Serena Williams will play Kiki Bertens in her semi-final. Bertens has just beaten Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-2. That’s all from me for today. Thanks for reading and emailing. See you tomorrow. Bye!
Serena Williams speaks. “She played unbelievable and I honestly didn’t think I was going to win that in the second set but somehow I did and I’m so excited,” she says.
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Serena Williams beats Yulia Putintseva 5-7, 6-4, 6-1!
Serving for the match, Williams takes a 30-0 lead as Putintseva finds her efforts thwarted by that pesky net. She has three match points when Putintseva drags a forehand wide. It’s not over yet, though, as Putintseva shows tremendous guts to save all three match points, whacking a backhand past Williams on the third! Yet she has a fourth opportunity when Putintseva wastefully knocks a forehand long and it’s all over when the Kazakh blocks a return wide.
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Third set: Williams 5-7, 6-4, 5-1 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Putintseva delays the inevitable, holding to 30. She didn’t deserve to be bageled.
Third set: Williams* 5-7, 6-4, 5-0 Putintseva (*denotes server): Putintseva keeps plugging away, earning a break point, but she can’t take it. Williams holds and Putintseva will serve to stay in the match.
Third set: Williams 5-7, 6-4, 4-0 Putintseva* (*denotes server): The fight is draining from Putintseva as a double-fault makes it 15-40. Yet she’s soon geeing herself and the crowd up are saving both to force deuce, only for Williams to earn a third opportunity thanks to a vicious forehand return. Putintseva’s race is run. She has a 1000-yard stare on after netting a forehand. Williams breaks again.
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Third set: Williams* 5-7, 6-4, 3-0 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams is three games from the semi-finals after holding to 15. Which feels slightly absurd given that she was so close to exiting the tournament 20 minutes ago.
Third set: Williams 5-7, 6-4, 2-0 Putintseva* (*denotes server): “That’s it, come on!” Putintseva bellows after making it 15-all. But Williams, an oasis of calm now, makes it 15-30 with a searing backhand winner and she grabs what could turn out to be a crucial break after a splurge of errors from Putintseva.
Third set: Williams* 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams begins the third set by holding to 15. She looks calmer. “I can’t help feeling that this is going to be like the Murray v Gasquet match yesterday,” says Vinod Raghavan. “The top players can keep up the quality for a whole match whereas those a bit lower down have to take the opportunities when they come up as they generally can’t keep it going. I think Serena will probably steamroller Putintseva in the 3rd set...”
Serena Williams wins the second set 6-4 to level the match!
Putintseva is serving to stay in the set and she makes problems for herself by netting a forehand for 15-30 after a poor Williams drop shot. Williams looks like she’s shedding a few tears of relief. This is such a struggle. She’s spent most of the match fighting herself and she has two set points when Putintseva nets a backhand. But those deep, topspin heavy shots from Putintseva are troubling Williams. She goes for a drop shot but Putintseva saves the first break point with a canny forehand. But it’s only a momentary reprieve. She looks like she wants to hit herself round the head with her own racket after double-faulting on the second set point. We’re heading for a third set. Putintseva was so close to serving for the match. And now look!
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Second set: Williams* 5-7, 5-4 Putintseva (*denotes server): Alarm bells are ringing for Williams when she nets a backhand to make it 0-15. It’s her 34th unforced error of the match. But she’s been good at the net, volleying well to make it 15-all, and an ace makes it 30-15. Putintseva, though, spies an opportunity and she makes it 30-all with a lovely backhand down the line, before grabbing a break point when Williams messes up a volley. That’s the commentator’s curse. There’s relief for Williams when Putintseva hooks a backhand return a yard or two wide but the Kazakh has another chance when Williams moves on to a short ball and shanks an atrocious forehand miles past the baseline. All she had to get to was get the ball in. Putintseva can’t punish her again, though, a backhand drifting long. The pressure is having an effect on both players now. Putintseva is tighter. She misses a backhand return on game point and Williams takes a moment to thank the heavens.
Second set: Williams 5-7, 4-4 Putintseva* (*denotes server): But Putintseva still has to hold. And Williams has raised her level again, crashing forehand and backhand winners down the line to earn three break points. Yet she can’t take the first two, giving Putintseva encouragement, and the third is wiped out when the Kazakh loops a brilliant forehand winner down the line, Williams static on the baseline. She earns a game point by reaching a drop shot and flinging a forehand down the line and holds when Williams knocks a backhand return long.
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Second set: Williams* 5-7, 4-3 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams is upping the volume and the aggression, a sure sign she’s had enough of all this insurrection, but despite taking a 40-30 lead, two poor forehands from the world No1 hands a break point to Putintseva. The response from Williams? A double-fault. Staggering.
Second set: Williams 5-7, 4-2 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Having lost four straight games, it was crucial for Putintseva to get back on track here. She does so, holding to 30 from 15-30 down.
Second set: Williams* 5-7, 4-1 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams consolidates the break, holding to 15, and she’s starting to restore some control on proceedings.
Second set: Williams 5-7, 3-1 Putintseva* (*denotes server): It seems that all Putintseva did by going up a set and a break was annoy Williams, who’s playing like it now. Marauding tennis from the world No1 brings her three break points and she takes the third one when Putintseva puts too much behind a forehand that drops past the baseline.
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Second set: Williams* 5-7, 2-1 Putintseva (*denotes server): A double-fault from Williams at 30-15 gives Putintseva some hope. But Williams moves into a 40-30 lead and she’s starting to trouble her smaller opponent with some loopy backhands. Then she changes it up with a drop shot and although Putintseva, having gone crosscourt on so many occasions at the net, goes down the line with a backhand this time, Williams knows what coming and is able to win the game with a simple lob.
Second set: Williams 5-7, 1-1 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Putintseva might only be 5ft 4in but she must be feeling 10ft tall at the moment. The underdog is seizing the day and she looks determined to grab this wonderful opportunity she’s created for herself against all the odds. Although she loses the first point here, she doesn’t let it faze her as she wins the next three points for a 40-15 lead. But this is when Williams can be at her most dangerous. She pours all her frustration into the next point to make it 40-30 and it’s deuce when Putintseva edges a forehand just wide. Williams is stirring and she batters a backhand return away to earn a break point, which she converts with a smash.
Second set: Williams* 5-7, 0-1 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams is in massive trouble now! She drops her serve to love in the first game of the second set and the world No60 leads by a set and a break!
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Yulia Putintseva wins the first set 7-5!
Williams approaches the net but Putintseva clenches her fist after picking her off with a forehand pass for 15-0 and the Kazakh is soon clutching three set points after more misses from the world No1. Who saw this coming? Williams is making so many errors and another, a wide backhand, hands the first set to a jubilant, steely Putintseva!
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First set: Williams* 5-6 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams wins the first three points easily enough. Too easily, perhaps, because she loses the next three, Putintseva creaming a backhand return down the line for deuce. Something’s in the air here – Putintseva earns a break point with an excellent backhand pass from left to right and she breaks when Williams, out of sorts, nets a backhand. The underdog will serve for the opening set!
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First set: Williams 5-5 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set, Putintseva shows no nerves, racing into a 40-0 lead before holding to love. Not for the first time, these two are heading towards a first-set tie-break.
First set: Williams* 5-4 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams looks in control at 30-0 but Putintseva forces her on the defensive in the next two points, fighting back to 30-all. Yet she can’t maintain her momentum, her backhand betraying her, and Williams holds to 30.
First set: Williams 4-4 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Williams hangs her head in shame after dumping two backhands long to make it 40-15. She’s not quite been at it this afternoon, understandably so given the conditions, and Putintseva does well to capitalise and hold to 15.
First set: Williams* 4-3 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams has settled after that post-delay wobble and she holds to love. That’s more like it.
First set: Williams 3-3 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Williams begins to get to work on the Putintseva serve, gobbling up a few inviting short balls to move into a 0-30 lead. It’s not long before she has two break points, Putintseva dumping a backhand into the net, and she’s back on level terms when the Kazakh chops a unconvincing slice into the net.
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First set: Williams* 2-3 Putintseva (*denotes server): Williams steadies herself by holding to love, accuracy returning to her groundstrokes, her power too much for the diminutive Kazakh.
First set: Williams 1-3 Putintseva* (*denotes server): Williams is annoyed with herself after dragging a backhand wide to make it 15-0. She’s started slowly and three more errors makes it a love hold for Putintseva, consolidating the break.
First set: Williams* 1-2 Putintseva (*denotes server): Play resumes with Williams down 15-30 on serve and soon Putintseva has two break points when Williams lands a forehand long. Williams saves the first, punishing an airy drop shot, but Putintseva remains positive and whips a forehand down the line to earn the first break!
The players are back. It’s stopped raining! It’s stopped raining!
Dominic Thiem beats David Goffin 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1!
A superlative win for the young Austrian, who hung in there during the first three sets before running away with it in the fourth set. David Goffin had no answer in the end and Thiem is through to his first grand slam semi-final. Against Novak Djokovic.
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PLAY SUSPENDED!
First set: Williams* 1-1 Putintseva (*denotes server): It’s starting to rain hard and both players are asking the umpire whether they should play on. There’s no word from the match referee, though, so they continue, with Putintseva taking a 15-30 lead. But the rain’s in their eyes. They’re walking off now.
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First set: Williams 1-1 Putintseva* (*denotes server): A worrying start for Putintseva, with Williams striking the ball cleanly and quickly taking a 0-30 lead. She responds well to get to 40-30 but the game goes to deuce. A lovely backhand pass gets her a game point, though, and she holds.
First set: Williams* 1-0 Putintseva (*denotes server): Chasing her 22nd grand slam title, Serena Williams opens the serving against the 60th best player in the world. It should be a stroll. She holds to 15.
Novak Djokovic owes this alert line judge a huge debt of gratitude. He’d have been disqualified if his racket had hit the official.
Omg I love you ninja lines person pic.twitter.com/5uD1KjWlBg
— Tanis (@Tanis95) June 2, 2016
It’s not warm in Paris. It’s June and it’s not warm in Paris. Yulia Putintseva is wearing a tracksuit during her warm-up. Given that the 5ft 4in Kazakh was born in Moscow, you’d think she would be used to the cold. This is the 21-year-old’s first grand slam quarter-final and she recorded a wonderful 7-5, 7-5 win over Carla Suarez-Navarro in the fourth round.
On Suzanne-Lenglen, Dominic Thiem just doesn’t know when he’s beaten. He lost the first set and he was a break down in both the second and third sets. Now he leads 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 against David Goffin. Meanwhile Serena Williams has just walked out on Philippe-Chatrier. Her quarter-final with Yulia Putintseva, the world No60, will be underway soon and I’ll be providing game-by-game coverage of it.
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A predictable outcome, then, and Novak Djokovic is through to another French Open semi-final. The last time he failed to make the last four of a slam came in the Australian Open in 2014. He is astounding. As for who he’ll face tomorrow, that’s not clear yet. David Goffin and Dominic are level in the third set after splitting the first two.
Novak Djokovic beats Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-3!
Serving for his place in the last four, Djokovic begins this game by losing the first point but he makes it 15-all by achieving a terrific length with a defensive backhand. He wins the next two points to earn two match points and although he nets a forehand on the first, he takes the second with Berdych unable to do anything with a forehand return.
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Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 5-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Djokovic is on the prowl here, not least when Berdych nets a backhand to make it 0-30. He follows that up by drawing Berdych to the net before earning three break points with a splendid backhand lob. The first goes begging but not the second, a Berdych backhand clipping the top of the net and deflecting wide. Djokovic will serve for the match.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 4-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Play resumes with Djokovic serving and although he’s down 15-30, he keeps his composure to hold to 30.
The players are back on court. That delay was worth it. Novak Djokovic is booed as he returns.
They haven’t covered the court but they’re not playing. Work that one out. Berdych is fuming. Thiem and Goffin are still playing on Suzanne-Lenglen.
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PLAY SUSPENDED
Il pleut. Novak Djokovic has wandered off and Tomas Berdych is chuntering about the indecision. “This is a circus,” he says. The covers aren’t on the court yet.
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Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 3-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): The rain has subsided now and the umbrellas have come down on Philippe-Chatrier. In the middle of the arena, Berdych appears to have the game under lock and key when he wins the first three points. But Djokovic isn’t going anywhere. He wins the next three points to make it deuce and Berdych has to be careful here. And he is, working hard to hold.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 3-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Djokovic saves two break points to hold. Meanwhile Dominic Thiem has won a second-set tie-break 9-7 against David Goffin, who served for a two-set lead at 5-3. They’re all level over on Suzanne-Lengel and it’s turning into a humdinger.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): The rain is coming down hard now. An official was on court during the changeover. “What are you waiting for?” asks Berdych. More rain, apparently. They’re playing on for now and Djokovic would like to get this done as soon as possible. But some fluffed drop shots hand a 40-0 lead to Berdych, who holds without a fuss.
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Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 2-1 Berdych (*denotes server): The conditions are getting heavier, perhaps favouring Berdych’s power, but Djokovic is undeterred, pinging a forehand pass out of reach for a 40-30 lead. He finishes the game by sprinting on to a Berdych drop shot and duping him with a forehand down the line when it looked like he would go crosscourt.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 1-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Djokovic’s anger flares when he nets a forehand at 30-40 and he reacts by furiously tossing his racket to the ground. He’s lucky it didn’t hit a nearby line judge as it bounced up. He would have been facing automatic disqualification. Instead he’s given a code violation and once he’s cooled down, he earns another break point and converts it at the net. Ah.
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Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 0-1 Berdych (*denotes server): What a start to the third set from Berdych, who zooms a backhand down the line to earn three break points. And he takes it, a Djokovic forehand flying just past the baseline. It’s not over yet. Meanwhile Dominic Thiem has fought back from 5-3 down to 5-5 in the second set against David Goffin on Suzanne-Lenglen.
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Novak Djokovic wins the second set to lead 6-3, 7-5!
Alarm bells are ringing when Djokovic wins the first point and it’s not long before it’s 0-30, an unbalanced Berdych knocking a backhand long. A lengthy rally ensues, both men straining for dominance, but it ends when a Berdych backhand is called long by the umpire. Here come three set points for Djokovic and he only needs one, Berdych sending a forehand wide. Resistance was futile.
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Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-5 Berdych (*denotes server): Djokovic glides into a 40-0 lead with expert drop shots. Andy Murray, take note. He holds to love and Berdych will have to serve to force a tie-break.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 5-5 Berdych* (*denotes server): Even if Berdych loses this set, at least he’s avoided total humiliation, which was looking on the cards at one stage. The winners are flowing now – he’s hit 19 – and he holds to love with an ace down the middle.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 5-4 Berdych (*denotes server): An angry Djokovic regains his focus, holding to love.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 4-4 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych has become more aggressive in the past 10 minutes or so and he muscles his way into a 40-0 lead here. He holds to love. Djokovic’s level has dipped.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 4-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Djokovic plays a couple of loose shots for the first time and lets Berdych take a 0-30 lead. Berdych’s eyes light up. He attacks, barrelling forward to punish a short ball with a firm forehand to earn three break points, his first of the match. He can’t take the first two, missing a backhand and a forehand, but it’s third time lucky for Berdych, who breaks back when Djokovic sends a forehand long! That was surprising.
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Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 4-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): The first two points are shared, before Berdych wins the next two to lead 40-15. He holds with a punchy forehand.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 4-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to 30. “The commentators are practically salivating at Djokovic’s so-called hot performance, but on watching this I would say it’s more a case of same old script from Berdych,” says Terri Hills. “Why does Tomas Berdych invariably roll-over to the top players? I think the commentators are making too much of this – and sense that when Djokovic plays someone who actually turns-up, he will face much more resistance.” Berdych is too one-note against the best players. Big forehand, big serve, but not much variety and he doesn’t move well enough. He knows he has to go for it on virtually every point against Djokovic - or Murray - and that leads to errors. I agree with you, Djokovic certainly wouldn’t be having this much fun against Wawrinka or Murray. Meanwhile Thiem has broken back in the second set against Goffin.
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Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 3-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds to 15. As an aside, Djokovic has a 4-0 winning record over David Goffin, who leads by a set and a break against Dominic Thiem.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 3-0 Berdych (*denotes server): David Goffin has taken the first set 6-4 off Dominic Thiem. Two more sets and he’ll probably get to play Novak Djokovic tomorrow. Lucky David!
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Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 2-0 Berdych* (*denotes server): At 0-15, Djokovic, an intense look in his eyes, wallops a forehand down the line. It almost knocks Berdych off his feet. It’s 0-30 and he’s being floored in every sense. The next point is brutal. He pummels Berdych from the baseline, then he taunts him with a drop shot winner to earn three break points. Berdych, utterly frazzled, double-faults. Oh dear.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 1-0 Berdych (*denotes server): “Your US fan checking in,” says Olga. “I am surprised at the dearth of fans at both venues. Lenglen is almost empty. I hope you will check in with the Thiem v Goffin match too. Thiem and Zverev are future stars. Goffin is so talented, but is too small for the bigger guys. I am in mourning since it could have been Nadal v Thiem today.” It’s been a tight match over there - there have been two breaks apiece and Dominic Thiem is serving to stay in the first set with David Goffin 5-4 up. Back on Philippe-Chatrier, Djokovic holds to 15.
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Novak Djokovic wins the first set 6-3!
Berdych has to hold serve to stay in the set, but Djokovic is all over him, forcing errors to earn two set points. He’s ruthless, pinging a forehand from right to left, Berdych stretching and sadly slicing into the net. This is all rather predictable.
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First set: Djokovic* 5-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych is making too many errors in the blustery conditions. He takes a 0-15 lead in this game, asserting himself with some powerful hitting and a timely approach to the net, but three errors lift Djokovic into a 40-15 lead. Djokovic polishes the game off with a forehand pass down the line.
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First set: Djokovic 4-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): The sense grows that Djokovic is beginning to move through the gears as he takes a 0-15 lead with a vicious forehand, moving Berdych out of position before picking his spot. Soon it’s 0-30, Berdych rapping a backhand wide, a sign he’s losing patience, and Djokovic seizes two break points with a wicked inside-out forehand. He’s returning brilliantly now. He reads a Berdych serve out wide and responds by blasting a crosscourt forehand past him for the break. “With regards Zadok’s point about an unfair advantage,” says Arran Morrison. “I’m sure Petr Cech was interviewed about his luminous strips at Chelsea a couple years back, and said that when a player is one-on-one with him, the brightness makes him appear bigger and more obvious, and therefore putting the attacker off slightly.”
First set: Djokovic* 3-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Djokovic hasn’t been troubled on serve yet. He plays four immaculate points to hold to love, making Berdych run and taking advantage of the Czech’s inferior defensive ability.
First set: Djokovic 2-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych loses the first point on his serve for the first time, hooking a forehand wide on the run. Yet he remains calm, winning the next four points to hold to 15. A promising start for the seventh seed. Can he keep it going?
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First set: Djokovic* 2-2 Berdych (*denotes server): A few too many misses from Berdych at the moment. He’s pushing harder than Djokovic but he’s doing the world No1’s job for him at times. Djokovic easily holds to 15.
First set: Djokovic 1-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych finally makes a backhand down the line, showing fine defensive skills to reach a Djokovic drop shot and prod a winner down the line for 15-0. He holds to 15 thanks to some solid serving. “On the subject of Berdych’s (et al’s) ridiculous outfits - at what point does an outfit create unfair advantage?” wonders Zadok Prescott. “Moving zebra patterns have been proven to create confusion?”
First set: Djokovic* 1-1 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych begins this game positively, but he can’t quite find his range with a backhand down the line, the ball dropping inches wide. A similar miss takes Djokovic to 30-15, but the world No1 might be slightly worried about how well Berdych is striking the ball. Then again, maybe not. Djokovic wins the next point, making it 40-15, with canny use of the drop shot and he holds to 15 via a lucky net cord.
First set: Djokovic 0-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): With Philippe-Chatrier no more than half full, the match begins. Tomas Berdych is serving first and he charges into a 40-0 lead, clunking an ace and a forehand winner past Djokovic. He almost lets Djokovic back into it with a couple of sloppy points but he holds to 30 when the world No1 knocks a forehand long.
Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up. Novak Djokovic is in a red top and black shorts. Tomas Berdych is dressed as a zebra.
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There’s talk that we could have heavy rain in the next two hours. But it’s clear for the time being. “My interpretation of your preamble was that Mr. Djokovic’s opponent has a Leicester’s Chance of winning this match,” says Mac Millings. “I therefore - never one to be last on a bandwagon or gravy train (nor have I ever missed a boat) - promptly went out with the intention of putting a fiver on Mr. Berdych at the enticing odds of 5000-1. However, upon arrival at my local bookmaking establishment, I was informed in no uncertain terms that those would not be the odds, that he was [procreating] sick of [intimate areas] like me who suddenly thought that all underdogs could and would make them 25,000 [procreating] quid without trying, and that I could “[Procreate off] you [procreating onanist].” While I regret little about my jaunt to the high street, in hindsight I probably shouldn’t have pointed out the oxymoronic nature of the phrase “procreating onanist” until I was at least out of fistshot. Live and learn, I suppose.”
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Tomas Berdych wanders on court, swiftly followed by Novak Djokovic. There’s a sparse crowd out on Phillipe-Chatrier. Because who’d want to arrive on time for a grand slam quarter-final?
Preamble
Bonjour! You could be forgiven for wondering what the point of all this is. Do they really have to play this one? Can’t we just say that Novak Djokovic is in the semi-final now and let him rest up for either David Goffin or Dominic Thiem? Today he plays Tomas Berdych for the 26th time. He’s only lost to the Czech twice, at Wimbledon in 2010 and in Rome in 2013, and he’s on a run of 10 straight wins against him.
But there’s always a but. If Berdych watched any of Djokovic’s win over Roberto Bautista Agut, he will have seen an off-colour performance from the world No1, who struggled with the weather delays and the soggy conditions. Berdych has been playing well after splitting with Dani Vallverdu following a love-love defeat to Goffin a couple of weeks ago, dismantling David Ferrer in straight sets, and he’s strong enough to hit through these heavy balls. Let’s not get carried away. Djokovic leads the head-to-head 23-2 and he wins even when he doesn’t play well. But you never know.
Play begins: 12pm BST.
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