Report: Sinner ousted by Altmaier in epic battle
The eighth seed, Jannik Sinner, was toppled by Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in a five-hour epic at the French Open.
In a tremendous atmosphere on Suzanne Lenglen, Altmaier clinched a 6-7 (0), 7-6 (7), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 second-round victory after five hours and 26 minutes - the fifth longest match in the tournament’s history – having saved two match points when Sinner served for the win in the fourth set.
A tense finale saw Altmaier broken when he served for the match for the first time at 5-4 in the decider and then pegged back from 40-0 at 6-5. Sinner had three chances to force a deciding tie-break, and chucked his racket to the clay in anger after missing the final one, before Altmaier, the world No 79, took his fifth chance with an ace.
Altmaier, who lost to his Italian opponents in five sets at the US Open, sat in his chair sobbing afterwards, saying: “I love clay and I love the crowd and everything. The emotions were crazy.” He will next face Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian beat Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4.
Casper Ruud, the fourth seed and last year’s runner-up, is the highest-ranked player remaining in an open bottom half of the draw. The Norwegian overcame Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri in four sets, while the No 12 seed, Frances Tiafoe, also needed four sets to see off Aslan Karatsev.
Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry eased past 18th seed Alex De Minaur in straight sets and will face No 15 seed Borna Coric next. Thiago Seyboth Wild followed up his upset of second seed Daniil Medvedev by beating Guido Pella 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. PA Media
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Righto, that’s us done for the day – join us again tomorrow at 11am BST for yet more joy, but until then peace out.
Gauff says she’s used to playing on bad, green, slippery clay in the US, but is just at home in Paris on the good clay and thinks she’s a great mover. Asked bout playing doubles with Pegula, she explains that she does it for fun and enjoys her partner, but it’s also helped her returning, and though she won’t do it forever, she’s got the legs and the youth now, so is just enjoying it.
Coco Gauff [6] beats Julia Grabher 6-2 6-3!
Next she meets the new her, 16-year-old and Mirra Andreeva, and that should be a jazzer.
Cerundulo takes the first set off Hanfmann 6-3; Gauff is serving for the match at 6-2 5-3.
Gauff holds for 5-2 and she’s a game away from round three. She made the final last term, remember, though if she’s to do the same here chances are she’ll have to beat better players than Mertens, Stephens and Trevisan – much as I love Sloane.
A thunderous return from Gauff, a forehand cross-court from out wide, gives her 6-2 4-2 and she’s nearly home while, on Court 14, Paul – trailing 2-1 – leads Jarry 5-4 in set four, on serve.
Gauff breaks back for 2-2 then finds herself 0-30 down. But she hangs in there for her hold and leads 6-2 3-2.
Grabher’s serve is the most like Jo Durie’s since Jo Durie, her racket going almost behind her head pre-toss. She lead 2-1 in the second.
I doubt Grabher’s serve is good enough for her to keep Gauff out for a set, but she’s broken to lead 1-0 in the second. Elsewhere, Paul and Jarry are on serve in the fourth, Jarry by 2-1, Davis leads Tsurenko 2-1 with a break, and Cerundilo and Hanfmann are 2-3 on serve.
A little while ago, Mac was praising the job Wayne Ferreira has done with Tiafoe, who he reckons is ready to break the top 10. I first heard of him years ago now, when Calv Betton, our resident coach, messaged me footage of him as a junior. It’s taken him a whole to realise his potential, but he’s nearly there now, and though I doubt he does too much here, on grass and hard he might soon become a Major threat.
Gauff being Gauff, she breaks again, for the third time in the set, to take it 6-2. She’s looking pretty confident out there.
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Well done Julia Grabher! She breaks for 2-5, and is still in this first set.
Back on Lenglen, Gauff will shortly serve for the first set at 5-1.
Giron beats Lehecka 2, 3 and 2, breaking him six times – no small accomplishment. Lehecka will be back, make no mistake about that, but in the meantime Giron meets Jarry or Paul next.
Gauff had a couple of chances to break in Grabher’s first service game and couldn’t take them, but she manages it second time around and leads 3-1.
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Jarry now leads Paul by two sets to one, having lost the first; Giron is up two sets and a break on Lehecka, nearly there at 4-2 in the third. Lehecka, though, is only 21 and a very serious prospect, so while I didn’t think he’d lose today, he’ll go further than round two and soon.
Imagine knowing this joy.
On Lenglen, Gauff and Grabher are under way, likewise Cerundolo and Hanfmann on Mathieu. Elsewhere, Paul trails Jarry 6-3 1-6 3-5 and Giron leads lehecka 6-2 6-3 2-2.
That’s Chatrier done until Zverev plays Molcan in the evening match – I’m afraid we’ll be gone by then.
Ons says she doesn’t work on her game too much, more the physical side, and her plan was to move Dodin around and make her uncomfortable. She wants to inspire people from Tunisia and north Africa to play tennis, and is desperate to win a major one day.
Ons Jabeur [7] beats Océane Dodin 6-2 6-3!
Ons is that player now, who beats almost everyone all of the time and improves through the rounds. She meets Paolini or Danilovic next.
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Paul took the first set against Jarry but lost the second and we’re now on serve in the third; Jabeur leads Dodin 6-2 4-3, on serve.
Watch this without your eyeballs sweating…
A standing ovation on Lenglen for the man of the hour.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2023
Soak it up @daniel_altmaier ⭐#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/dGhwOXk5N3
And this:
What it means 🧡
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2023
Take a bow @daniel_altmaier!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/lhYKiiNQht
Next on Mathieu: Fernando Cerundolo [23] v Yannick Hanfmann.
Next on Lenglen: Julia Grabher v Coco Gauff [9].
Oh man, people experiencing the moments of their lives, for our entertainment, during the working day. This is what it’s all about; I’m in absolute bits.
“I just love the game of tennis” says Altmaier when Marion asks how he managed to keep going. He and his team put in so much effort, and this is a team effort, he declares, eyes red. “Playing every point you can with the best effort you can is what keeps you in reality,” he says. He’s not sure if it was a great match but is sure it was one to remember – it was and it was, old mate – and Roland Garros is the only time he’s made it past the first round of a major, but he loves the fans in Paris and without them tennis wouldn’t be the same. He meets Dimitrov next, and what a match that should be.
Francis Tiafoe [12] beats Aslan Karatsev 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-2!
I think he finishes with a game of aces – I’m not certain as I was all in on Altmaier-Sinner. Tiafoe meets Molcan or Zverev next.
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Daniel Altmaier beats Jannik Sinner (0)6-7 7-6(7) 1-6 7-6(4) 7-5!
Five hours 26 minutes, the fifth-longest match ever in this competition, one of the nest too, and Altmaier finishes it with an ace down the middle! It’s all too much for him – of course it is, it’s too much for me – and he cries, then applauds as Sinner departs. What a pair of legends! That was phenomenal, a privilege to enjoy, and the crowd won’t stop cheering as Altmaier cries again, overcome by what’s he been part of and achieved. AMAZING!
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Advantage up, Sinner just can’t summon the power to put away a pair of overheads, Altmaier hanging in there superbly, and we’re back to deuce. This is the best match I’ve seen in tiiiiime'.
Altmaier saves break point then sends a slice long; Sinner has a proper go at a weak second serve, missing the sideline by fractions, and we’re back at deuce.
Tiafoe will shortly serve for the match against Karatsev, leading 5-2 in the fourth.
I AM IN AWE OF DANIEL ALTMAIER! Sinner slams a fantastic backhand down the line, but Altmaier caresses a stop-drop from below the level of the net to set-up another match point! AND HOW HE ATTACKS IT! He sends Sinner to the corner, but then as he tries to clean up, he’s left watching at the net as a murderous forehand wails and shrieks past him for another winner. If Sinner had played the match like he’s played needing a break to stay in it, he’d have won ages ago, and as I type that he forces advantage! These two, goodness me.
OH JANNIK SINNER! He’s from northern Italy, the bit near Austria, and they say people from there tend to have a calmer temperament than is typical; he shows that here, unwinding and unleashing forehands until Altmaier can’t take any more!
Not quite yet; Altmaier goes long. Two match points remain … and he double-faults! Nerves! He’s talking to himself, breathing, and here he comes again…
A serve sends Sinner out wide, he nets, and after five hours and 15 minutes, might this be it?
Two points, two Altmaier forehand winners! Again, he’s two points from victory!
But what on earth is going on on Lenglen? Sinner plays a superb game then finds himself 0-04 down, perhaps relaxing after saving himself. He serves, Altmaier unloads the suitcase at the return … and it drops fractionally long, but it doesn’t matter because next point he clouts a forehand over the baseline! Altmaier will serve for the match once more…
Jabeur leads Dodin 5-2; Tiafoe leads Karatsev 2-1 and 3-2 with a break.
YES JANNIK SINNER! He plays a brilliant game – and, to be fair, so does Altmaier – finishing the crucial point with another nauseous overhead. His forehand, when he hits it right, is the bomb!
You what! Sinner bosses the next rally with forehands, Altmaier defending superbly, and when the overhead comes, Sinner clips the net cord and the ball dies! Another break-back point…
…and the second, a terrific serve forcing Sinner to chuck a racket; the ball drops just long. Deuce!
Oooh yeah! Sinner plays a gorgeous drop that gives him 15-all then, as Altmaier comes in, he conjures a wondrous hooked backhand cross-court from in the corner! AND HAVE A LOOK! A brilliant forehand, just inside the sideline, sets up an overhead that gives him two break-back points; Altmaier saves the first…
Imagine how Altmaier is feeling here. The exhaustion! The nerves!
Altmaier spanks a forehand wide, which means he’ll have to serve for it; Jabeur leads Dodin 3-1 but faces two break-back points.
Altmaier whacks one so hard he busts Sinner’s racket, then at 30-15 Sinner leaps into one of those backhands … that goes wide. He doesn’t look happy but a monstrous forehand gives him 40-30 … but they then wind up at deuce. Not that long ago he had two match points, but now Altmaier is two points from victory.
Altmaier, who’s looked the fitter, fresher man all the way through this set, holds easily enough, and at 5-3 in the fifth, he’s a game away!
Thiago Seyboth Wild beats Guido Pella 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3!
Medvedev’s conqueror, furnished with the no2 seed’s path through the draw, advances to round three where he’ll meet Yoshihito Nishioka.
YES FRANCIS TIAFOE! He caresses a backhand cross-court from the corner, it glides over the net, dips, and that’s enough for a 6-4 set and a 2-1 lead!
YES DANIEL ALTMAIER! He finds himself at 30-40, again hurls all of himself into the pint, and again Sinner’s backhand lets him down, dumped into the net! The German leads 4-3 in the fifth, and needs just two holds to move on!
At 5-4, Karatsev forces himself a point for 2-1 on the Tiafoe serve, but after an exchange of weapons-grade forehands, he drops long then finds himself serving at 5-5- 0-30…
Chale! Sent out wide to the backhand on 30-all, Altmaier plays a glorious chop, almost a table tennis shot, that dips over the net for a winner. That’s a gloooorious effort, one of the best we’ve seen today, and after a some deuces, Altmaier smokes a gorgeous backhand winner down the line for 3-3! It’s incredible that he’s sustained his level because though he’s a good player, he’s ranked 79 because like many, though his top level is very good, his modal level isn’t good enough.
Karatsev and Tiafoe are 4-4 in the third; Dodin and Jabeur have just got going; Seyboth Wild now leads Pella 2-1 and with a break in the fourth.
Closing out his 2-1 hold with an ace Sinner gets himself to 15-30 and this match is now a good barometer for where he is. When Andy Murray was developing, there was a period during which he could beat the best on a good day, but if your Verdascos or your Tsongas played their best against him, he lost. Then, gradually, he started beating almost everyone almost all of the time, whatever they did, and Sinner is someone who should eventually be capable of that too. But he capable of it now, today? Er, maybe: Altmaier quickly holds, so at 2-2 this match could go either way.
Sinner has to go through deuce for his hold, then at 30-all Altmaier gets himself out of bother with an ace and a service winner. Elsewhere, Tiafoe and Karatsev are 1-1 3-4 on serve, Paul leads Jarry 5-2 and Seyboth Wild has just gone 2-1 up on Pella.
Dimirtrov has beaten Ruusuvuori 6, 3 and 4; he plays Sinner or Altmaier next.
Next on Chatrier: Océane Dodin v Ons Jabeur.
Swiatek says it was hard with the wind and she needed to adjust but she’s pretty happy with how she played in set two, having learnt from set one. Asked how she might advise kids to cope in those conditions, she says she needs to figure it out first, but otherwise on clay you have to stay patient and “just feel it”. Yesterday was her birthday, but she’s not a party person so just chilled and enjoyed little gifts from her team.
Iga Swiatek [1] beats Claire Liu 6-4 6-0!
The champ rolls on and she meets Xinyu Wang next.
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Altmaier only needs one! Sinner serves, he clumps a terrific return close to the sideline, unleashes another brute and that’s two sets apiece! What a performance this is from the German, who might easily have retreated after losing a 7-0 breaker or a 601 set but did nothing of the sort! A shoot-out it is, and this has been a fantastic match.
No way! Another blinding backhand from Altmaier, down the line from deep in the court, is too good and Sinner nets! That’s 6-4 and two set points!
At 3-3 in the breaker, Altmaier and Sinner grab a drink – I hope it’s a stiff one because they’ve been working, the clock showing four hours seven minutes. And have a look! Another brilliant backhand get from Altmaier sends the ball dipping over the net and Sinner nets! That’s the mini-break, but at 5-3 Altmaier misses with the backhand and we’re back on serve.
Swiatek breaks against for 6-4 5-0 and this is how good she is: she can devastate opponents playing just about OK.
Great press conference with Kayla Day, who defeated Madison Keys to reach the third round in her first slam main draw since the 2017 US Open when she was 17.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) June 1, 2023
"Every time I tried coming back, it just felt like something else would happen." pic.twitter.com/np6xPlSIzs
Thiago Wild said yesterday was not the time to talk about his domestic violence case yet, according to UOL Esporte, his case has stalled since April as he hasn't been at the different addresses provided the 3 times Rio courts have attempted to subpoena him https://t.co/boxOCrZ54Q
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) May 31, 2023
Nishioka has beaten Purcell in four and meets Pella or Seyboth Wild next; they’re level at a a set all and on serve in the third.
Tiafoe indeed serves out to love, so he and Karatsev are 1-1; Swiatek holds for 6-4 4-0, though seems unenamoured with how she’s playing, ands Sinner hangs on through deuce for a breaker. Given he’s faced match points, Altmaier will be pleased with that.
Altmaier guides a fine backhand return down the line for deuce, right as Tiafoe breaks Karatsev thanks to a 30-40 double; at 5-3, he’ll now serve to level the match at one set apiece.
Thanks Tom and hi again – Sinner is 30-all serving for a third breaker out of four.
Yet another Altmaier v Sinner game goes to multiple deuces – just the two this time – as Altmaier holds to lead 6-5, roaring to himself and the crowd once again as he does so. You’d fancy his chances to nick this set now and take the match into a decider.
And with that, I’ll hand you back to Daniel.
While I was engrossed in that Sinner service game, Swiatek broke Liu early in the second set and leads 3-0, and Bernarda Pera completed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over the 22nd seed Donna Vekic.
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Altmaier breaks back against Sinner for 5-5, fourth set. Altmaier’s fought tirelessly in this match, and he battles his way to a break point. Sinner saves again with a deft drop-volley at the net and then some strong serve-volley game takes him to match point. Altmaier then saves that in an extraordinary rally that he wins when a netcord deflects past an advancing Sinner. But his tenacity earned that luck. Match point No 2 ensues but Sinner squanders this too with an overhit backhand. And now Altmaier has a break point courtesy of a strong crosscourt forehand, which he converts when Sinner crashes a forehand wide. What a game.
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And I seem to have reverse-jinxed Sinner into a winning position, as Altmaier’s blistering attempted forehand down the line is just out. He’ll now serve for the match at 5-4.
Meanwhile Tiafoe v Karatsev is going with serve in the second set at 3-3, and Donna Vekic is on the brink at 3-5 in the decider against Bernarda Pera.
Swiatek romps to three set points with that bullying forehand of hers, and converts at the first opportunity to win the first set 6-4. It’s not been a picnic for the top seed though.
Sinner gets himself two break points on another gruelling Altmaier service game but the German pulls him all over the court to save the first of them, and saves the second too. Sinner earns break point No 3 but Altmaier’s powerful serve down the middle saves that one too. We may be here some time …
And he’s got a point:
@tomdaviesE17 Simon Reed on comms for Eurosport gently shredding the people who have paid top dollar for tickets but haven't bothered to turn up and take their seats. #RolandGarros #FrenchOpen #EurosportTennis
— VoiceOfTheMysterons (@Mysteron_Voice) June 1, 2023
Back on Suzanne-Lenglen, an epic Altmaier service game goes to seven deuces and lasts more than a quarter of an hour, the German pumping himself up and roaring at the crowd on every successful point before finally clinching a hugely important hold. He leads 4-3 with the match on serve in the fourth set.
Zooting around the courts, Dimitrov is now two sets up on Ruusuvuori, and the No 23 seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova, has won the first set against Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2.
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Frances Tiafoe has an early problem to solve. He’s lost the first set to Aslan Karatsev 3-6. Another seed in trouble is Donna Vecic, the Croatian No 22 seed, who’s a break down in the decider against Bernarda Pera of the US in the decider at 0-2.
Oh, and Swiatek breaks back to lead 4-3. Panic over
Woah! What’s going on with Iga Swiatek? Twice she overhits forehands and before you know it, Claire Liu has three more break points. She saveds the first with a withering top-spin forehand to the corner but not the second when a soft return dollops into the net. It’s 3-3, first set, two breaks each.
Sinner’s mojo is restored – and he’s a compelling player to watch even when he’s just staying back and belting it from the rear of the court – as he breaks back and holds serve convincingly for 3-3 in the fourth. Meanwhile Vekic v Perra has gone to a decider after the unseeded American wins the second set 6-4.
Massive forehands 💥#RolandGarros | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/MUE5TJ8ie7
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2023
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A break of serve on Court Simonne-Mathieu – the 12th seed, Francis Tiafoe, has been broken by the unseeded Aslan Karatsev and trails 4-2. The unseeded Russian has never got further than the second round here. And Swiatek has a wobble on her serve, Liu grabbing a break point and taking it when the top seed nets a regulation forehand. Swiatek leads 3-1
Thanks Daniel. And you join me as Jannik Sinner’s game looks to have become rather ragged, unforced errors popping up at unexpected moments but he is at least on the board in the fourth set after holding to 30. Daniel Altmaier leads 3-1 and Sinner is two sets to one up. Meanwhile on Chatrier, Iga Swiatek as broken Claire Liu again and marched imperiously into a 3-0 lead.
Just as I’m signing off to do the camp run and grab some lunch, Swiatek breaks Liu in the first game; welcome to Chatrier old mate! But otherwise, here’s Tom Davies to ease you through the next hour.
Vekic took the first set off Pera, who leads 4-3 with a break in the second; Dimitrov has not only broken Ruusuvuori back in set two, but broken him again for 3-1, after losing the first in a breaker; and Nishioka, 2-1 up on Purcell, leads 3-2 in the fourth, with a break. Oh, and on Lenglen, Altmaier is responding well to the shock of that third-set collapse, earning break point … which he takes for 2-0! This match isn’t over yet!
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On Chatrier, Swiatek v Liu is away; on Mathieu, Karatsev v Tiafoe are 1-1 having also just started.
Borna Coric [15] beats Pedro Cachín 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-4!
That’s a colossal win for the Croatian – coming from 2-1 down to see off a clay-court specialist is no joke, especially in arm conditions over for hours and 23 minutes. He meets Etcheverry next.
Well who saw that coming? Sinner rushes through set three, taking it 6-1, and Altmaier has to win two straight now. Suddenly, a close match is disappearing.
Ruusuvuori has taken the first set off Dimitrov 7-4 in a breaker, then broken in the first game of the second. Just as Coric looked to be saving it, my acca is in trouble.
Next on Mathieu: Aslan Karatsev v Francis Tiafoe [12]. This might be the match of the day.
Oh yes! Sinner compensates for all those missed backhands, racing out of court to monster a backhand down the line that gives him a break for 31 in the third! He absolutely loves it, which tells us he knows he’s in a serious match here. Elsewhere, Coric, previously a break down, is now a break up on Cachin in the decider at 4-3 but they’re playing deuce, while Seyboth Wild leads Pella 4-2 in the first and Nishioka is now 2-1 up on Purcell.
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Andreeva says she wasn’t expecting to play in the senior competition, but managed to qualify and is loving it. She was nervous, especially as the crowd were behind her French opponent, and is glad it didn’t show.
Mirra Andreeva beats Diane Parry 6-1 6-2!
Apologies, my computer restarted as that was happening, but that’s a very conclusive win; Andreeva meets Grabher or Gauff next.
Next on Chatrier: Iga Swiatek [1] v Claire Liu.
Ruud is chuffed to be back on Chatrier and see lots of people in the stands. It was a tough match, he reckons, and normally he’d have won 3 and 2, but over best of five there’s scope for comebacks. It also got physical, he explains, so he’s happy to still be involved and is looking forward to his next match on Saturday, saying the conditions currently, 24, 25 degrees are, in his opinion, perfect for tennis.
Casper Ruud [4] beats Giulio Zeppieri 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5!
That was a fun match, because Zeppieri is a flamboyant talent. Ruud, though, has reached a level at which he knows he’ll beat pretty much everyone pretty much all of the time, and he faces Tirante or Zhang next.
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Ach, Zeppieri is broken again and now appears to be cramping – it never rains – but he’s soon back receiving at 5-6 with Ruud serving for the match. He’s got plenty of shots, so with more matches and more practise, he might just develop into something.
Around the courts, Ruusuvuori and Dimmitrov are level at 5-5; Vekic leads Pera 5-3; Coric has broken Cachin back in the fifth; Pella and Seyboth Wild are 1-1; and Nishioka v Purcell is one set-all and three-all.
Well done Giulio Zeppieri! A banging forehand, then an inside-out brute into the corner, and he’s broken Ruud back for 5-5 in the fourth! Meanwhile, an error from Sinner hands Altmaier set point … and at the fifth time of asking, he annihilates an overhead, and my days he enjoys the release. We’re level at one set all!
On Chatrier, Ruud is serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth; on Lenglen, Sinner saves two set points then lands a backhand return onto the line. He’s been waiting for some success with that shot but still, Altmaier ought to have done better than net in response, and at 6-6, he’ll be starting to wonder.
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Altmaier takes an immediate mini-break, then Sinner nets a backhand to give him 5-3. This looks a lot like one set apiece, and when Altmaier uncorks a booming forehand, he’s got three set points! Meantime, Andreeva wins a long old game for break Parry for a 6-1 3-2 lead.
Sinner hasn’t been as solid as usual in this set and when he dumps a volley, Altmaier has 6-5 and 30-all. Not for long: Sinner quickly secures his hold and we have ourselves another breaker. Can Altmaier maintain his form with the pressure on, after losing the last 7-0?
But wait! Parry breaks back for 1-1 in the second, Coric serves out, eventually and through deuce, to secure his decider against Cachin, and Ruud breaks Zeppieri for a 3-2 lead in set four. Three holds and he’s home.
We’re at the business end of set two on Lenglen, with Altmaier leading Sinner 5-4; Zeppieri, who isn’t an Italian Marx Brother, is 2-2 with Ruud, trailing 2-1 in sets; and Andreeva breaks Parry in the first game of set two. This is a hiding!
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Andreeva takes the first set 6-1 and looks to have a serious all-round game with room for improvement – you can tell she’ll add some power to her serve and groundstrokes over the next couple of years.
Andreeva is all over Parry, 5-1 in front and not just winning games, dominating them. Haddad Maia hasbeaten Shmaider 6-2 5-7 6-4 and the number 14 seed meets Alexandrova or Friedsam next; Purcell leads Nishioka 6-4 1-3; and Coric is serving for a decider against Cachin.
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Calvin Betton, our resident coach, weighs in on Sinner, who he thinks could potentially win a Slam: “He’s got the weapons and mentality. He’s one-dimensional though. What he has in his favour is that he can beat Alcaraz in big matches. Alcaraz doesn’t like playing him at all because he can clean hit him off the court. He beat him at Wimbledon last year and had match points against him at US Open. They’re 1-1 this year.”
Sinner ought really to secure his break, but three backhand errors hand Altmaier deuce and he whoops it up in huge style after securing his hold for 3-2 in set two.
Zeppieri is, apparently, 21! And as I marvel at how old sportsfolk can look relative to their ages – and he looks old even by that standard – he raises three break points, Ruud nets on the second, and out of nowhere he takes set three 6-4! Well, well done young man!
Email! “Have just joined the Ruud match,” tweets @Mysteron_Voice, “and even in one 10-minute service game, Zeppieri has shown no consistency whatsoever…”
Yes, that’s fair, but he’s young and is learning what it takes to compete at this level. He’s got the shots, he just needs to learn how and when to deploy them.
Andreeva breaks Parry immediately for 2-0 while, in the other two games I’m watching we’re on serve: Ruud and Zeppieri are 4-4 in set three, Ruud leading 2-0, while Sinner and Altmaier are 2-2 in the second, Sinner leading 1-0 … and with 0-40 on his opponent’s serve…
On which point Pella has broken early in set four to lead 3-1; if he can hang on, we’ll have waselves a decider.
Tomás Martín Etcheverry beats Alex De Minaur [18] 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3!
Another seed falls, this time in the men’s competition. Etcheverry meets Cachin or Pella next.
On Court 6, Parry and Andreeva are away and I’ll be keeping an eye on that match because though I’ve not yet seen the latter play, I’ve heard great things about her. On Chatrier, meanwhile, we’re on serve in set three, Ruud leading Zeppieri by two sets to love.
Sinner takes the breaker to love, which will aggravate the hell out of Altmaier who slogged through a physical set only to toss all his hard work in minutes. He’s now got the trainer on for a finger injury but it’s on his left hand so hopefully won’t be too aggravating for him.
Altmaier nets a backhand to hand Sinner an immediate break and things don’t improve thereafter. I was wondering, watching the end of set one, whether Sinner’s extra class was beginning to tell, and he races to a 5-0 advantage.
Altmaier rebounds from 0-30 down, wearing Sinner’s jump-backhands to outlast him in another punishing baseline rally, serves out from there, and we’ve got ourselves the breaker both players deserve.
Next on Mathieu: Parry v Andreeva. On Lenglen, Altmaier will shortly serve for a first-set breaker and these two are pretty well-matched.
Ahahaha, of course Day, who’s endearingly overjoyed, is asked about the crowd, and says nahman, they’re a joke. Not really, she loves them, loves the court and loves everything – as we all would if we were 23 and doing bits playing elite sport. Well done her, that’s a great win.
Kayla Day beats Madison Keys [20] 6-2 4-6 6-4!
Not this time Maddy. She goes for everything, overhits, and Day, making her Roland-Garros debut progresses to meet Schmiedlova, who despatched Bolsova earlier.
Keys holds for 4-5 in set three, meaning Day will now serve for the match a second time. She’ll be nervous, and knows her opponent can clobber winners from all parts of the court.
Ruud has been extremely competent so far this week and he breaks Zeppieri again then serves out for a 6-3 6-2 lead; Keys eventually secures one break back, but who’d be surprised to see her lose serve and match next up; Sinner breaks Altmaier back immediately for 4-4 in the first.
In classic style, Keys misses four chances to snaffle back a break; Etcheverry couldn’t serve out for 2-0 against De Minaur but did win the eventuating breaker to two; Shnaider and Haddad Maia are 2-2 playing a decider; and Cachin now leads Coric 3-6 6-4 4-3, with a break
Altmaier isn’t at all fazed by Sinner’s power and when he raises break point he responds in kind to the groundstrokes belted at him so Sinner ups the power even more – some touch might help here! – drops long, and Altmaier leads 4-3!
Day breaks Keys again and will now serve for the match at 5-2 in the third.
Updated
I like Jannik Sinner and the way he generates huge power with long levers. He’s starting to make his presence felt at slams too, having made the quarters of all four, but he still struggles to beat the best players because he’s a little one-dimensional – his hands aren’t that good – and doesn’t move that well. He and Altmaier at 3-3 in the first.
Keys makes room to whack a forehand from the backhand corner only to waft it over the sideline and, as the clock ticks over the two-hour mark, Day leads 3-2 in the decider. Zeppieri, meanwhile, is unable to convert a break point – he had a few in set one too – so Ruud leads 6-3 3-1.
Keys breaks back for 2-2, but a forehand winner down the line means Day has another chance to forge ahead at 30-40 … so Keys bangs an ace down the middle. She’s forced to save another break point thereafter, does, then misses chances to close out while, on Chatrier, Ruud breaks Zeppieri for 6-3 2-1 and on Lenglen, Altmaier makes 2-2 against Sinner thanks to a booming forehand down the line. He’s playing well, and this match is brewing.
Updated
Day is having a good day – I’m not just playing on the words I’m dancing on them – breaking Keys for 2-1 in the decider. Elsewhere, Sinner and Altmaier are under way, Cachin leads Coric by a break in set three, the first two having been shared, and Etcheverry is serving for a 2-0 lead over De Minaur.
Ruud holds easily enough for a 6-3 first set, and he’s playing nicely.
Next on Lenglen: Jannick Sinner [8] v Daniel Altmaier.
On Chatrier, Ruud is serving for set one at 5-3 while on Court 6, Cachin has levelled his match with Coric at one set apiece.
Updated
Sorribes Tormo beats Martic 6-4 6-1, and she’s a dangerous opponent for Rybakina – if she can find her best tennis.
It really is incredible how many great young players there are knocking about at the moment – in both the men’s and women’s game. Just today, we’ve got Noskova, Zeppieri, Andreeva, Sinner, Swiatek, Gauff, Seyboth Wild and Andreescu, never mind your Muesttis, your Alcarazes, your Van Assches of this world and so on.
Rybakina says Noskova served well so it was a tough game, and she found it a bit slippy on court today. Her height is a weapon but it also makes it harder for her to move on clay, so she needs more time to prepare and also needs to be more patient during rallies.
And this is soooo Maddy too! She breaks again and levels the match with Day at 2-6 6-4.
Elena Rybakina [4] beats Linda Noskova 6-3 6-3!
Rybakina didn’t play that well today but Noskova made it hard for her and she still moves on easily enough. She meets Sorribes Tormo or Martic next, Sorribes Tormo leading 6-4 4-1.
…but have a look! She ushers a forehand into the corner to make her second deuce while, on Chatrier, Ruud leads 4-1. Zeppieri has shots, but he’s struggling to string together enough of them to seriously trouble his opponent.
Rybakina serves a double on match point; can Noskova capitalise? Er, not immediately, returning into the net to cede another…
Ohhhh Maddy, that was so you. After nearly nine minutes serving for the match, Day breaks her back, and will shortly serve with a 6-2 4-5 lead.
Updated
How often do we see this? After saving two break points, the champion shows her young opponent – Noskova is 18 – how the world works, getting to 15-40 and uncorking a booming forehand to secure the break. She’ll now serve for the match at 6-3 5-3.
It mustn’t be as warm as it has been, at least yet, as Rybakina is in long sleeves … in long sleeves saving break points, Noskova having earned a couple only to overhit in over-excitement. Rybakina duly punishes for a 6-3 4-3 lead.
As well as the Ruud and Rybakina matches, I’m also watching Day v Keys. I confess I’ve a soft spot for the latter – I enjoy the abandon with which she deploys her power – and she played really well in navigating a tricky first-round match against Kaia Kanepi. But you never know with Maddy, so I wasn’t surprised she lost the first set today though, as I type, she breaks for 5-3 in the second and is now serving for a decider.
Zeppieri finds himself facing two break points, but having opened the angle for a forehand down the line, he overhits it and trails 0-2. Meantime, Noskova is giving a decent account of herself against Rybakina, trailing 3-6 2-2.
I’ve not seen Zeppieri play before, but he’s a big lefty so a difficult opponent for anyone on a good day, and having progressed through qualifying before beating Bublik, he’s in form. He forces Ruud through deuce too, playing some decent tennis in the process, but the number four seed holds eventually.
Updated
So far today: Rybakina leads Noskova 6-3 1-0; Day leads Keys 6-2 2-2; Etcheverry leads De Minaur 6-3; Hadad Maia leads Shnaider 6-2 2-1 with a break; Coric leads Cachin 6-3 1-0; Sorribes Tormo leads Martic 6-4 1-0 with a break; Schmiedlova leads Bolsova 6-3; and Rudd is playing the first game against Zeppieri
Elena Rybakina is a break up in the first set against the 18-year-old Czech, Linda Noskova. Elsewhere, Kayla Day – the world No 138 – has taken charge of the first set against her compatriot, No 20 seed Madison Keys. Here’s a roundup of all Wednesday’s news:
Preamble
Salut! And welcome to Roland-Garros 2023 – day five!
Obviously there’s an entire constellation of stars performing for our delectation as we complete round two. It’s fair to say that, at first glance, they all have fairly straightforward matches, but the presence of Thiago Seyboth Wild, who meets Guido Pella this afternoon, reminds us that once they start hitting balls, we’ve not a clue what’ll happen.
Early in the day, we get to enjoy Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys – not bad. Then, in the second tranche of matches, come Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner and the 16-year-old prodigy, Mirra Andreeva – making her Grand Slam debut and flying the family flag after her older sister Erika was eliminated yesterday. It will not be long before she’s famous for something other than finding Andy Murray beautiful.
After that, Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff and Francis Tiafoe – whose match with Aslan Karatsev could be a belter – sustain us, before Taylor Fritz closes the session against Arthur Rinderknech, who eliminated Richard Gasquet in a French derby earlier in the week. And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve got Alex De Minaur, Griggzy Dimitrov, Tommy Paul and Bianca Andreescu knocking about, while Petra Martic v Sara Sorribes Tormo is my prediction for sleeper match of the day.
On y va!
