Key events
Auger-Aliassime wins the first set 6-4
Will Cobolli feel the scoreboard pressure, knowing he has to hold serve to stay in this opening set? A wayward forehand at 15-0 owes probably as much to the wind as it does nerves; it’s really stirring up again. Cobolli decides to play it safe at 30-15 – you can’t blame him for that given the conditions they’re facing – but AA thumps away a winner. 30-all. And then deuce. There’s so little between these two. But Cobolli clunks into the tramlines and AA has a set point! Cobolli, his purple shirt flapping in the wind, lands a big forehand … and AA can’t get it back! Deuce. Advantage Cobolli. Deuce. Advantage AA. Set point No 2. Cobolli clobbers long and AA seizes a tight, edgy opening set!
The nerves are probably jangling too – AA is bidding to reach his first grand slam semi-final on clay, Cobolli his first at any major – and AA is in a little bit of service trouble at 15-30. A snarling serve gives the Canadian the initiative in the next point, and he doesn’t let up. 30-all. Cobolli then chops long – before making amends with a deep, dangerous forehand that AA can’t get back. Deuce. Advantage Cobolli, courtesy of a double fault from AA. Cobolli can’t convert the break point and AA accelerates through the next two points for another hold. It’s 5-4 to AA.
At 3-3 and 30-15, AA turns into a wall at the net, forcing the error from Cobolli. That’s the best point of the game, and AA takes the next one too to hold. This quarter-final hasn’t fully exploded into life yet – the conditions certainly aren’t helping – I understand the organisers want to keep this as an outdoor tournament wherever possible, but closing the roof would undoubtedly raise the level of both players. As if to illustrate this, AA spoons a forehand WAY beyond the baseline with Cobolli leading 40-30, and Cobolli holds for 4-4.
Tumaini Carayol
Ninety minutes into her 14th consecutive grand slam quarter-final, it seemed like nothing could stop Aryna Sabalenka from another straightforward day on-court. Even in gusty conditions and after a few nervous games while closing out the opening set, the world’s best women’s player seemed to be cruising as she established a 6-3, 4-1 lead.
Instead, that moment would mark the beginning of one of the most shocking collapses of Sabalenka’s career. Arrested by tension and unable to play with any semblance of freedom, the top seed completely fell apart. She was overcome by a supreme fighting performance from the 25th seed Diana Shnaider, who recovered to produce the greatest win of her career by defeating Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Sabalenka was attempting to reach her 13th major semi-final in her last 14 appearances. She has been so consistent in the best events in the world and she has improved so much as a tennis player over the years. Yet the one consistent theme in her career has been how frequently she has been completely shackled by her tension and nerves in the most decisive moments. The nerves she displayed in last year’s final to Coco Gauff, however, did not even come close to her collapse here. From 6-3, 4-1 up, a completely healthy Sabalenka lost 11 of the final 12 games of the match.
As shocking as Sabalenka’s performance was in the second half of the match, Shnaider played her part to perfection and she never stopped believing. Once Sabalenka began to look vulnerable, she locked down her game, cutting out errors in the rallies and maintaining immaculate depth. When she had opportunities to unleash with her one big weapon, her wicked lefty forehand, she did not hesitate. As she fought her way back into the second set, she landed a number of brilliant down-the-line forehands, including on break point for 5-5.
The Russian’s momentum did not stop at the beginning of the third set. Suddenly embroiled in a constant stream of long, physical rallies in such slow, windy conditions, Sabalenka simply could not find a way to regain control of the point. With her opponent completely frazzled, Shnaider refused to let Sabalenka back into the match. She gradually wrestled control of the baseline and struck her forehand spectacularly throughout the final set to secure the biggest win of her career.
You can read the rest of Tumaini’s match report here:
The 25-year-old AA began his career in the era of the Big Three – in fact he’d beaten Federer, Nadal and Djokovic before turning 21 – though he was unable to convert the otherworldly talent he’d shown as a youngster into major titles. Perhaps the expectation got to him; the injuries certainly did. But he’s now in the rare position of knowing there are no slam champions left in the draw. He’s very much aware, like every other man left, that this is a chance that may not come his way again. Cobolli holds to 30 before AA squeezes through from deuce. AA leads 3-2.
A poor drop shot from AA allows Cobolli a chance at 15-30. But Cobolli is raging against the wind after conceding the next point for 30-all – both players would do well to accept the conditions they’re facing, the extra energy spent fighting it won’t do them any favours – before seeing a break point come and go at 30-40. Cobolli has an easy volley at deuce but flaps into the net. AA goes on to hold for 2-1 – the first hold of this quarter-final.
John McEnroe believes that the roof should have been closed given the nightmarish conditions. It it remains open for the whole of this match, I’d say that probably favours Cobolli, who is the slightly lower-ranked player but has the touch and dexterity of feet and hands to cope with the constant adjustments needed to play in this wind. For Cobolli this is a second grand slam quarter-final after his last-eight appearance at Wimbledon last year; for AA (as he shall be known from now on, to save my fingers), he’s now reached the quarter-finals at all four majors. His best results have come on faster surfaces – both hard court and indoors – so the slower, heavier conditions today may give the edge to Cobolli, who then totally disproves my thoughts by dropping serve from deuce. They’ve traded breaks and it’s 1-1.
I wonder how unsettled both Auger-Aliassime (seeded No 4) and Cobolli (seeded No 10) are feeling having seen what happened to Sabalenka. Auger-Aliassime looks bewildered on the first point, perhaps more by the wind than the occasion, as he misjudges the overhead and Cobolli capitalises. 0-15. 0-30, when AA double faults. AA gets his side of the scoreboard moving for 15-30, but soon slides 15-40 down. The crowd, still stunned by Sabalenka’s exit, barely react to the early break points, but AA does, calmly saving them both, the second with a serve-volley. But Cobolli comes straight back at the Canadian, and Italian breaks at the third opportunity. Cobolli leads 1-0.
I think everyone on Chatrier would quite like to have a lie down after that quarter-final, but the French Open stops for no one, not even its patrons, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Flavio Cobolli are already warming up in the dust bowl.
Tumaini Carayol
The All England Club is confident that there will be no player protests at Wimbledon following meetings at the French Open.
Individuals representing top tennis players, led by the former Women’s Tennis Association chief executive Larry Scott, met Wimbledon officials on Monday to discuss the state of the dispute, talks that both parties viewed as productive.
A spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club said: “We were pleased to have the opportunity to meet players’ representative at Roland Garros. Our discussions about the arrangements for this year’s Championships were positive. We look forward to continuing these discussions in further detail after the Championships.”
The AELTC’s prize-money announcement, which takes place next Thursday, will be another critical moment in this dispute and there is significant anticipation over the rise. The player representatives informed the AELTC during the meeting that they expect a significant increase to their prize-money purse. The AELTC generally holds off on finalising its prize-money pool until relatively close to the announcement, allowing the club greater flexibility regarding its financial contributions.
The buildup to the French Open was dominated by the growing discontent from the top men’s and women’s players regarding the response from grand slam tournaments to their criticisms. They were particularly frustrated by the French Tennis Federation’s prize-money announcement, which they deemed insufficient, prompting them to take more forceful action. The FFT offered a total purse of £52.6m for this year, a 9.5% rise from last year. It is less than the £53.5m offered by Wimbledon last year, which the players expect to increase significantly this year.
After the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka predicted at the Italian Open last month that the players would eventually have to boycott grand slam tournaments to achieve their goals, top players including the world No 1s Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner chose to initiate a media boycott during their pre-tournament media availability.
You can read the rest of Tumaini’s story here:
This is surely Mirra Andreeva’s title to lose from here on in. But then we said the same about Sabalenka, whose bid to go one better than last year’s runner-up finish was extinguished in 10 consecutive games against her amid a final-set shellacking. Chatrier was transformed from last week’s sauna into a wind tunnel today and Sabalenka just couldn’t deal with it. Despite her four grand slams, the world No 1’s search for a major title away from hard courts goes on. A first-time slam champion is now guaranteed, with Andreeva playing Marta Kostyuk in the other semi-final. “Hello Katy, I think we are now officially allowed to call this the Upset Open,” emails Krishna Moorthy.
“I’m speechless,” says Shnaider, who’s through to her first grand slam semi-final. “I’m super happy, obviously very tough conditions with the wind, first time playing Aryna, I was very nervous. First set I was trying to adjust to her game and the conditions. In the third set I finally found my rhythm; I should have been aiming for that for the beginning!”
She’s then asked about facing the qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the most unlikely of semi-finals. “It’s going to be a lefty battle,” she replies. “I’m looking forward to it.” The Russian’s beaming, as she should be; this is the day of her life – and it could get even better tomorrow. She goes into the semi in the strange position of being the favourite.
Shnaider stuns Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0!
So Sabalenka, having led by a set and 4-1 and also served for the quarter-final in the second set, is now serving to stay in it. Not a sentence I thought I’d be typing when I left for my lunch just over an hour ago. Sabalenka is rooted to the clay as Shnaider seizes the first point; Sabalenka can’t even move her feet. She’s screaming to the glowering skies as Shnaider surges to 0-30 and 0-40 – three match points! – but suddenly Sabalenka remembers she’s the world No 1, and batters her way through the first two MPs. But Sabalenka smacks into the net on the third! And then there were none; the last grand slam champion in the women’s and men’s draws has fallen and this tournament has hit new levels of chaos!
Shnaider 3-6, 7-5, 5-0 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)
Thanks Tom! Wow. Sabalenka let her emotions get the better of her in several crucial moments last year, against Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, Coco Gauff in the French Open final and Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals, and she’s doing the same here. But perhaps to put it that simplistically is also doing a disservice to Shnaider: the Russian has worked her way into this match and is now playing the tennis of her life, as another left-handed forehand winner down the line gets her to 15-all. And another forehand winner makes it 30-15. That’s been her money shot today. Shnaider won the third set 6-0 against Keys in the previous round, and she’s on course to obliterate Sabalenka too, as she holds to 30.
Shnaider* 3-6, 7-5, 4-0 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) The blunders continue, a lazy volley into the net from Sabalenka starting her service game. A thumping winner at the net might make the world No 1 feel better about herself, but Shnaider goes one better with a fierce forehand winner down the line, her fave shot. Before you know it, she has two more break points. They’re converted straight away with yet another clumsy overhit forehand. She’s staring down the barrel now.
And with that I’ll hand you back to Katy.
Shnaider 3-6, 7-5, 3-0 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) Shnaider eases into a 40-0 lead within a couple of minutes, and a longer rally can’t extend the game much further. Shnaider holds to love, and Sabalenka is struggling to get out of this rut and find her level.
Shnaider* 3-6, 7-5, 2-0 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) A rollercoaster of a game, and a long’un. Shnaider is reaching shots that she wouldn’t have made earlier in the match, as she demonstrates in an absorbing rally that Sabalenka nonetheless just squeaks for 30-0. Shnaider pulls it back to 30-15, and then to 40-30 with another bloot into the net by the No 1 seed. A fabulous forehand winner down the line from Shnaider takes us to deuce before – ANOTHER break point, a neat forehand chip on the line. But Sabalenka controls the next point to save the break yet the pain keeps coming. for the Belarussian as Shnaider sends a beautiful crosscourt backhand past her. This break point is saved in a rare genuinely high-class rally from Sabalenka before an increasingly rare overhit from Shnaider but more brainfade from the favourite pegs her back to deuce. Almost in anger, Sabalenka claims the next point with a venomous forehand winner to the corner. The winner-error-winner-error sequence continues though and we’re back at deuce point. Shnaider’s third break point of the game is secured when Sabalenka’s overhead volley is out but AGAIN she can’t convert. Still, the top seed gives her another chance with a netted backhand. AND THIS TIME SHE DOES. And it’s a cracker, a punched forehand to the corner.
Shnaider has won nine of the past 10 games and the No 1 seed is in real trouble.
Shnaider 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) Sabalenka is still prone to overhitting, one such mistake handing Shnaider a 40-15 lead on serve, setting up a comfortable hold. It may not last but Shnaider is handling this better in every way at the moment.
Shnaider wins the second set 7-5!
Shnaider* 3-6, 7-5 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) From 1-4 down in the second set, Shnaider is level! Another classy shot from the back of the court gets Shnaider to 15-15 on Sabalenka’s serve, and things are going the Russian’s way as a reaction-lob drifts over Sabalenka’s head and – wind-assisted – lands inside the line. And suddenly, it’s ANOTHER break point – a set point no less – AND SHE TAKES IT. This has been an astonishing recovery from nowhere, Shnaider growing in confidence and authority as Sabalenka’s errors piled up. Her aggressive style isn’t working at the moment. On we go.
Shnaider 3-6, 6-5 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) Shnaider’s enjoying herself now, and a lovely angled forehand down the line is as good a shot as she’s played. It takes her to 30-15, which soon becomes 40-15, and it’s another easy hold. Five-all, and where are we heading now?
Shnaider 3-6, 5-5 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) Serving for the match, Sabalenka pulverises a forehand down the line for 15-0, but variable bounce contributes to her just losing control of a backhand next point and sending it out. An overhit forehand from Shnaider gives her opponent a 30-15 advantage but it’s pegged back to 30-30 when a gripping rally ends with an erratic Sabalenka volley out. And now … another break point for Shnaider when Sabalenka nets – and this time she takes it. With a beautiful wide forehand into the corner. Game on!
Shnaider 3-6, 4-5 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) The ball is bouncing 10% lower this week than it did last, which might explain a few things. Anyway, Shnaider races to 30-0 before feebly finding the net from the baseline, then atoning with a fierce ace. It characterises a swift, easy hold.
Shnaider* 3-6, 3-5 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) Chance squandered for Shnaider: a couple of gasps as Sabalenka overhits an attempted winner horribly to go 0-30 on her serve and then Shnaider earns herself three break points in an elegant brute of a rally. Sabalenka saves the first with a dismissive volley at the net. The second is saved when Sabalenka points her opponent all round the court after a forceful second serve before the third is squandered with a slightly overhit service return from Shnaider, inside the line. But Shnaider gets another opening when Sabalenka nets weakly; break point No 4 is saved too with a strong serve, followed by the Belarusian appearing to have angry words with her box/herself. Whatever, it works, and a fine crosscourt winner ensues, which sets up a decisive hold, and a hard earned one.
Shnaider 3-6, 3-4 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) Shnaider is swiftly 0-30 down yet recovers to 30-30 with some smart net play, but leaves herself open for a Sabalenka passing shot next point to yield a break point. Shnaider saves it and goes on to take the game. She’s still in this. What was that I said about this being over in a jiffy?
Shnaider* 3-6, 2-4 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) A break back from nowhere. A beautiful drop volley at the net gets Sabalenka’s service game under way, and her serve-volley game continues to deliver for 30-0. But Shnaider then rallies to 30-all, and whaddya know, she earns a break point when Sabalenka sends a careless attempted drop shot wide. The sloppiness continues when a double fault grants Shnaider a break back.
Shnaider 3-6, 1-4 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server) This could be it now as the Belarusian breaks again. Shnaider goes double-handed, to little effect, plonking a weak attempted drop shot from behind the line into the net to go 0-30 down on serve. Sabalenka’s searing service return is too strong next point, to set up three break points – Sabalenka buries the first with a wrongfooting forehand to go 4-1 up. We will not, I suspect, be detained much longer now.
Shnaider* 3-6, 1-3 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server) Sabalenka is still making the odd uncharacteristic error, an overhit volley at the net for 15-15 being a prime example, but she powers her way to 40-15, and an untreatable serve down the middle seals the game. She’s ultimately still too strong.
Shnaider 3-6, 1-2 Sabalenka* (* Denotes next server). A gem of a whipped crosscourt forehand gets Sabalenka away before Shnaider profits from a wayward attempted winner to go 30-15 up, and the Russian proceeds to hold serve comfortably. It’s no classic but nor does playing in this wind look much fun.
Shnaider * 3-6, 0-2 Sabalenka (* Denotes next server). Errors are creeping back into the left-handed Shnaider’s game and in the blink of an eye Sabalenka is 40-0 up on her serve before skewing a backhand wide. An absolute slugfest of a rally ensues but it’s when Sabalenka attempts a spot of subtlety, she sends her dropshot into the net for 40-30 but an unanswerable backhand down the line from the favourite seals the game.
Shnaider 3-6, 0-1 Sabalenka*
* Denotes next server
Thanks Katy. The wind continues to ask questions of both players, and after clawing back to deuce, Sabalenka breaks in the opening game of the second set.
With that, I’m going to grab some lunch. Tom Davies is here to guide you through the second set …
Sabalenka wins the first set 6-3
“Step back and rip the return,” is the advice to Shnaider from her coach Sascha Bajin, who was Serena Williams’s long-time hitting partner and also coached Osaka to two slam titles. It does the trick as Shnaider skips to 15-30, but she then undoes her good work by missing a routine rally ball. 30-all. Now it’s Sabalenka’s turn to err, as she bashes a backhand into the net to offer up a break point. She slams a ball into the clay in frustration, and she’s let off the hook when Shnaider’s forehand whistles wide. Deuce, advantage Sabalenka, game and set Sabalenka, as she finally gets the better of the wind – and Shnaider – with a winner that lands on the line. Highway to Hell is played at the changeover. Which just about sums up the conditions facing both players in this quarter-final.
The wind is still swirling as Shnaider steps up to serve, and it’s clearly affecting both players. Sabalenka, having appeared so locked in, is starting to look a little bothered, and she’s not allowing herself enough margin for error in these conditions, which are getting worse. An exasperated scream follows her errant backhand on game point. Shnaider holds to 30 and from 5-1 and it’s 5-3.
Baseline winners, drop shots, volleys … Sabalenka is doing it all right now, and a trip to the net helps her dismiss the danger at 15-30. She’s made to wait to serve at 30-all because the wind is kicking the clay up into her face, but she regroups well to bring up set point at 40-30. But an untimely double fault – largely because of the wind, to be fair – blows Sabalenka off course and it’s deuce. A break point follows for Shnaider, and then a second set point for Sabalenka, and a second break point for Shnaider … and the Russian secures her first break! At 5-2 though, Sabalenka won’t be pushing the panic button yet.
Sabalenka is now crunching winners off Shnaider’s first serve. Ooof. It gets her to 15-40. And then Sabalenka shows she’s not all about the power, displaying some lovely finesse, to break once more. She’s added such impressive variation to her game and is now in full flow, leading 5-1.
A first break point of the match at 30-40. Just as the wifi goes down. Wonderful timing. I’m guessing Sabalenka’s timing must have been better because when the spinning circle of doom finally disappears from my screen, it’s 3-1 Sabalenka. If Roland Garros’s AI commentary is to be believed there were “eight shots of fierce baseline trading, cross-court backhands flying both ways — and Sabalenka uncorks a backhand winner wide to seal the break!” What I can say, with more certainty, is that Sabalenka backs the break up for 4-1.
