Up next:
Later tonight, Carlos Alcaraz will face Stefanos Tsitsipas. The winner will face Sinner.
Tomorrow, Jasmine Paolini will face Elena Rybakina while the world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka will take on the 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Casper Ruud gets a straight spot to the semi-final due to Djokovic’s injury and Alexander Zverev will take on Alex de Minaur.
It promises to be an exciting one, so make sure to join us back here. Thanks for tuning in!
What a day from tennis! Here is what went down:
The US Open champion Coco Gauff beat Ons Jabeur 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. She now faces her toughest test yet in Iga Swiatek who swatted away Marketa Vondrousova in an hour and two minutes.
And then of course, we just saw Jannik Sinner beat Grigor Dimitrov, becoming the new world No 1 as Novak Djokovic pulled out of the tournament.
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Here is Djokovic on the injury from his press conference after his match in the fourth round. At the time, it was still unclear whether he would continue the tournament.
Jannik Sinner will officially become No 1 for the first time in his career next week. The 22-year-old’s ascension means that there will already be more No 1s born in the 2000s (Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner) than in the 1990s (Daniil Medvedev).
🥇 THIS IS JANNIK'S MOMENT 🥇
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 4, 2024
Sinner becomes the first-ever Italian man to achieve ATP No.1 Presented by PIF 🇮🇹 👏#S1NNER | #PIF | #ATPRankings | #partner pic.twitter.com/pvAfiACbPO
Novak Djokovic’s knee injury came after he slipped a few times. He was visibly frustrated during the game. In his conversation with the tournament supervisor, Wayne McKewen, Djokovic expressed his frustration at the tournament not sweeping the courts more frequently.
“It seems like that some of the clay was removed, so there was very little, almost no clay on the court today,” he said. “Because of the drier conditions and sun and warmer conditions, it affects the clay in such a way that, you know, it becomes very slippery. So the injury that I had today with the knee happened exactly because of that, because I slipped, and I slide a lot. I mean, everyone slides on clay, but I slipped way too many times.”
The injury also means that Djokovic is a major doubt for Wimbledon, where he is a seven-time champion and finished as a finalist last year, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner speaks on court on his performance and Dimitrov:
Very happy. We know what to expect from one another. We played a final in Miami against each other. A tough player. Nice guy. But the atmosphere was great. My performance was very solid. Especially the first two sets. But I am happy with how I reacted later.
On his one handed backhand and if he adjusts to his opponent:
Against every player you gave to play different. You have to adjust a bit. Generally though, it is nice to play with the one handed backhand. There are not many of us left who do.
On if he will watch tonight’s match to find out his semi-final opponent:
I like to watch tennis. I have a couple of days to prepare it. I am looking forward to it. A huge pleasure to step on this court.
And of course, he is asked about becoming the first Italian to ever be the world No 1. He must have only been told moments before. The crowd cheer loudly and Sinner is a bit emotional as he takes it all in.
What can I say? It is every player’s dream to become the No 1 in the world. Wish Novak a speedy recovery. I have tried not to think about this a lot because this is a tournament I struggle with, especially in the last two years. Thanks to my team for making all this possible, and thanks to you guys. Thank you to everyone watching on TV, especially in Italy. It is a special moment for me. Let’s see what i can do on Friday.
Jannik Sinner [2] beats Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
With Djokovic dropping out, it means Sinner is now the new world No 1. Don’t think he knows that though. He is too focused on seeing out this match. He goes up 2-1 with a lovely short dink, but his backhand lets him down as he puts too much power behind it: 2-2.
The new world No 1’s vision is so good though. He sees the gap before anyone else can, sends Dimitrov chasing and takes two more points. A powerful serve makes it 5-2.
We get to match point for Sinner and the claps are loud: ‘Allez Sinner!’ The Parisian crowd loves both these players. He serves and a short rally ends with Dimitrov hitting long.
We are looking at the first Italian man in the Open era in the semi-finals of the French Open.
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Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 6-5 Sinner* (*denotes server) These two have never played a tie-break against each other in four meetings. Will that change? We get to 15-all and what a point Dimitrov wins to make it 30-15. The two exchange a couple of backhands and Sinner tries to return through his legs. It does not work. He makes it up for it though, pummeling what he sees as Dimitrov’s weak side.
At deuce, Dimitrov nets and Sinner sees it out. A tie-break it is.
*Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 6-5 Sinner (*denotes server) Constant ‘Here we go’ rallies of support from the bench. It’s tense now. We get to 30-30 in the eleventh game of the third set and it’s Sinner who falls first, a return just long on the baseline.
A couple more good shots, and he gets to advantage. Again, he forces Sinner to move around, and the Italian’s crosscourt forehand is well wide. It is tie-break minimum for the Bulgarian.
Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 5-5 Sinner* (*denotes server) Loud cheers for Dimitrov. Everyone loves an underdog. He goes 40-15 up after Sinner nets a forehand. A lifeline here for Dimitrov … YES! He breaks. It is a longer rally for the set point, and he makes Sinner move around until pulling the dagger – a pinpoint forehand right at the baseline. Sinner stretches, but he can’t get there in time.
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*Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 5-4 Sinner (*denotes server) Break! A very poor game from Dimitrov. He seems to have just broken under pressure here. His serves are way too easy to defend and he hits to forehands well out. Sinner now serves for the match.
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Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 4-4 Sinner* (*denotes server) Again, we’re level. Sinner is probably more happy to play this cat and mouse game over Dimitrov, whose time is running out. He’s playing better in this set but a couple of floppy backhands lose him the game.
*Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 4-3 Sinner (*denotes server) I was a bit distracted by the Djokovic news but the Bulgarian takes the lead after a speeding ace.
The news that Djokovic is out means we will be getting a new winner in the men’s singles tournament. Djokovic, of course, beat Ruud in straight sets in the 2023 final to win his third French Open title.
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Novak Djokovic pulls out of French Open after knee injury
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the French Open. The Serbian had an MRI scan earlier and it looks like the result was bad news.
That means Casper Ruud is through to the semi-finals by default.
Djokovic has withdrawn from Roland-Garros due to a right knee injury.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2024
Wishing Novak a speedy recovery 🧡 pic.twitter.com/Ilb6HynTzw
More on this story as it comes.
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Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 3-3 Sinner* (*denotes server) Beautiful hard and deep return from Dimitrov after he goes two points down. Not much Sinner can do when he is coming out of a server’s position. But the Italian makes it 40-15 after forcing Dimitrov to move around and net a shot. He sees it out with a flying ace and we’re back level in the third set.
*Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 3-2 Sinner (*denotes server) Some questionable judgment here from Sinner. He mistimes a couple of shots and after a longer rally he completely misreads where his opponent is and basically hands Dimitrov the point to make it 40-15 with a simple volley.
The Italian redeems himself to make it 40-30 with a great lob. Dimitrov leaps high and can’t get to it, but he sees out the game to go ahead. That is three holds in a row for him.
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Dimitrov 2-6, 4-6, 2-2 Sinner* (*denotes server) Hello all! Sinner has this back level after some tough serving. He takes his time to wipe his face with his towel but Dimitrov is ready, itching to serve.
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Just as Dimitrov thinks he’s on the cusp of a straightforward hold , sinner flies in at him, slam-dunking a an overhead for 40-30; Dimitrov, though, serves out from there and, for the first time today, has held twice at the start of a set. He leads 2-1 in the third, while I’m off to do the school run, so here’s Yara El-Shaboury to coax you through the next bit.
Dimitrov badly needed that last game but he’s barely won a point on the Sinner serve so far … though as I type, a forehand larruped long hands him 15-30. Naturally, Sinner responds with an ace, but at 40-30, Dimitrov sends a forehand into the tape … and somehow, it clambers over to the other side, dropping like a stone. And now look! Dimitrov moves Sinner about, using his slice to keep him thinking, then finds a a much better forehand that raises his first break point of the match! But as a long rally intensifies – the best so far, I’d say – Sinner seizes control with a forehand to the corner, making deuce, then closes out from there. Better from Dimitrov, but just as he’s getting there he’s also running out of road. Simmer leads 6-2 6-4 1-1.
Up 30-15, Dimitrov hits long from the back, and you can almost predict the netted backhand that hands over break point; he’s not striking the ball cleanly, but finds the service-winner he needs for deuce and eventually serves out for 1-0 in the third.
A service-winner makes 15-0, but then backing away, Dimitrov strokes a gorgeous forehand winner down the line. So, backpeddling, Sinner spirits one onto the sideline – I’ve not a clue how, but he does! – then a big serve sets up the wrongfooter into the same corner as Dimitrov centralises, and a backhand return that flies long secures the set! Sinner leads 6-2 6-4 and looks far, far too good out there.
Up 40-15, Dimitrov frame-shanks a forehand that puts him under pressure, then a forehand down the line from Sinner reverses momentum in the next rally and another frame-shank, this time on the backhand, means deuce. From there, though, Dimitrov serves out, forcing sinner to serve for a 2-0 lead.
Just what Dimitrov doesn’t need: Sinner opens the game with an ace, ends it with another, and in between wins two points in short order, moving well enough again. He leads 6-2 5-3 and is a game away from a 2-0 lead.
The wind is kicking up, we’re advised, both players hitting down the middle of the court – perhaps as a consequence. That isn’t bad news for Dimitrov, who could use a leveller, but up 30-15 he sends down a double, inviting pressure upon himself, and when a backhand slice pops up off the net, Sinner has plenty of time to punish a winner for 30-40. Griggzy, though, plays a decent point for deuce and closes out well enough from there. At 2-6 3-4, he remains in the second set.
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A disguised drop earns Dimitrov 0-15, but Sinner – who might’ve agitated the hip which kept him out for the month before this competition – soon makes 30-15. This feels more like a contest, though, and though Sinner hangs on for 6-2 4-2, he’s not hitting his backhand as freely as before.
Dimitrov is serving a bit better now, holding to 15 and generally looking more like he doesn’t hate being out there in a French Open quarter.
Since 30-all in his first go, Sinner has only lost three points on serve, but Dimitrov is putting more pop into his groundstrokes now – for all the good it does him, 0-15 soon turning into 40-15. In the process, we learn that Djokovic has gone for an MRI following yesterday’s win over Cerundolo – he hurt his knee slipping and sliding on a court he believed to be substandard – while, back on it now, Dimitrov uses his slice to set up a backhand down the line, nailing it for deuce. Ahahahaha! Sinner promptly clobbers down two aces and that’s the hold; he leads 6-2 3-1.
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Down 0-30, the crowd try to transmit their energy to Dimitrov; he responds with a winner and an ace. It won’t be easy for him, being adopted as a cause celebre by people who just want to see a contest that prolongs their day out, but he serves out well to establish himself in set two.
A serve on to the line earns Sinner 30-15, two tame errors from Dimitrov follows, and after forcing his way into the only Slam quarter he’d not made, he’s subsiding so meekly you feel for him at 2-6 0-2. I don’t get it and nor, by the looks of things, does he.
Dimitrov is just letting this match pass him by, and after all the work he’s done to earn it – his last match against Hubie Hurkacz demanded a huge physical effort – he owes it to himself to up his intensity. But at 15-all, Sinner dominates another rally to force the long, desperate backhand; an ace makes 30-all. From there, though, a poor drop offers plenty of time for the administration of treatment, a second serve is glanced back for a winner – Dimitrov barely attempted to reach that – and he’s just so flat here, the opposite of his usual mix of great and awful. Sinner leads 6-2 1-0 with a break, and this is actually quite hard to watch.
Sinner quickly makes 40-0 – he’s so composed out there, partly because he always was but also because he’s now a major winner. Dimitrov does get to 15, but then he dumps a backhand return and looks in serious trouble; this isn’t close, as a 6-2 first set illustrates.
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Dimitrov wins his first game in five, forcing Sinner to serve for the set at 5-2. But can he find a way of moving the Italian about, or shortening the points?
Another swift hold for Sinner, Dimitrov far too passive out there. I’m not sure how he planned to attack this match, but at the moment he’s just turned up to play as he would against anyone else. For some reason, that’s not quite working against the world number two and reigning Aussie Open champ, who leads 5-1.
Sinner makes 0-30 then pastes a high return cross-court for a winner which raises three double-break points. Dimitrov does well to save them all, even if he does well to see a pass hit the net when stranded, then has one die on him at it clips the line; this time, he can only wham a forehand deep into the net, and Sinner leads 4-1, the first set near-enough his. The quality differential is not unobvious.
I don’t know, is a cap on backwards acceptable attire for a man aged 33? Who am I to say? Sinner consolidates easily for 3-1 and looks a bit too good for the old campaigner.
Dimitrov doesn’t look totally secure in his footing and dashing in for a putaway at 30-all, he sends the volley well wide; the first break point of the match goes to Sinner, who strays fractionally long on the forehand and cedes deuce. Sinner, though, finds a big return and forehand to earn advantage and, following a long rally, forehand to backhand, he hangs in there longer, Dimitrov netting to trail 1-2 now down a break.
“Will be a nice match to watch,” says coach Calv Betton of this tussle. “As always with Dimitrov, he’ll probably play great and then lose focus for 10 minutes.” Meantime, though, he pays a fantastic point to stick in the rally at the net then flicks a terrific drop across the face of it for 15-all. We wind up at 30-all, but from there, Sinner secures his hold for 1-1.
Sinner opts to return and at 30-0, Dimitrov sends down an ace, finishing off the game with another service-winner.
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And play!
Sinner and Dimitrov are out now; I imagine the latter will be looking to work angles, while the former hopes to plant feet and swing. I imagine the Italian wins because he’s the better player, but I can see a way he’s put on his bike by a canny veteran – even if, over five sets, it’s hard to see that approach proving decisive.
The problem with Swiatek is that she is without weakness. Maybe you try and make her volley, but it’s hard to hit drops if you’re constantly moving, trying to stick in rallies. Osaka was able to outhit her from the back, but she’s playing so much better now, so yeah, just attacking everything feels like the best and perhaps only antidote to her dominance on a clay court.
I guess the only way you can beat Swiatek is the way Stan Wawrinka beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win his three major finals: go at everything and hope to have the best day of your career. Perhaps Rybakina can also hit through her, though on clay that feels a stretch and ultimately she moves so well it’s hard to see the detail of how someone hoping to beat her can go about it.
Next on Chatrier: Grigor Dimitrov (10) v Jannik Sinner (2).
“Everything worked,” says Swiatek. She’s been serving better, which boosts her confidence, she’s playing “pretty heavy “and can play her game “without overthinking anything”.
Today was “pretty straightforward,” she says. She wanted to play her game whatever came back from Vondrousova, and she was in the zone today. She’s also beaten Gauff in a French Open final – 2022 was the year – but she’ll focus on herself, “prepare tactically and we’ll see”.
Finally, she thanks the Polish fans in the crowd and thanks everyone else, then off she goes. She is awesome.
I’m sure Gauff will come up with something, but Vondrousova is a terrific player and major winner, made to look like a child. That wasn’t far off perfection, and if she maintains that level, it probably doesn’t matter what anyone else does. Maybe – maybe – Sabalenka can hit through her if her drops also work, but real talk, you feel sorry for anyone forced to face that.
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Iga Swiatek (1) beats Marketa Vondrousova (5) 6-0 6-2
That was and and is an absolute hiding, a relentless, remorseless performance from the champ and world no1. She meets Gauff next, and looked an absolute monster out there.
Oh dear. Vondrousova doubles then nets, and at 0-30 this could be a very tame concession; can she find a first serve? She can, Swiatek’s return dropping fractionally long – that’s just her 10th unforced error – but another barrage, mainly of forehands, opens the court for a winner Vondrousova pretty much accepts because what else can she do? Match point to the champ!
Down 15-30, Swiatek finds the big serve she’s seeking, then Vondrousova nets. The Czech is playing alright, but just can’t find enough good points back-to-back to make an impression, and though she attacks a second serve when down game-point, she can only drag it into the net and is now a game from defeat. Swiatek 6-0 5-2 Vondrousova
Swiatek makes 0-15 and though Vondrousova finds a winner to level the game, the problem is that she needs similar to win every rally. Instead, a double follows, but she does well to make 40-30 whereupon another fine point, ended with a volley at the net, keeps the second-set arrears to a single break. Swiatek leads 6-0 4-2.
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What’s particularly nasty about Swiatek is her consistency. She offers so few bad balls, and with that comes pressure: Vondrousova knows anything vaguely short or soft needs the treatment because otherwise there’s a winner imminent. Swiatek holds easily, and at 6-0 4-1 is almost there, her opponent lacking the heavy artillery necessary to give her qualms.
Swiatek is just so good at finishing points in which she’s up, a forehand hammered to the corner giving her 15-30. And when Vondrousova goes long, she cedes two break points … but Swiatek only needs one, the barrage of balls she’s asked to return forcing her to send wide one she shouldn’t. The champ leads 6-0 3-1, and this is only going one way; imagine how intimidating it is to know the freak on the other side of the net is just going to keep walloping you until you fold.
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Now then: Vondrousova makes 0-30, and this feels like a quarter-chance that needs taking. But a big first serve, on to the line and into the body, sets up the next point, a groundstroke drops long, and Swiatek looks to have retaken control of the game … but a weak second serve is smashed back past her and that’s break point! Vondrousova plays it well too, but can’t quite spirit a pass past the borg at the net, and back at deuce, Swiatek closes out. She’s not hitting it as well as before, though, and her opponent is playing better. Swiatek 6-0 2-1 Vondrousova
Vondrousova strains every sinew making 40-15 and when she comes to the net, Swiatek’s attempted pass falls wide. The Czech is on the board, and Swiatek’s run of consecutive games won ends at 20. Pathetic.
Swiatek has now won three 6-0 sets in a row; rrrridiculous in all contexts, never mind in the last 16 and last eight of a Slam. She’s hitting it so hard, and with such disguise, that Vondrousova just can’t compete; a break in the next game and we can start thinking about how Gauff might strategise to beat her in the semis. Swiatek 6-0 1-0 Vondrousova
Brad Gilbert, Gauff’s coach, has stayed on court to scout his charge’s next opponent. Come in disguise all you like, old mate, but we’ll find you.
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At 15-all, Vondrousova tries a drop; Swiatek races in and flicks back a winner. But at 30-all, a double cedes set point, and merciless hitting from the back secures the bagel – the champ’s third of the championships. She is an absolute savage. Swiatek 6-0 Vondrousova
Down 15-0, Vondrousova clouts a backhand return down the line for a winner … for all the good it does her. Swiatek rushes through the rest of the game, securing her 5-0 lead, and unlike Volynets probably won’t allow her back into the match after handing her a first-set bagel.
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How does Vondrousova force her way into this match? Some first serves would be nice, but when she gets one at 15-0, Swiatek returns it with interest then dominates the next rally for 15-30. And at 30-all, a much longer rally, Vondrousova directed to hither and yon, ends with another Swiatek forehand, the double-break averted – perhaps temporarily – only when a backhand is swiped wide. No matter: Swiatek strides forward to despatch a forehand winner … but Vondrosova has got her lefty swinging working now, staving off another two break points then nailing her opponent with a drop. Our first match was fun but didn’t quite hit a peak because we didn’t reach the fabled point of both players playing well at the same time; here, the question is whether it’ll make any difference if Vondrousova plays well, or if Swiatek is just too good. Er yeah, maybe that. After a double on game-point, more forehand clattering sets up a winner down the line … but the Wimbledon champ responds with a winner of her own, out of nothing to restore deuce. So Swiatek marches in and punishes a a further forehand to arrange a further break point, and a backhand winner, again on to the chalk, and that’s the double-break at 4-0! Vondrousova, though, is actually playing alright so, even if this set is gone, the match has mileage in it. Swiatek 4-0 Vondrousova
Swiatek opens shoulders to punish an inside-out forehand into the corner, the body-serve that follows it is too good, and she’s come out raging and ready to go. She leads 3-0 and so far, the class difference looks chasmic.
Easily said! Because Swiatek is hitting it beautifully, powerful forehands earning 0-30; Vondrousova closes to 15-40, only for the same to happen and, on break point, she frames one way out. The champ breaks at the first time of asking and, since Osaka gave her that shock, she’s been brilliant.
Swiatek begins with an easy enough hold, but Vondrousova looks to be hitting it well.
And play…
Vondrousova can be something of a slow starter, both in tournaments and matches. She won’t get away with that against Swiatek, but if she’s at it from the start, she’s the game to make things difficult; not in the way Naomi Osaka did, because she doesn’t have that kind of power, but she does have a fine command of angles and spins to keep opponents off balance. We shall see.
Here come our players…
Next on Chatrier: Iga Swiatek (1) v Marketa Vondrousova (5).
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That last point is crucial: she did what she needed to do to win, and ir always kind of looked like she knew what that was an Jabeur did not. But actually, the point about having fun win or lose is crucial too because having won a major, she now knows she can and also that she won’t finish her career without; Ons can’t say the same, and that stress tells.
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Gauff says Jabeur is well-loved and a tough opponent; she knows the crowd love her, she cheers for Ons when not playing her, and she loved the atmosphere, telling herself when she went to the toilet mid-match that “this is really fun, win or lose.”
She really appreciates the support she gets too, hoping the crowd will be with her next round, and says she was trying to be really aggressive towards the end having had a lot of winners hit against her – not something she’s used to. She got tight at the end, but did what she needed to do to win.
Coco Gauff (3) beats Ons Jabeur (8) 4-6 6-2 6-3
A ridiculous rally to finish, a rat-a-tat-tat at the net ending when Jabeur goes wide; the way she’s played today, she looks good for Wimbledon, confidence restored. But on clay, Gauff was too solid and patient, roaring in victory having always looked like she had the composure to find a way; she meets Swiatek or Vondrousova next.
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Goodness me! Jabeur has serious moxie, caressing a drop to haul Gauff in, sending her back via lob, then tickling a second drop! Fantastic behaviour! But then she chops a miserable return into the net, ceding a third match point in the process!
A shanked forehand hands Jabeur 0-15, then a double compounds the deficit. In Gauff’s box, her mum gives her a look, but when a return drops short, she hurls everything on to the backhand winner that half the arrears. And what a return Jabeur finds next … only to get her feet all wrong at the net, blazing a volley wide; 30-all, Gauff two points away. Jabeur, though, muscles a forehand down the line that’s too good … only for her next return to drift long! Deuce it is, Gauff taking deep breaths to control herself before sending her first serve out; in comes Jabeur! But unloading the suitcase, ball shoulder-height, she can only drag it into the net; Gauff has a second match point!
Jabeur knows, I’m afraid, and she nets a forehand for 0-15 then directed to the corners, strays long. Even when a big inside-outer closes the gap and a big first serve plus one makes 30-all, it’s no surprise when Gauff finds a fine backhand that’s too good, raising match point; Jabeur, though, saves it well. And when, up advantage, Gauff’s forehand – no, that is not a misprint – restores deuce, Jabeur earns game-point a second time then, on the chase to the forehand corner, paints an absurd drop that dies just over the net! At 5-3 in the third, Gauff will have to serve for the match.
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Oh man! Up 0-15, Jabeur chases to the forehand corner and whip-cracks a ludicrous forehand winner cross-court, both feet in the air while off balance. The creativity! The athleticism! But at 15-30, having cleverly created the angle for a winner down the line, she nets hitting too flat – that’s the kind of chance she’s got to take – and from there, Gauff closes out for a 5-2 lead. She’s a game away, and this match has been a lesson in keeping patient and consistent even when your opponent is hot.
A sorely needed love-hold from Jabeur, settled with a rattling net-exchange, but Gauff won’t mind that. Novak Djokovic, when up a break, often tanks receiving games so his opponent isn’t in rhythm to try and break back, and though that’s not what happened here, her opponent is running out of road.
Gauff consolidates to love, and this feels over. Jabeur just doesn’t look able to hang with her in normal play – she either finds a buzz, quickly, or she’s jiggered – and that just doesn’t look likely.
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An error from Jabeur gives Gauff 30-30, what looks like a cunning drop, flighted over the face of the net, dipping into it. And then, sent wider than ideal by a decent backhand, the Tunisian goes long on the backhand and Gauff, 3-0 from break-points today, has another to attack. Jabeur doesn’t look like she’s enjoying this now, a second serve is set back hard, and this time, the leaping backhand flies wide! Gauff leads 3-1 in the decider, and it’s hard to see how Ons resolves this, the unforced errors to copious to be redeemed by winners.
And might that be one?! A forehand cross to one corner then another down the line to the other, and Jabeur has 0-15. Then, when Gauff nets a forehand, we’re at 30-all, and both players are feeling this; I’m not surprised, given I’m in a north London boxroom, not out there on Chatrier, and I’m feeling it. But Gauff hangs on for her hold, and with every one, the pressure on her opponent ramps up; my sense is that Jabeur is a lot less suited to serving second. Gauff 4-6 6-2 2-1 Jabeur
Jabeur has lost five games on the spin so could really use a convincing hold here … and she gets one, the game secured to 15. She’s in the third set at 1-1 and, as we said earlier, this match now looks likely to come down to a point or two here and there.
Jabeur might not be playing as well as before, but Gauff’s second serve and forehand aren’t better now than they were at the start. So if she keeps attacking them, she can win this – Coco has beaten one top-20 player all year – but a straightforward hold is noteworthy more because of the body language than the tennis. I know that’s no way to evaluate a sporting contest, but one of our players is all business, a bristling urgency about her work, and the other is hoping to hit a seam.
Errors from Ons mean we reach 30-all, but a stray return – of a short second serve – raise game point. Gauff, though, finds a decent backhand, Brad Gilbert having shouted at her to make Jabeur play as many balls as possible, and her inability to respond means we’re at deuce, then two errors hand Gauff set point! And when she punches a decent forehand return down the middle but close to the line, Jabeur nets her riposte and that’s a set apiece! The American looks the more solid player now, confident that her game will look after her in the big moments. Gauff 4-6 6-2 Jabeur
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Goodness me! Gauff makes 15-0 then batters away from the back, Jabeur sliding into a get in the backhand corner, then skidding towards the fore to hook a frankly ludicrous winner almost over her shoulder for 15-all! She salutes the crowd but still only gains one point for her trouble and at 40-15 the game looks Gauff’s. A double, though, makes things tense … the feeling quickly alleviated when a netted return secures the consolidation. My sense now is that Jabeur needs to play her best stuff to win and her opponent does not; she’ll shortly serve to stay in the second set. Gauff 4-6 5-2 Jabeur
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Now then! Jabeur plays a dreadful game, is broken to love, and Gauff leads 4-2 in set two! I daresay she pays careful attention to securing her hold this time.
This is a crucial game and, at 15-all, Gauff sends down a double then nets a first serve. Jabeur steps in, lands a return on to the sideline and, after dominating the rally eventually ends it to raise two break-back points. A forehand sent wide burns the first, but Gauff, suddenly hitting moon-balls, sets up an overhead, and Ons doesn’t need asking twice. She breaks back, and that feels like a big missed opportunity for the No3 seed.
Another drop from Jabeur hauls Gauff in, and despite her speed and anticipation, she can’t get there in time. But down 30-0, she finds a sensational forehand return, cutting the corner to arrive at the ball early and stepping in, a winner cross-court sending a message. And at 30-40, a backhand winner down the line – Jabeur having hit to the wrong corner – raises deuce, and when a lob falls long, Gauff has break point! AND HAVE A LOOK! Sent a second serve, the American takes control of the rally, finding a pair of big forehands, then a deep backhand, and that’s the break! Jabeur has dominated to this point, but she’s naturally cooled a little, and the two are so well-matched that even a slight difference can be all the difference! Jabeur leads 6-4 1-3.
In comms, Chris Evert still fancies Gauff, but another forehand winner from Jabeur soon has her laughing at herself. And when Gauff goes long on the forehand, Jabeur having previously found a gorgeous angle on the volley, we’re again at deuce; danger for the US Open champ. But she just about works a route through it, a moon-ball inciting Jabeur to crack a forehand, Del Potro-style, that doesn’t quite come off. Gauff 4-6 2-1 Jabeur
A better drop-response from Gauff, a pick-up down the line at the end of the match’s longest rally so far, means that at 40-30, she’s a sniff. And she gets a second serve to attack too, a backhand cross setting up a definitive forehand winner to make deuce, then another second serve nailed to restore it from advantage. Jabeur isn’t playing as well now, even if aces down the T raise two further game-points; Gauff saves the first, but a superb wrong-footing backhand, inside-out and on to the line, means Jabeur is again clenching fist as she secures the hold. Momentum, though, might just be switching.
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Down 30-0, Jabeur finds a delicious lob and we wind up at 40-30, but this time she waves a drop into the net and Gauff secures a crucial hold. But how can she find a break? Jabeur doesn’t have an obvious weakness to attack, but if the she can lengthen points and put her under pressure, things can quickly change; it’s unlikely she’ll stay as hot as she was during that first set for the duration of the match. Gauff 4-6 1-0 Jabeur
What I enjoyed about that set was how measured Ons was. Naturally she looked to attack Gauff’s backhand, but she was really clever in keeping things varied, most particularly her lengths – her drop-shot game was on point – and in hitting without overhitting.
Up 15-0, Ons onses, a double keeping things interesting. But a pair of sizeable forehands make 30-15, Gauff then finds herself directed along the baseline, and that raises two set-points. AND JABEUR ONLY NEEDS ONE! An ace down the T completes a tremendous set (of tennis), the no8 seed finding her unique combination of power, spins and angles to break down one of the game’s form players. Lovely, lovely stuff; check to you Coco! Gauff 4-6 Jabeur
Jabeur is getting after Gauff’s second serve – down break point, the American felt obliged to put more on it, landed it, and still lost the point – and two in a row here turn 30-0 to 30-all. They’re not even bad efforts, it’s just Jabeur is feeling herself and seeing it big. Another return, short but low-bouncing, incites Gauff to net, and at 30-40 that’s set point; a big first delivery is good enough to save it. But again, a second dig comes back hard, and when a missed backhand is the response, we know Gauff is feeling the pressure; this time, she saves set point when Jabeur nets a return that ought really to take over the rally. It’s a minor detail, but she might regret missing that chance because from there, Gauff serves out, inviting Jabeur to serve for the set at 5-4.
Yup, it’s Jabeur in charge here. She consolidates easily enough for 5-3 and Gauff needs to have a think; she’s barely landed a blow when returning.
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Lovely from Jabeur, backing away slightly to punish a forehand inside-out and cross-court for 15-all. Gauff, though, responds with a barrage of backhands … only to net a drop-retrieval, having offered the chance via weak second serve. Suddenly, this has the feel of a big game, and down 40-30, Jabeur leaps into a backhand, both feet off the ground, to send a glorious winner ripping down the line. She salutes the crowd and seizes control of the next point via drop that clambers over the net and dies … only to net her putaway! What an oversight that might prove to be! Or not! Jabeur halts a rally of baseline thwacks because Gauff drops long – the umpire checks, then it’s eyes down for break point! – but again, Ons can’t close out a rally she’s controlling, overhitting a forehand cross-court to bring us back to deuce. This is getting tense now and another fine drop from Jabeur earns her advantage, Gauff only able to set up her volley, and this time a long forehand means Ons takes charge of the set, up a break at 4-3! I’ve not seen her play like this in a long time, and how great it is to see her find herself on such a big occasion! Gauff 3-4 Jabeur
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A decent return from Gauff makes 30-15 but Jabeur is finding first serves, and though she’s soon drawn into a net exchange, a tasty volley is good enough. The pot is boiling.
Another terrific hold from Gauff who makes 40-0 then picks a drop, skidding in to flip a backhand pick-up cross-court for a clean winner. Things will change as the match progresses, but at the moment it looks like it’ll turn on a point her or there. Gauff 3-2 Jabeur
I like the way Ons has started here: she’s not waiting to be asked, but she’s not hitting wildly either, targeting Gauff’s forehand with her own superior iteration. But up 40-15, she swipes a backhand wide having opened plenty of space for it – she’s trying to end points as quickly as she can – and further thrashing from the back makes 2-2. So far, it’s Jabeur stepping in and looking to dominate.
Jabeur gets after a second serve to make 30-15 – that’ll be a plan I’m sure – so Gauff makes sure she doesn’t get a look at another, successive aces securing the game. She looks extremely serious out there: having had a taste of victory, she’s desperate for more, whereas Jabeur is just guessing.
Now then. Jabeur powers through a love hold, finishing it off with an ace, and it looks, for now, like the step-up in competition has incited a step-up in her level. Gauff 1-1 Jabeur
It’s a funny thing, really: I don’t actually think Gauff’s forehand is loads better than before, it’s more that she plays with so much more confidence and poise now that she’s better at hiding it. She does, though, find a forehand winner for 40-1 only for Jabeur to deploy her own to make deuce … then again to regain deuce. The difference between the two shots is stark, but after ceding advantage, Gauff holds it down well, securing her hold, and already this looks a fascinating match,
Oor Ons did, though, play a bit better in the last round against Clara Tauson. If she can get her forehand going, especially cross-court, she’ll be in business. But it’s Gauff to serve and off we go!
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I don’t enjoy saying this, but I wonder if the principal difference between these two is of mentality: Gauff has found a way to play well enough at the most important moments, such tht she now trusts herself and expects to win, whereas Jabeur has not so does not.
Our players are ready to come out. Chatrier is nowhere near as full as it should be, and this feels early for this level of sport. But once we get going, none of that will matter.
Preamble
Salut tout le monde et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2024 – jour dix!
One of the brilliant things about these competitions is the stratospheric height of their bottom levels: however relatively bad they might be, two weeks of brilliant tennisers letting it all hang out is better than almost everything else that exists in the world.
However, a classic tournament requires classic matches, and we’re at that point now where our best players need to deliver. We’ve already enjoyed the first-week bonus of Iga Swiatek v Naomi Osaka, but today comes one potential jazzer followed by another.
We begin with Coco Gauff, who has everything – everything being a single, solitary Grand Slam title – that Ons Jabeur wants. On the face of things, the American’s form and newly-found equilibrium should be enough to hide her iffy forehand, but if her opponent hits a groove – and there’ve been hints – it’s far tricker to call.
Next up, we can expect Iga Swiatek, double defending champ, to find a way past Markta Vondrousova. But the Wimbledon champ is canny, unique, and improving through the rounds, so don’t be surprised if this closer than expected.
And we’ll end our coverage with Jannik Sinner – another who’s hit a new level – against Griggzy Dimitrov. Baby Fed, as he was once known, hasn’t hit the heights expected of him, but at 33 he’s still improving – and will be well aware that chances like this one don’t come along often.
On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST
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