, flicking wide … then closes out from there to lead 6-3 1-1.
From 0-30 down, Berrettini holds for 6-3 4-4, but Cerundolo is giving him grief now, his lefty angle making returning hard – especially out wide to the backhand, He rushes through a hold of his own, an ace sealing the deal and putting pressure on the Italian who must now serve to stay in the set.
And he closes a 6-3 set out to love, Tabilo playing OK but without the weapons to cause him serious aggravation; if Auger-Alassime plays simply sensibly, I don’t think he can lose this.
Berrettini holds for 3-3 in the second, while Auger-Aliassime is serving for the first set against Tabilo, up 30-0.
“Just noticed that in the women’s quarters we now have an (unexpected) Pole, a Romanian, two Ukranians and three ‘flagless’ Eastern Europeans,” writes Brad Elliott. “Should it go to form and Sabalenka join them it will be an all Eastern-bloc affair. What were the odds on that coming in to the tournament?”
Not a clue, but long. Not long ago, women’s tennis was difficult to predict because the standard was so low anyone could beat anyone, but now it’s difficult to predict because the standard is so high anyone can beat anyone.
At 6-3 2-2, Berrettini makes 0-30 on the Cerundolo serve, but the Argentinian, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Gareth Keenan and currently sports a French crop, in France, wins four straight points, the game secured via ace.
Auger-Aliassime has never gone deeper than round four at this competition, and I’m not sure I’d back him to beat either any of Jodar, Zverev or Fonseca on clay. But he breaks Tabilo for 3-1 and in a match that brings plenty of pressure – he’s expected to win, and the absence of the two big dogs, has a better chance of claiming a major than he may get again – he looks calm.
On Chatrier, Auger-Aliassime has started well enough, leading Tabilo 2-1 in the first. Of course, the Chilean is in our collective bad books, having beaten Moise Kouame in the last round, and he’s a live dog here, but I’d expect Felix’s elite-level power and athleticism to carry the day – if his backhand and second serve don’t undermine him.
Berrettini has won five of 10 titles on clay – his lack of drive backhand is well known, and the slower surface allows him to run around it more easily to play his fearsome forehand. But up 40-0, he sends one down the line, opening the court for a corner-to-corner inside-out forehand. He takes the set 6-3, and looks in control of his opponent and himself.
Auger-Alissime has spent six hours longer on court than Tabilo, who was awarded a walkover when Vacherot, his round two opponent, pulled out. But he holds in game one while, on Lenglen, Berrettini is about to serve for set at 5-3 against Cerundolo.
Of all the players left in the men’s draw, Berrettini might be the next best after Zverev. The problem he has is that his body regularly lets him down – “He’s got outrageously skinny legs considering how massive he is,” says Coach Calv, “and he’s just always injured. Hasn’t played a full season in about six years.”
It’s also worth noting that his slice isn’t as effective on clay, but his serve and line forehand are belting shots on any surface. I’d be pretty surprised if he loses to Cerundolo, and he leads 4-1 in the first.
But he’s started badly, that round three match presumably still in his legs; Berrettini leads 2-0,
Cerudolo might’ve felt some impostor’s syndrome after beating Jannik Sinner, whose body let him down when up 6-3 6-2 5-1. But in round three, he saw off Martin Landaluce 10-8 in the fourth tiebreak of a five-set match that lasted five hours and 58 minutes, the tournament’s third-longest ever; he’s earned his place, alright.
Back on Chatrier, Zaire-Emery leads the crowd in another song, then off they go, the World Cup awaiting them. We’d take it.
It's official! Serena is back!
She’ll be playing doubles at Queen’s – and from there, who knows? I can’t wait.
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We’re under way on Lenglen, then Flavio Cobolli, a massive football fan and excellent player, emerges – I’ve no idea why – saying he’s more nervous now than he was earlier. He takes photos with the players and trophies, the crowd sing, and we should soon be ready for more tennis.
Next on Chatrier: Felix Auger-Aliassime (4) v Alejandro Tabilo.
Of course, they thank the state wealth that made it possible – not even joking, they actually shout out Nasser Al-Khelaifi, football is the winner, I’m choking up here – then out come Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola with another rendition of the trophy, I think the won they just won rather than the replica in honour of last year’s. Lovely football team, impossible to ignore how and why.
Next on Chatrier: Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery with ol’ Big Ears.
Next on Lenglen: Juan Manuel Cerundolo v Matteo Berrettini.
And it’s also really important to note that, so far today, se’ve seen experienced plauyers like Potapova, Kalinskaya, Keys and Parry all undermined by nerves, so for Chwalinska to appear totally unaffected by them is extremely impressive.
You’d have got some serious odds on Chwalinska outlasting Swiatek as the longest lasting Pole, but here we are; it’s amazing, and though I think her game is well suited to clay – drops, spins and speed – I think she can do well on grass too.
It’s amazing, it really is – a qualifier into the last eight having not lost a set. It’s fair to note that she’s avoided big seeds, but Mertens, Sakkari and Parry are no mugs.
She’s very very very grateful to be here she says – she didn’t expect to do so well – and doesn’t blame the home crowd for wanting Parry to win. The atmosphere was great, she says, thanking everyone who came to support them.
Asked if the drop-shots and high-spinning forehands were part of the game plan, she says that’s her game – it wasn’t a tactic, but it’s natural for her to play those shots. Finally, asked about her next match, she laughs that Kalinskaya is a great player but no one knows her, so it’s a very challenging one again and she just needs to play her best tennis.
Maja Chwalinska beats Diane Parr 6-3 6-2
The qualifier and debutante makes the last eight! An amazing performance from Chwalinska, her touch and temperament in perfect harmony; next for her comes Kalinskaya, and if both play that match as they did today’s matches, there’s only one winner.
Like Keys, Parry has gone; Chwalinska makes 40-0 and three match points in extremely short order…
Goodness, Chwalinska breaks Parry again and this is turning into an undressing; she’ll now serve for the match at 6-3 5-2, and nothing we’ve seen this afternoon suggests she won’t handle it.
Shnaider says this is a huge moment for her. She’d lost all three times she played Keys prior to today, but it’s good to win the most important match, staying composed, focused and doing her job from the beginning until the end.
She knew what to expect from Keys, an amazing player, but she needed to grind and run for every ball, putting them all between the lines. Her style, says Alex Corretja is a bit different to most others, lefty, serving out wide, using drop-shots and net-play; Shnaider says she’s working on those things and today she played smart, using less power and more spin, then off she goes.
Chwalinska holds for 6-2 4-2, and is two games way from also making her first major quarter. She’s playing beautifully, I must say, her composure as arresting as her dropping.
Diana Shnaider (25) beats Madison Keys (19) 6-3 3-6 6-0
Yup, Keys had indeed gone. Shnaider reaches her first grand slam quarter-final, pogoing her elation, and meets Sabalenka or Osaka next.
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A booming forehand on to the sideline gives Keys 15-30 as Chwalinska makes 15-40 on the Parry serve, then she leaves a a mid-court ball, somehow it’s not put away or even close, and the Pole leathers a pass to lead 6-3 3-2. Meantime, further errors from Oor Maddy give Shnaider match point…
Chwalinska has a delicious touch, yet another drop earning advantage when under pressure for her serve. But she then misses with a lob – Parry slips as she turns in pursuit, but she’s fine and the ball drops out. From there, though, she holds – and so does Snaider, Maddy maddying to intense effect and, at 0-5, she must now serve to stay in the match; I fear she’s gone.
Shnaider consolidates for 3-0, then a dreadful forehand from Keys hands over deuce … after which she dumps an overhead into the foot of the net. And down a break point that’s really a match point, she hits an excellent ball to the corner … then goes long when it’s returned. Shnaider leads 4-0 in the third, is on the cusp of her first grand slam quarter-final … and yet it’s the grand slam winner feeling the pressure.
A really poor game from Keys, unable to land a first serve while disbursing errors that leave her down 15-40. But she saves the first break thanks to a fine forehand … then donates the second with a double. At 2-0 in the third, Shnaider is close to her first grand slam quarter-final while, on Chatrier, Parry holds to trail Chwalinska 3-6 2-1.
And she does, making 15-40 then taking control of the next rally, before Shnaider fights her way into it, forcing her to defend – very well – only for a lovely drop to leave her standing. An overhit forehand then takes us to deuce, and from there, Shnaider closes out a crucial hold for 1-1 in the third. Meantime, Chwalinska is still feeling herself, a drop-lob combo securing a hold for 6-3 1-1; she looks a likelier winner than Parry at the moment.
And Keys serves out the set to love. At 3-6 6-3, she and Shnaider will play a decider, the match looking to be on the American’s racket. If she maintains her level, she wins.
Keys, meantime, makes it to 15-40 on the Shnaider serve, the forehand error comes, and she’ll now serve for the second set at 3-6 5-3.
Preparing for an overhead, Parry wipes her eyes then dispatches the winner, but can’t control her next return, and Chwalinska leads 6-3.
Shnaider holds for 6-3 3-3, while Chwalinska, who’d only won two tour matches on clay before arriving in Paris, breaks Parry and quickly raises three set points…
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We’re also on serve on Lenglen, Chwalinska leading Parry 4-3 in an absorbingly tight contest. But then Parry drags a forehand wide at 30-all, looking to invent an angle against an opponent way behind the baseline … then she does, breaking the sideline at the service box to make deuce.
So far, Shnaider has shown no signs of nerves. She’s never been beyond round four of a slam before, but at 22, has been learning her game – one not that dissimilar to Keys’ in a way, full of big flourishes and mental vulnerabilities. But she lacks Keys’ stature, meaning balls can get big on her, and her second serve is not as solid as necessary. Still, though, she leads 6-3 2-2.
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On which point, those two meet in tonight’s match, reminding us that, if there’s a will, the women’s game can be showcased in that way. I’m now trying to work out the domestic engineering that allows me to watch without antagonising members of my household less obsessed with this thing of ours. Keys holds to trail 3-6 2-1.
Again, Keys takes Shnaider to deuce, and again, she holds nevertheless for 6-3 1-1. I do, though, think Oor Maddy is improving, a forehand winner down the line underlining the point. Real talk, but: I can’t see either of these beating Sabalenka or Osaka in the next round.
I’ve seen much less of Chwalinska, ranked 114 in the world – both players will consider a fourth-round contest against the other as an incredible opportunity – but she’s got that nasty lefty angle, decent speed and a good tennis brain. If Parry plays really well, I don’t think she can win, but most likely, the match is settled by whichever of them handles the pressure better.
We’re on serve on Chatrier, Chwalinska up 3-2 on Parry – who is transitioning from a single to a double-handed backhand. The local favourite has lots of talent, an old skool tenniser looking to hit winners – and, at 23, she’s got enough time to improve way beyond her ranking of 92.
Keys holds, then forces Shnaider to deuce as she tries to serve out the set, but from there she sends a return long, then offers a mid-court moon-ball, easily dispatched, and that’s a 6-3 set complete. Work to do for the American.
Righto, time to cease reflecting and predicting – we’ve matches in progress, and Shnaider now leads Keys 4-2. It’s classic Maddy really, frustration growing as her best tennis eludes her in a match she should win, but her opponent has yet to drop a set in this competition and another holds takes to a game away from securing the first set at 5-2.
Cobolli is now in his second grand slam quarter-final – he reached the same stage at Wimbledon last year, losing to Djokovic in four. But clay is his favourite surface, his combination of ridiculous speed and forehand power a pretty good mix. I fancy him as more likely to bring his best tennis than Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo.
Back on Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have swapped breaks once more, so we’re level at 2-2 in set one.
Next on Chatrier: Maja Chwalinska v Diane Parry.
“I can’t imagine that any of you were offended by his colourful use of English in a second language,” says our commentator, “but just in case.” Now that is progress.
Cobolli tells Caroline Garcia that the only thing he learnt today “Is that the match is never done and I almost shit on my pants”; as Coach Calv says, no shortage of charisma there. He’s happy but he’s still nervous and has to recover a bit.
This is his favourite slam, he loves clay and playing in France, so thanks the crowd and his team; “I think also some of them shit on the pants, but we are really happy with the honour to play another match here.”
He then thanks the Italian federation, saying he was really nervous today, and wants to wish Matteo and Matteo the best of luck. Told the Champions League trophy is coming to Roland Garros today, he says he’s the biggest football fan on the tour, congratulating PSG for winning it, but warning them AS Roma will be in the competition next season. He’s a lot of fun, and I’m excited to see how he does in the next round.
Talking of Shnaider:
We’re just under way again, Keys breaking and Shnaider breaking back for 1-1.
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Back to Kalinskaya, she says she’s shocked, unable to believe the match is over – you and me both, old mate, it felt like neither player would hold it together long enough to win a match point.
“Unbelievable fight from both of us,” she says, saying this match was special and “super-challenging”.
“I don’t have any nerves anymore,” she says. She was hoping to stay focused but things didn’t work, so she thought whatever and focused on her breathing trying to get her rhythm. Mentally, she’s trying to enjoy more and not put much pressure on herself to play well on clay because she never did, then, finally, she thanks the crowd.
Big credit to Svajda, not just for today but for his tournament. He’ll move fro 85 in the world into the top 60 for the first time in his career, but more than that, he’s set a standard of performance to which he must now live up. He may lack power and definitive weapons, but he has speed, tenacity and intensity with, at 23, plenty of scope to improve. I’m not sure he’s a top-10 player, but he can definitely be top-30, perhaps better.
Flavio Cobolli (10) beats Zach Svajda 6-2 6-3 (3)6-7 7-6(5)
Brilliant work from Cobolli, scurrying about hoisting lobs and Svajda looks to finish the point, then when offered a forehand under less pressure, he rips a winner cross-court and will meet Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo next.
But instead he goes long, Svajda doing brilliantly to keep equilibrious … but he then nets a forehand, meaning he must defend match point for the second time, but on his serve.
Cobolli ups the gas on a forehand, and though Svajda sticks in the point, he loses control of it, betting a backhand; at 5-4, two holds and the Italian is into the last eight.
A double returns that mini-break immediately, but a terrific service-point means Svajda leads 3-2, quickly converted to 4-3 Cobolli, still on serve. On Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have come out, but worry not – we’ll deal with kalinskaya’s interview once this breaker is over.
In comms, they reckon Cobolli has been going for too much – in mine, natural against an opponent you don’t fear. My guess is he felt impregnable, enjoying playing rather than competing, and now, he flaps a backhand long to cede the mini-break, Svajda leading 2-1.
It’s remarkable really. Svajda has given a decent account of himself, but Cobolli has always looked in control of things – until now. But the Italian holds to love, winning his first game in five and sealing it with a drop so good it almost bounces back over to his side of the net, and here comes a fourth-set breaker.
And Svajda holds for 6-5! He’s hit his best level over the second half of this set, and now Cobolli is under pressure.
Ach, Cobolli totally butchers a forehand, taking us to deuce … whereupon Svajda creams a backhand winner down the line, then nails a terrific return, doing well at the net as one of the fastest players on tour keeps chasing … until his opponent nets! Twice, Cobolli has served for the match and twice he’s been broken! We’r level at 5-5 in the fourth, a match that looked over still in the balance.
Svajda makes 15-30, but a monstrous forehand from Cobolli allows him to tidy, then a backhand that looks just wide – confirmed by umpire check – means he holds match point.
On Chatrier, a hold for Svajda means Cobolli is now serving for the match again at 2-1 5-4.
Anna Kalinskaya (22) beats Anastasia Potapova (28) 6-4 2-6 7-6(7)
Somehow, Kalinskaya – the slightly more dreadful player across the piece – secures the win, and will face Parry or Chwalinska next. Goodness knows how Coco Gauff feels, having surrendered her title to see Potapova play like that next match; it’ll take her a while to recover from serving for the biggest match of her life, twice, and being broken back, twice.
Or does it? Kalinskaya goes long, for 9-7…
A return hoofed long and Kalinskaya leads 7-5, but a comically poor forehand offers Potapova a chance to level on serve at 7-7 … then a weak second serve allows her opponent into the point … and again, the forehands do the trick. Seconds later, Kalinskaya leads 9-6, and this match looks set to be put out of its misery.
Ahahaha, Potapova restores a mini-break, Kalinskaya retrieves it … then Potapova, having hauled herself back into the next rally, jiggers a backhand, and for the first time, she trails in the breaker at 5-6.
You got to laugh. A wild forehand from Potapova returns one of the two mini-breaks, then one into the net takes us level at 4-4; Svajda holds, so Cobolli will shortly serve for the match at 2-1 5-2.
Excellent work from Potapova, her forehand the best shot on court and one thumped down the line, from shoulder-height, securing a second mini-break; at change of ends, she leads 4-2. Meantime, Svajda is now serving to stay in the match at 1-5 in the fourth.
On Chatrier, Cobolli has broken Svajda again and leads 4-1 in the fourth, while Potapova takes an immediate mini-break then consolidates for 3-0. But with 10 the target, there’s plenty of space for implosion and fury.
Potapova makes 30-15, but terrific hitting from Kalinskaya, who unloads a succession of heavy forehands, leads us to 30-all. And she’s quickly at net next point, nashing in to give a poorly executed drop the treatment. Potapova, though, flicks an airy forehand of her own down the line for a winner … only to net when sent to the corner, ceding advantage. I hate to say it, but I’m now expecting a double … averted only by a second serve so slow it almost moves backwards, and Kalinskaya duly takes control of the rally, a forehand winner meaning they’ll now suffer through a match tiebreak at 6-6 in the third.
Kalinskaya looks set to hold, up 40-15, but we wind up at deuce, and this is as low-quality a contest as could possibly be at this level and this stage. But the drama and tension are compelling, Potapova needing various opportunities to close out a point which takes her to advantage, eventually managing to land a stretch-volley … and the almost-inevitable double follows. She leads 6-5 in the third, and will shortly serve for the match – again.
Gosh, a forehand wafted long hands Kalinskaya 0-30, a forehand into the net and it’s 0-40, and you can see Potapova shrinking like Mario when he clips a goombah. The break-back is donated to love, and I’ve not a clue which of these will play slightly less miserably than the other when under pressure.
Cobolli consolidates his break, the impression that he’s able to raise his level to wherever it needs to be to beat Svajdal he leads 2-1 2-0 ... oh, and as I type, he snatches a double break for 3-0, the match surely over. And on Lenglen, Potapova breaks Kalinskaya again, so at 5-4 in the third, she’ll now serve for the match; can she hold it down? She’s never made the last eight of a major, making this the most important game of her life. I don’t massively fancy her…
Down 40-30, Kalinskaya stands so far in court to attack a second serve, she’s almost over the other side … collaring a return, and Potapova can only go long in response. But though she thinks she’s won the next point, an umpire check confirms that, prior to hitting a winner, she strayed wide then, chasing another second serve, she’s so far in she cramps her own self, and from there, Potapova secures a vital hold. We’re level at 4-4 in third while, on Chatrier, Cobolli has, unsurprisingly now he’s been forced to pay full attention again, broken Svajda to lead 2-1 1-0.
At 30-all, Kalinskaya thwacks long on the backhand, then Potapova nails one of her own down the line, a clean winner restoring parity at 3-4 in the decider. That’s the fourth break of the set, an eventuality so inevitable even we predicted it.
Potapova seals a hold with the first ace of the match, but down 2-4 in set three, she’s running out of opportunities. Svajda, on the other hand, is creating them, sending Cobolli scurrying along the baseline before finishing the point to seize a second mini-break, then securing the set when a body-serve incites a netted return. the Italian leads 6-2 6-4 6-7.
I thought Kalinskaya might struggle to consolidate, but Potapova is vexed and losing the run of herself once more, the lead now 4-1. Meantime on Chatrier, Svajda held to force a third-set breaker, and at 3-1, he might just’ve hit a seam, directing Cobolli about the court for the first time in the match.
Sure enough, Potapova shovels a backhand wide and carts a forehand long, then sends down consecutive doubles, broken to love after spurning a succession of breaking opportunities. Kalinskaya leads 3-1 in the third, and neither of these handle pressure well enough to win this thing.
Good.
Roland Garros and the French Tennis Federation on Monday hit Adolfo Daniel Vallejo with a $65,000 fine for his remarks about the woman who umpired his second-round defeat at the French Open.
After he lost to French 17-year-old Moise Kouame in a fifth-set tiebreak on Thursday, Vallejo, a Paraguayan, told tennis website Clay that Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho had not been strong enough in the face of fan support for the local player.
“A fine of 65,000 dollars has been imposed, roughly half of his prize money,” tournament director Amelie Mauresmo told a press briefing on Monday.
Players eliminated in the second round of the men’s singles receive 130,000 euros ($151,000).
“This is clearly something that is unacceptable to us, to the tournament, and to the Federation even beyond the tournament. This kind of language has no place here,” Mauresmo said.
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And Kalinskaya does hold, securing a 2-1 lead in the third. If she can get some returns in – she needn’t go for winners, just make Potapova play – she’s in business. Meantime, Cobolli holds for 6-5, so Svajda must once again serve to stay in the match.
Under pressure, Svajda holds to 15 for 0-2 5-5, while on Lenglen we’re now at our eighth deuce, the game clocking in at over 10 minutes. If Potapova secures the break, I think she might accelerate away, but should Kalinskaya hold, the pressure on her ratchets up.
Sure enough, Potapova raises break point at advantage in the next game, Kalinskaya twice restoring deuce, but when she earns an opportunity to secure her hold, a booming forehand leaves her floundering. From there, she forces a third opportunity, but can’t respond to a flat backhand that only just clears the tape, and back to deuce we go, as Cobolli holds for 6-2 6-3 5-4; Svajda must now serve to stay in the match.
If you want more of Coach Calv’s expertise, you can find it here – during slams, every day. But don’t tell anyone that’s where all my insight comes from.
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On which point, he and Svajda are level at 3-3 in the third, while Potapova has broken Kalinskaya, who’s barely done anything since being handed the first set – I think she might have hurt something, as she disappeared between sets and is stretching her arms off between points. But she makes 15-40, nails a decent return, and backs it up with a forehand that’s good enough to secure the game for 1-1 in the decider. As per the below, I doubt we’ve seen the last of the dropped serves in this set.
“Great for the game, great lad, great fun, very charismatic,” says Coach Calv of Cobolli. “Very, very, very fast, plenty of flair, great shotmaker.”
Probably one of various I’d reckoned wouldn’t quite get good enough to win a major, but he’s absolutely a threat her. I quite fancy him to win his bit of the draw – if I’m picking a top-half finalist, I’m going for his clay-court expertise over the superior serve of Berrettini and the power of Auger-Aliassime.
Potapova has dominated the second set as she did the first half of the first, breaking again then serving out, and at 4-6 6-2, she and Kalinskaya will shortly begin a decider.
I don’t imagine you’ll be surprised to learn that Cobolli has broken Svajda back immediately and, in the time it takes me to write the words which follow, he adds a hold; he knows he’s going to win this match. And, with Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo awaiting in the last eight, then one of Tiafoe, Arnaldi, Cerundolo Jr and Berrettini in the last four, he’s a very serious chance of reaching the final.
Svajda makes 0-30 then, offered a floaty ball on the forehand, he gives it the treatment, punishing a winner to raise three break points. And he only needs one, leaping out wide to batter a backhand return cross-court for a clean winner; great shot. Cobolli, who might’ve lost focus after sealing a two-set advantage, leads 6-2 6-3 0-1.
Cobolli holds for 6-2 5-3 then, while Kalinskaya forces Potapova through deuce for her hold at 6-4 2-3, he breaks to love, sealing the second set with a forehand winner down the line. He leads 6-2 6-3, while Potapova secures a crucial game, unloading from the back then saluting the crowd. She’s dominating now, but can she hold her nerve and close out?
Just as Svajda is asking question he finds himself two break-points down at 2-6 3-3 … and floats a tame forehand long. Cobolli leads by a set and a break, the difference between the two not just power but consistency.
Solidarity with Potapova:
She trails Kalinskaya 4-6 3-1, the better player again, and I’m guessing we’ll end up with a decider featuring various breaks of serve as both players feel the weight of the occasion.
Harri Heliovaara & Henry Patten (2) beat André Göransson & Evan King 6-3 6-4
Ominous stuff from Heliovaara/Patten, who’ll face Krawietz/Putz or Balaji/Demoliner in the last eight.
A glorious backhand from Svajda, oblique and cross-court, breaking the sideline, earns him break point, and though Cobolli then makes deuce, he soon forces another … confiscated by a forehand to the corner. But one that drops long immediately offers another opportunity, again eradicated, and from there, he secures his hold for 6-2 2-2, Potapova also holding to trail Kalinskaya 4-6 2-0. After a sudden deterioration that cost her the first set, she’s back playing well now – but that fading under pressure won’t have been forgotten by either player.
Potapova, having lost five games in a row, makes advantage on the Kalinskaya serve, a pair of backhands, one cross then another down the line, seizing the break to trail 4-6 1-0. Neither player is really at it here, meaning the match is there for whichever of them can stay composed.
On Chatrier, Svajda is improving, surviving to break points for lead 2-1 in set two, having lost the first 6-2. If he can attack Cobolli’s second serve and backhand, he might yet make an impression in this match.
A succession of oversights from both players take us to deuce, before a really poor forehand from Potapova, wiping wide with plenty at which to aim, means advantage and set point for Kalinskaya .. quickly converted when her chuntering opponent nets a backhand. I can’t say she had to do all that much other than keep the ball in court, but she leads 6-4.
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Kaalinskaya holds for 5-4, so Potapova, who’s now lost four games on the bounce and with them a double break, must gather herself – not necessarily easy for a player who doesn’t love pressure. Sure enough, she’s soon down 0-30, her diminishing confidence a more active factor than Kalinskaya’s improvement.
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Kalinskaya has settled, breaking Potapova to love having hinted she was ready to take control for the previous 10 minutes. The first set is now level at 4-4 while, on Chatrier, Cobolli serves out for a 6-2 set against Svajda.
Cobolli gets his second break for 5-2 and, let’s be real, Svajda doesn’t have anything for him. I fear his height – he can’t be much more than 5”9 – might hinder him at the very top level, denying him the free points on serve and coverage at the net that support the games of the best, but he’s a terrific all-round talent with a forehand good enough to define points, repeatedly.
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Potapova, meanwhile, leads Kalinskaya 4-2, and on Mathieu, it’s been a good morning – so far – for Coach Calv, the brains of this blog. Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, Calv’s charge and no 2 seeds in the men’s doubles, lead Goransson & King 6-3 1-0 with a break. They’re in fearsomely good nick.
Cobolli is all over Svajda, up 4-2 and threatening a second break, his forehand dominating and his speed about the court matching his opponent’s biggest strength.
We’ve had an early break in both early matches, Cobolli up 3-2 on Svajda and Potapova leading Kalinskaya 2-1.
Salut à tous et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2026 – neuvième jour!
And devinez quoi? It’s another banger absolu!
We begin with an intriguing match on Chatrier, Flavio Cobolli beginning to establish himself as a second-week staple. His all-round game, when on, is perfect for the clay on which he was raised, a mix of vicious attack and tenacious defence, and in Zach Svajda, he faces an opponent he knows he should beat, but also one in terrific form.
Opening on Lenglen, meanwhile, we’ll enjoy Anastasia Potapova, perhaps starting to make good on her potential – to get here, she dismissed Coco Gauff, the defending champion – against Anna Kalinskaya, looking to go deep in a slam for the first time. This is the biggest match of both of their lives.
All the more so given waiting for them in the last eight is either Diane Parry or Maja Chwalinska, second on Lenglen and also enjoying their best-ever major performance. And, as we move into the afternoon, Madison Keys – the 2025 Australian Open winner, words it never gets boring to type – takes on Diana Shnaider, with Naomi Osaka or Aryna Sabalenka awaiting the winner.
After which, the men take centre stage, all of them seeking to profit from the opportunity of a lifetime given a draw now missing Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Chances are, Matteo Berrettini, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe have all spent time processing and reconciling the likelihood that they were unlikely to realise dreams of winning a biggun that, in their youth, seemed not only realistic but likely.
Except here they are, taking on Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi respectively, the freedom of opportunity struggling against the weight of pressure as they seek to make themselves immortal.
Chouette! On y va!
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