Here’s the reports from today at Roland Garros.
Kei Nishikori is already a set up on Avignon’s Benoît Paire, winning that 6-2. There’s a possibility that match could be completed by the end of the day, but here is where we close the blog for today. See you tomorrow for more. Thanks for reading.
Stephens beats Muguruza 6-4 6-3!
Stephens climbs up to 30-0 against an opponent who looks to have lost her mojo completely. She is, though, wrong-footed and plays a loose shot when she gets drawn into a long baseline rally. It goes to 30-15. Then comes some powerful hitting to force two match points. Muguruza saves the first with a smart return of Stephens’ second serve. Then deuce is forced by some more decent baseline hitting from the Spaniard. Nerves kicking in? She forces another match point with her own brand of long hitting. Then back to deuce when she gets too impatient and plays an attempted winner beyond the line. Muguruza then presents Stephens with another match point when missing a winner that was going begging. At least she saves the next with a lashing, risky winner. Then forces a break point with a shot down the line. Real nerve from her, a lifeline is in her grasp. Stephens hits a timely ace for another deuce. Then comes a loose shot from Muguruza for a fifth match point of this game. The first serve hit the net, then the second forces an error from Muguruza. The American goes through.
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Stephens will serve for the match. She gets 30-0 up on Muguruza’s serve, then comes to the net to force break point with a bludgeoning passing shot. And then Stephens’ return is whipped too close to Muguruza, who can only hit into the net.
Kei Nishikori, the seventh seed, and Benoit Paire, the Frenchman, are in action on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. They were made to wait by the epic that preceded it. Stephens and Muguruza has gone with serve again, so it’s 4-3 to the American.
Muguruza holds her serve despite Stephens trying her best to break. A couple of wild shots cost her that chance. It’s 3-3 in the second set.
Stephens serves to go 3-2 up. Now to put pressure on her opponent’s serve.
Avitaj emails in about that Wawrinka, Tsitsipas game: “Very rarely am I made to question my belief that no sport can match football for the drama it can conjure. This match was a rare exception. Give me this sort of real life twists and turns drama over Game of Thrones anyday. Neither player really deserved to lose, but the person most pleased with the outcome is probably Federer considering the length of the match.”
Game of the tournament so far?
In the remaining singles game of the day, Stephens and Muguruza has gone with serve in the second set, where it’s 2-2.
Wawrinka beats Tsitsipas 7-6 6-7 6-4 3-6 8-6!
Something must break, to quote dear old Ian Curtis. Tsitsipas wafts a baseline shot out of play, and then hits a backhand into the net. Then makes another error, to hand two match points to Warwinka. Tsitsipas smashes his own face in rage, then forces an error to get it back to 30-40. And then a thrashing, rather desperate backhand passing shot from Wawrinka catches Tsitsipas unawares. The umpire has to get down from his seat to point out where it landed. The older man by 14 years wins. Truly amazing. Tsitsipas storms off. Over five hours of work has come to nothing.
5 hours, 9 minutes. 1 amazing tennis match.@stanwawrinka outlasts Tsitsipas 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2019
🎾 https://t.co/YBfhOfEkVk#RG19 pic.twitter.com/2Ql6Rz92on
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Wawrinka looks more comfortable now, and one drop shot to go 30-15 up has Tsitsipas struggling all over the place. He goes 7-6 up. The crowd sounds rowdy and refreshed, especially so after a disputed line call on a Wawrinka save.
Tsitsipas plays out a fairly regulation hold and now it’s time to put the pressure on that Wawrinka serve. It’s 6-6 in the final set and there is no tie-breaker, unlike the rest of the majors. This match now into its sixth hour.
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Right, that’s us - John Brewin is here to take you through to the end.
On Chatrier, Stephens has broken Muguruza for 5-3. It’s warming right up there.
What a match this is.
A comfortable hold for Tsitsipas and it’s 5-5; this set, he’s the one pushing the pace, trying things, while Wawrinka is turning it up when he has to - at 0-15, he introduces some forehand to proceedings, then after a backhand to backhand, round comes the forehand again. The level of fitness it takes - both physical and mental - to do this, is absolutely awesome, and I actually mean “awesome” as in something which generates awe, rather than just “very good”. Anyway, Wawrinka goes long and suddenly Tistsipas has break point ... can he keep it forehand? Yes he can, but so can Wawrinka! He smashes two when Tsitsipas comes to the net, and the second is just too much despite a dive. Brilliant! Not brilliant! A double fault, and another chance for yerman ... which he wastes, carting a forehand from the centre of the baseline outside the line - he’s now 5/27 on break points, but Wawrinka nets a backhand and here comes another! Ach! Tsitsipas goes wide of the line, just, and round again! But check out the big balls on Stan! He powers through, and at 5-6 Tsitsipas will now serve to stay in it once more! Phew!
We’ve been going four hours 42 minutes when Tsitsipas comes out to serve to stay in the competition. Effort, lads.
Stephens has broken Muguruza back, but will need to inject more pop into her serve if she’s to get anywhere.
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Tsitsipas holds again again he’s ticking but in a good way, quickly getting 0-15 via backhand down the line. So Wawrinka turns it up and makes 30-15, then blasts his way to the game. This is unrelenting, intense, incredible stuff!
Muguruza leads Stephens 3-2 with a break and looks exceedingly up for it.
“As this tournament has gone on my initial call that Muguruza’s trainers were cool looks vindicated,” emails Chris Collinson. “There have been some truly dire outfits since then - and those white Nike trainers you gave a no to look pretty duff to me as well. Call the style police!”
Joan Rivers is turning in her grave. The ones I posted earlier were Nadal’s and are a total disgrace.
Tsitsipas is going to win this unless he chucks away his serve or Wawrinka hits a streak on his serve. He’s playing better and running harder, elements which are linked, so without a breaker to split them, it’s impossible not to go for the younger man. That said, both men hold - Wawrinka is still in front, by 4-3.
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“Your tennis coach mate seems unduly biased against one-handers,” tweets @SiberianTraps. “Fed, Stan, Thiem, Tstitsipas, didn’t become top 10-ers and/or grand slam champs with weak backhands.”
It’s all relative, isn’t it? If you’re playing those lads, which wing are you targeting? I don’t see how you’re getting the same power and control as you do with two, either.
Stephens is on the board against Muguruza, eventually winning a game that lasted almost 10 minutes. It’s 2-1 now.
Wawrinka gets to 40-15 but without convincing, and it’s not surprising when he ends up at deuce. This is a chance to Tistsipas, and he’s not waiting to be asked! A deep backhand is enough for his 23rd break point - he’s only taken five all match - and loses this one too, going down the line and wide with a forehand when cross-court was the play. Anyway, Tsitsipas soon earns another with another deep groundstroke, but Wawrinka’s serve is too good, setting up the winner. He then closes out the game, but only just, Tsitsipas botching a point that was near enough won to cede advantage.
Tsitsipas is the better player now, holding to 15 and ratcheting up the pressure on Wawrinka’s next service game. Wawrinka isn’t hitting as hard as earlier, meaning he can run around his backhand more easily.
On Chatrier, Muguruza breaks immediately to love, the consolidates to 15. She might just be running into form.
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Tsitsipas holds easily, but then with Wawrinka at 40-30, he loses focus with the court open so goes long and has to play a deuce. He takes it easily, and the players share a laugh with the crowd in the meantime, but in forrin I’m afraid. 2-1 Wawrinka.
My tennis coach mate is back on Tsitsipas, saying he can improve his serve but probably not his backhand. “You don’t really see much improvement in a player’s groundstroke past his age. Not in terms of it going from being alright to being good. You occasionally see not so good to solid, but not really beyond that, and just the physicality of a one-hander means it has a low ceiling for how good it can be.”
Chatrier is almost empty as Muguruza and Stephens get to it. People.
I am not having these.
Stephens and Muguruza are at the net, Muguruza playing air shots in intimidating style, as she does.
He wakes up, punishing a succession of groundstrokes until he can come in to paste a backhand winner down the line. But he then gives Tsitsipas a look at a second serve ... only for Tsitsipas to swipe a miserable effort wide. And what a serve Wawrinka delivers to reach égalité, out wide to the backhand, followed by an ace to the forehand side. Maybe he did actually have the power-nap, because there’s another ace!
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Suddenly, Tsitsipas is dictating, powering to 0-30 - Wawrinka looks like he could use a power-nap. And when he goes long with a backhand, he can feel the match slipping away - what does he have left?
My days they’re spoiling us: Stephens-Muguruza is almost upon us.
Wawrinka gathers himself, letting the game go inasmuch as he had that choice to prepare for the decider. A love hold for Tsitsipas, and he’ll now play just the third fifth set of his career. I feel exhausted just looking at them, and what a match this has been, everythig we hoped it’d be.
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Meanwhile, on Lenglen, Wawrinka has invited Tsitsipas to serve for it.
Nadal beats Londero 6-2 6-3 6-3
He plays Nishikori or Paire next - all the best, lads.
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And he does. 5-2 Tsitsipas, while on Chatrier, Nadal leads 5-3; Londero, though, has made him fight for it.
Wow, what is what from Wawrinka! Three unforced errors and he’s broken again! If Tsitsipas can consolidate for 5-2, we’ll be set for the decider we deserve.
We’ve seen all of Stefanos Tistsipas out there today. His forehand is to die for, his game intelligence is excellent, his volleying is good ... but he needs more free points on his serve and to improve a backhand that’s decent but a weakness at this level. It takes a lot, technically, mentally and tactically, to hang with Wawrinka in this form, and he’s given him plenty. Whatever the outcome, he’ll be a better play for this row, and given how good he already is, when you see how much improving he has to do, you realise how good he can be.
Ey up, Wawrinka has 0-30. But Tsitsipas smites a forehand winner and garbles invective to celebrate, then wins the next point too, reaching 40-30 without playing a backhand. And when he does, he floats one into the net! Oh dear. And look at that! On advantage Wawrinka, he races into the net and just need to get the ball over it, but can’t help punching it instead ... and it flies wide! Wawrinka is back in the set!
Wawrinka is on the board in set four trailing 1-3; Nadal leads Londero 4-1.
Tsitsipas’ forehand is dictating now, bringing him back from 15-40 to consolidate. He leads 3-0, and it looks like we’re going to have waselves a decider.
Well who saw that coming? Nadal breaks Londero, and leads 2-1 in set three. After he finishes it off, sometime in the next half hour, we’ve got the joy of Stephens-Muguruza.
Ah, excellent - Abhijato Sensarma is back. “Stefanos’ surname is pronounced as ‘tseat-see-pass’... Created a bit of confusion at first, but I had grown accustomed to it by the time his epic showdown v Federer came to an end in the Australian Open. I’m pretty sure that soon, the rest of the world will grow accustomed to it too!”
Believe. I was going for a shorter vowel sounds.
An easy hold for Tsitsipas opens set four - he needs more of them and, more pertinently, more free service points. Anyway, when Wawrinka has a go they end up at deuce, and man could Tsitsipas use this. A belting forehand gives him a chance, but he has just 3/15 in the match, so ... and he wafts a backhand wide. But it doesn’t matter because his forehand comes to saves him. What a shot it is, the clincher sent from backhand corner to backhand corner, and I almost feel ill from over-indulgence; fantastic stuff. Tsitsipas leads 2-0.
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In the meantime, the court’s been spruced - it should play more like hard now.
Tsitsipas has gone for a lag.
“Which will take more time -- the completion of this match, or making every person in the stadium correctly pronounce Tsitsipas’ name?” asks Abhijato Sensarma.
How does one pronounce it? Is it not as it reads?
A lovely forehand winner from Tsitsipas gives him 30-15, but another point to Wawrinka means the set is almost his ... then a serve down the middle, a desperate return ... and the ball soars over the baseline. Wawrinka leads Tsitsipas by two sets to one!
Nadal holds serve and now leads Londero 2-0. I’ve got a real feeling for him in this one.
Tsitsipas fights back from 0-30 to 30-all, then finds himself facing set point ... so rams a serve out wide and stretches into a lovely volley at the net at Wawrinka goes cross-court. Glorious. Less so, though, is the backhand volley that goes long to cede another set point ... but Tsitsipas just rams another serve out wide, anticipates Wawrinka will go down the line, and there’s another perfect volley. This time, he capitalises, forcing Wawrinka to serve for the set at 5-4.
Wawrinka attacks the Tsitsipas backhand and consolidates easily enough.
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Obviously, Nadal is now 5-2 up in the second set against Lodero.
Wawrinka rinses and inside-out backhand down the line and Tsitsipas applauds, then is warned for taking too long over his serve. A double-fault follows and Wawrinks looks sets for 0-40 when he goes to pile a forehand down the line ... except what a backhand volley Tsitsipas finds at the net, and his applause is reciprocated. But suddenly Wawrinka is hot, and another forehand down the line gives him two break points ... he only needs one, when a net cord entices Tsitsipas to swipe miles away from anywhre, towards Versailes. 4-3 Wawrinka.
At 30-15, Tsitsipas has a chance, on the T and dominating the rally, but the ball flicking the net confounds him and the game is over shortly afterwards.
Lodero is enjoying himself against Nadal; they’re 2-2 in set two.
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Wawrinka quickly makes it 2-2 and then, at 0-15, he mass-murders a backhand cross-court. Quickly, it’s 15-40, but just as quickly it’s deuce, and Tsitsipas then cleans up the game. His ability to play the big points naturally is very special.
Brilliant from Tsitsipas, who saves a break point with a dashing forehand then quickly polishes off the game - thanks in part to a volley so good Wawrinka applauded.
Lovely shot from @StefTsitsipas 👌
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 2, 2019
Applauded by @stanwawrinka 👏#RG19 pic.twitter.com/VXgBl6vyAQ
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I wonder if Tsitsipas will be the next new name on a major trophy. I doubt it’ll be this one and I’m not sure it’ll be soon, because I don’t see him beating Nadal on clay or Djokovic on anything else, but he’s the first player I’ve seen the ability and mentality to succeed the existing hegemony. Two quick holds open set three.
Tsitsipas reminds me of McEnroe, in that when he loses his rag it doesn’t distract him - rather, he’s able to reset and play brilliantly.
“According to the Franco-Swiss commentators on Swiss TV,” emails James Ferguson, “Tsitsipas broke a racket out of anger during the break at 5-4 to get a warning. And he could have lost that long Wawrinka service game earlier when he hit a shot into the stands after a rally ended to give Stan the advantage. Stan argued with the chair, saying it should have been a second warning, i.e. a penalty of a point. He had a point ... but then we would have missed all those amazing subsequent rallies!”
Stan the grass, dearie me. I now know who I want to win this match.
On Chatrier it’s much more sedate: Nadal breaks again to give him the first set 6-2.
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Lovely from Tsitsipas, consecutive banging forehands giving him 15-30. But a wild forehand brings Tsitsipas level ... only for a backhand down the line to give him set point number six ! Wawrinka goes wide with a backhand ... and there it is! One set each, and we’ve been going two hours and 11 minutes!
Here’s yer Federer report...
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Brilliant from Tsitsipas, calmly making it 6-5. This set’s been loads better than the first, which wasn’t bad itself.
On Chatrier, Nadal survived a long service-game of his own, and now leads 4-2.
Tsitsipas gets to 15-40, and two set points - he is, er, pumped. And amped. He gets a soft second serve to attack, the wind dips it under his racket, and said racket french kisses the clay by way of remonstration; that’ll teach it Stefanos. Tsitsipas then goes long with a forehand, and it’s deuce. Tsitsipas is proper ticking, a-cursin’ an’ a-cussin’, when he saves a game point, and he quickly finds another set point. AND LOOK AT THAT! Amazing de-fence from Tsitsipas - wind-assisted, probably, the ball holding up every time he gives it air - but then Wawrinka loses patience, chopping a drop that leaves him standing. Amazing.
The shot heard around the world....@stanwawrinka brings Lenglen to its feet!#RG19 pic.twitter.com/6BvbDxVqvq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2019
Both players are angry now, and Wawrinka has a prolonged exchange with the umpire, asking that Tsitsipas have a point taken off, the grass, before attempting to close out. He cannot, and a backhand flies wide to hand Tsitsipas a further set point; a colossal forehand hauls it away from him. But Tsitsipas is such a competitor, and a succession of forehands take the next point; obviously an ace down the middle brings us back to deuce. What a game this is, what players these two are, and perhaps the entire match is right here. Wawrinka closes out a 13-minuter for 5-5, and can Tsitsipas raise it again?
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Londero is on the board, and it’s now 3-1 Nadal.
Tsitsipas has been warned for unsportsmanlike conduct, but no one seems to know what he did. I bet it was terrible!
Stan fights back immediately and brings up 30-40. But Tsitsipas outlasts him in the next rally and a forehand goes into the net - an unforced error by definition, but pressure is pressure. Still, Wawrinka earsn himself another go and Tsitsipas dominates the rally, his forehand humming. But he eschews a volley and yerman doesn’t need to be asked twice, ripping a backhand pass to break back a second time this set. Things are getting hot.
Guess what, pals! Nadal breaks Londero immediately, and leads 2-0.
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From 40-30, Tsitsipas plays two impeccable points - his forehand is booming - then messes up his breaking chance but unloading the suitcase at a return. He gets another chance though ... and have a look! A belting forehand - another one, which suggests he changed his tactics for this game - screeches past Wawrinka, and yerman will now serve for one set all!
“The tennis he’s playing is predictable ... it’s just so right,” says Mats on Tsitsipas, which is interesting. There’s a similar element in cricket, featuring bowlers with lovely actions - Brett Lee, say - who are easier to play than bowlers with messy actions - Wasim Akram, say - because they give you a good look at the ball.
A hold apiece on Lenglen; Tsitsipas leads 4-3 in set two and looks the likelier, but there’s not much in it.
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“So nice to see Stan healthy and playing well again after recovering from his knee troubles,” emails James Ferguson. “But Tsitsipas is a really likeable and entertaining player as well - and have you ever seen someone else hit a tennis ball that changes direction in mid air like a Roberto Carlos free kick?”
Yep, these are a great bunch of lads, and extremely well-matched. The standard hasn’t quite taken off yet, but hopefully we’re getting there.
Out come Londero and Nadal.
It’s extremely windy on Lenglen, and Tsitsipas finds himself losing a point which gives Wawarinks deuce from 40-0. Wawrinka then punishes a return ... and another! We’re back on serve at 3-2, and how Tsitsipas will regret the 40-0 point when he tried an expansive forehand for his own pleasure.
Londero and Nadal are imminent. I reckon the Spanish lad might edge that one.
On Lenglen, has the tide turned? Tsitsipas is such an emotional competitor but such a strong competitor. It means he play with flair and feel, while putting errors behind him, and he forces a point for a double break. Wawrinka, who’s not hitting the ball as hard as before - unsurprising, because he’s not in the greatest shape, even for him - saves it, but soon faces another. He saves that too, earns a game point, and polishes it off with an ace.
Federer will play Wawrinka or Tsitsipas next. Good luck, lads.
Federer beats Mayer 6-2 6-3 6-3
That win was so comprehensive the government are thinking about defunding it and various middle-class parents have opened a free school around the corner.
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Excellent from Tsitsipas, who consolidates; on Chaterier, Federer is serving for it.
A tennis coach mate of mine notes that one-handed backhands - of which both these lads are exponents - are crap, 15% flashy winners. If they’re so good, why do these two keep hitting it to each other’s backhand?”
A long forehand gives Tsitsipas break point, so Wawrinka canes down a service winner. Easy. But Tsitsipas then crafts a lovely point; they hit corner to corner, until he powers down the line, comes in, and lets one drop out with impeccable judgment. But he can’t convert, can’t convert again ... then a net-cord help him out. This time, a huge forehand into the backhand corner is good enough, and there’s the first break of the match! Tsitsipas (6)6-7 2-0 Wawrinka.
Federer breaks and consolidates. He leads 5-2 in the third.
Tsitsipas begins set two with a love hold; can he make an impression on Wawrinka’s?
Mayer has just held onto his serve under all sorts of pressure. He still trails by two sets to love, but it’s 2-2 in the third.
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Thanks John. Tsitsipas has lost sets in each of his last two matches, but neither was against a player of this calibre. He looked to be in control of that breaker, but arsed it up and now he’s got bare work to do.
The first set is won by Wawrinka, whose heavy serve gives him a set point chance, and then Tsitsipas double faults. Oof. That’s a gift when there is so little between the two of them. Tsitsipas turns the air blue again, as well he might. That was a mess of his own making.
Tsitsipas gets a mini-break to go 3-2 up after Stan wallops a winner wide, then forces his opponent into an error that takes it to 4-2 before his attempt to lob up a backhand fails. That makes it 4-3, and the set looks to be going to the wire as it goes to 4-4 when Wawrinka steps out of the way of a long baseline hit from Tsitsipas, who begins to voice his frustration with himself as it goes to 5-4 to Stan. Some great work forces Wawrinka into the back of the court before he cannot get to a smashed winner to make it 5-5. Then, Wawrinka has to do more chasing before committing the error that hands Tsitsipas set point at 6-5. He misses his first serve, and that gives Wawrinka chance to hit a passing shot to go to 6-6.
As predicted, Tsitsipas and Wawrinka goes into a tie-break. There is very little between the two at the moment. Federer holds his serve to go 1-0 up in the third set. Tsitsipas says a rude word as he makes a mess of a shot to go 0-2 down in the tiebreaker, but then battles back to blast a winner and gets back to 2-2.
Federer claims two set points on Mayer, and wins on the second, to go two sets up. It’s 6-2 6-3 and Fed looks on course for an easy passage. Wawrinka and Stefanos Tsitsipas is heading towards a tie break with the Swiss No. 2 leading the set 6-5, but the Greek player looking handy with his service game.
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Here’s the wire report on Konta’s success, with Kevin Mitchell’s piece to follow later.
Big Stan is serving well and goes 5-4 up, such that Tsitsipas needs to hold his serve or lose the set. Federer has rather more difficulty, and is taken to deuce by Mayer, before then claiming the game to go 5-3 up in the second set.
Mayer manages to hold his serve against Federer but is still a break down the second set at 4-3 to the Swiss meister. Tsitsipas serves out to go 4-4 with Wawrinka but breaks his racket in the process.
Right, I’m off for some dinner; John Brewin will chill with you for the next thirty or so.
Tsitsipas gets to 0-30 only for Wawrinka to level things, but then Tsitsipas opens up the court to spank a forehand into the backhand corner, set off for the net and despatch the approach. All that earns him the first break point of the match, but Wawrinka saves it and quickly closes out, sealing the deal with an ace.
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Federer consolidates. Meanwhile, on Lenglen, Tsitsipas, who looks like he plays for Melchester Rovers in the 70s, holds to 15. This one hasn’t caught fire yet because the serving’s been too good.
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Federer opens the second set by breaking to love. Cheers for coming, Leonardo.
The players exchange backhands - it’s glorious - so glorious that a bird flies across the net to admire. At Wimbledon, that’d be appreciated as the most hilarious gag ever rendered, but some how the humour doesn’t translate to French; they replay the point and that’s that. But what’s this?! Cliff Richard is singing Je ne regrette rien!
A love hold for Tsitsipas. He’s so lovely to watch, always looking for backhands, volleys and angles.
That was ok, I suppose. Federer lazily swats a high volley and that’s the first set to him, 6-2.
Mayer forces - ok, “forces” Federer to serve for it at 5-2, while Wawrinka is serving first in the other match. He does so really well, holding to 15, and I chastise myself for liking the look of Tsitsipas to win but both players to win a set. If Wawrinka plays well, he’s still too good (probably).
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Federer now leads 5-1 - it turns out he’s quite good at tennis. On Lenglen, Tsitsipas, whose mates, I hope, call him Tzitzit, and Wawrinka are warming up.
“Lovely lazy Sunday afternoon for watching the tennis,” says Luke Forrester. “In stark contrast to certain other sports currently taking place (*cough*Cricket World Cup*cough*), the French Open is on free-to-air TV – in fact, if you have a digital package which includes Eurosport, then you have the choice of two channels on which to watch it. I’ve plumped for Eurosport over ITV4, on account of the irritating peloton advert which airs during Every. Single. Ad break. I’m going to have Bloc Party stuck in my head for the rest of the day.”
I’d agree - I’m on Eurosport too.
Back to Konta, she played really well today, despatching a decent opponent with relative ease. She’s finding the best way to use what she has and conceal that which she doesn’t have, hitting well into the corners, especially off her forehand, and putting her opponent under pressure over and over again.
Federer has consolidated so leads Mayer 2-0. Next, we’ve got Tsitsipas-Wawrinka, the match of the tournament so far, by far. Ok then, go on.
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Konta says she feels very fortunate for the way she played - pretty well throughout the match - and says she and Vekic played some good matches together. She knew it could go either way, so tried to focus on the good stuff she did.
Konta beats Vekic 6-2 6-4!
Vekic earns the chance to hit a winner but then goes cross-court with the gap down the line; 15-0. Next an ace, then another service winner, and Vekic goes long! Having never won a match in Paris, Konta is now in the quarter-finals, her fourth in slams, and she’ll play Stephens or Muguruza!
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Sauce from Konta! She gets to 0-40 and Vekic fights back to 30-40, only for a drop to seal the game! Konta will now serve for the match!
They’re underway on Chatrier, where Federer has broken Mayer in the first game of the match.
Konta’s forehand cross-court has worked really well today and it gets her 40-15. But then a long forehand followed by a backhand winner for Vekic gives us deuce, and I wonder if the match will be settled right here. Konta punishes a backhand winner cross-court with Vekic expecting down the line but Vekic hangs in there, saving game point, and when Konta goes long with another forehand cross-court, entices a further error! We’re back on serve at 4-4, Konta by one set to love.
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Well lookee here! Konta puts the pressure on Vekic’s serve and Vekic cannae cope. At 30-40 a forehand goes long and this is nearly over! Konta leads 6-2 3-2.
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Fifth time is the charm.....
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2019
Petra Martic celebrates her first career Grand Slam quarter-final in five attempts with a 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over Kaia Kanepi.
🎾 https://t.co/7mM6cVEJqV#RG19 pic.twitter.com/tp1XukheYQ
Out come Federer and Mayer. The court is much fuller now, the various mevinim weirdly happy to have missed a belter that they paid to watch. People.
Vekic is fighting hard, and holds to 30. Konta is playing really well here.
Next on Chatrier we’ve got Mayer-Federer. Don’t mind if I do.
That was a really enjoyable match, and Konta and Vekic are getting to it too. They’re 2-2 in the second.
Martic, who has never reached a slam quarter before, covers her face. She says that she’s waited so long for this moment, she doesn’t even want to think about how long - she’s 28, so. She then says that both players struggled because it meant so much, but she fought hard - and she really did. She plays Vondrousova next, and will need to up it another level to have a chance in that one.
Kanepi 7-5 2-6 4-6 Martic
Martic’s lobbing and retrieving has been first-rate today, and when she telegraphs then over-hits a drop, a gorgeous rendition of the former gets her out of trouble and gives her two match points! She only needs one! What a win that is, coming from a set down and then a break down in the final set, also fighting through some big-arse deuces.
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Konta around the net post to Vekic’s ankles ... and she deflects a winner into the opposite corner! That’s very nice, and it’s now 2-1 to her, Konta by one set to love.
Brilliant from Martic, taking advantage of some loose serving early in the game to retrieve brilliantly again, a lob getting her 0-40. Kanepi saves the first break point, but then Martic reads a drop and lifts a winner into the backhand corner. She’ll serve for the match in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
Vekic powers through her first service-game of set two and launches herself into Konta’s; it’s hard out there, but Konta is hard too, and from 30-all she sees it away.
Martic fights back from 15-40, only to chuck in a double at advantage ... and another at deuce! Gosh. But Kanepi goes long with a forehand ... then Martic works a chance to run around her backhand and go down the line ... but misses. She saves another break point though, and this has been a really fun match – the standard isn’t the highest but the levels are similar, and the drama is amping up. Martic finally secures a gigantic hold fo fo fo, and you’d not be surprised to see her break next up.
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“From what you are seeing, who is playing better -- relative to their best potential ability/talent -- among the top three,” asks Keith. “Federer Nole and Nadal. Nadal dropping a set: any significance to his form? Due to age/injuries?”
It’s hard to say. I guess Nadal will eventually drop off, but I’d not read too much into the Goffin match. Djokovic looks good so far, and I’d expect him to get to the final, but you just can’t back against Nadal, just as you can’t really back against Djokovic at Wimbledon or Flushing Meadow.
Meanwhile, there’s another long one in progress on Lenglen. With the set apparently lost, Vekic relaxes and starts hitting, getting herself 0-30. Konta closes to 30-all before a forehand winner earns break point ... only for Konta to find a winner of her own. We go backwards and forwards with break points and deuces, Konta showing great control to find her best tennis on the biggest points; eventually she forces herself through, holding to win the first set 6-2.
Martic curses herself after Kanepi saves two break points; Martic then saves game point before a backhand onto the line from Kanepi saves a third break point. This might just be the crucial game of the match ... and Kanepi takes it after Martic works her position only to pick a poor drop-shot. 4-3 Kanepi in the decider.
Konta is looking good, breaking Vekic again for 5-2. She’ll serve for the set after change of ends.
Martic again takes her eye off it as Kanepi again ups it, and though she retrieves well, can’t keep coming from behind in rallies. Kanepi thrashes her way to two break points and it looks like Martic is going to find what she needs once more, saving one and putting herself in position to take the next ... before backhand onto the toes forces her to tee up a winner with a looping half-volley. Back on serve at 3-3 in the final set.
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Three successive holds after three successive breaks on Lenglen. Konta leads 4-2, and looked really confident in that last game.
At 2-2, Martic forces a break point, then tamely goes long with a forehand. Kanepi then nicks the top of the net and when Martic skips into her next return, does similar! Martic leads 3-2 in the decider, and so far in this match, has found the extra class when she’s really needed it.
Lovely from Konta. At 40-30, she cleanses a forehand down the line forcing Vekic to deuce. But Vekic holds it down, clinching the game with an ace down the middle. 2-3, Konta still with the break.
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On which point, I should add that it’s extremely hot out there. It’s hot in north London too, so I know how they feel.
Konta saves a break point to hold, and now leads Vekic 3-1. The standard isn’t the highest, but both players are showing signs of warmth.
Brilliant from Martic, coming back from 40-0 to deuce and in fine style, retrieving brilliantly to either hit winners or force errors. The latter gets her break-back point, but then a return off the frame ruins her hard work ... until Kanepi goes long with two booming forehands. It’s now 2-1 Kanepi in the decider and it looks like Martic, if she can stay focused, is the better player.
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...Martic saves one break point with a nice high volley at the net, but then nets a forehand. She fought so hard to get back into this, only to lose concentration. Meanwhile, Konta has broken Vekic again.
Huge hold for Kanepi, who not only needed it, but needed a convincing one too. And suddenly, she’s got three break points, hollering to the skies when a Martic forehand goes long...
Konta has got to be one of the least-fun players to watch, what with her interminable routines and general lack of sauce. I’m hoping that at some point all this becomes part of the entertainment - people grown on you and such - and she does well to fight back to 30-40 from 0-40 before hitting a slice into the net. 1-1.
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On Lenglen, Konta immediately earns two break points, and only needs one! Vekic goes wide with a forehand down the line, and it’s an iffy start to her first slam quarter.
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Martic holds to 15! She’s looking great out there now, and the match is level. Kanepi 7-5 2-6 Martic.
Konta and Vekic are on court knocking up, while on Chatrier, the tide has turned; another one of those table-tennis backhands, this time a drop, means that Martic has the double break and will shortly serve to make it one set apiece.
Yup, Martic is into this. She consolidates, and is hitting her groove.
As I was saying, Kanepi plays a loose service game and Martic is there to take advantage. 3-2 her in the second; Kanepi by one set to love.
Kanepi-Martic is so tight. It’s 2-2 now in the second, but I’d favour Kanepi whose hitting looks more solid.
Oh yes! That’s brilliant from Martic, scrabbling at at 0-40 to stay in the point with various moon balls, then dashing in to play a table-tennis backhand down the line for a winner. Back on serve in second, Kanepi by one set to love.
Game, set, match Vondrousova! She wins 6-2 6-0!
That’s a fine performance from the 19-year-old, who didn’t let Sevastova feel her way in and was ruthless when the weakness became apparent. She’ll play Kanepi or Martic next, and will fancy herself against either.
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Martic has made 12 forehand errors versus four by Kanepi, who blazes a forehand from the T for 0-30. Martic needs to have a think here, because she’s quickly facing three break points ... a double fault means Kanepi only needs one.
Eight games in a row for Vondrousova, who leads 6-2 5-0. Sevastova will serve to stay in it, but knows that it’s a stay of execution at best. On Chatrier, Kanepi has held in the first game of the second set.
And look at that! A clever lob gets Kanepi back into the rally, and she bangs away until Martic nets! Kanepi takes the first set 7-5, and Martic needs to find a way of moving her around so she can’t just sit down on her shot and blaze.
Meanwhile, on Chatrier, Kanepi leads 6-5 and 30-40...
Oh dear. Vondrousova hits a floaty drop and Sevastova trudges in only to somehow hit the top of the net. She’s three break points down, and looking extremely forlorn - perhaps the schedulers knew something. 6-2 4-0 it is.
Vondrousova has made 0 unforced backhand errors and Sevastova has made 14. Six games in a row for Vondrousova now; Konta and Vekic should get themselves ready.
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It’s nearly over on Lenglen. Vondrousova has broken Sevastova, who is playing like a diluted version of herself. She trails 2-6 0-2.
Martic and Kanepi are really well-matched, Kanepi bringing the power and Martic the touch. I wonder if Kanepi can keep hitting like this - if Martic can nab the first set, I’d expect her to take the second - but for now, it’s hard to pick between them at 5-5.
Four games in a row for Vondrousova, whose drop-shot game is bang on-point - which is a bad sign for Sevastova, who fancies herself at them too.
Kanepi and Martic are 4-4, but Martic’s racket is on its last warnin, very nearly introduced to the clay. In the meantime, Kanepi makes it 5-4.
Vondrousova is too for Sevastova at the moment and gets herself two points for the set. Sevastova saves the first, then then slides one over the net forcing Vondrousova wide ... only for her to run it down and clout a winner around the post and into the back corner! Vondrousova 6-2 Sevastova.
Vondrousova consolidates, and Sevastova will now have to serve to stay in the set.
Meanwhile on Lenglen, Vondrousova has broken again, synching it with another lovely drop. The angles she finds, with her forehand especially, are very pleasing indeed. She leads 4-2.
Kanepi is hitting it much harder than Martic, and brutal hitting off both wings equalises the break. 3-3, and this is brewing.
Vondrousova hasn’t won a game since the fall and she finds herself 15-40 down. A lovely drop saves one break point, but then a forehand into the net gives Sevastova her break back.
And there it is: Martic breaks Kanepi for 3-2.
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Vondrousova doesn’t seem to be paying her hand any mind, and she forces Sevastova to deuce before allowing her on the board with a hold. 3-1.
Kanepi and Martic are both looking in decent touch – it’s 2-2 there, but Martic is perhaps starting to assert herself.
It doesn’t look bad - a graze off the clay I think - and we’re quickly back underway.
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Vondrousova falls and hurts her hand – she has the trainer out.
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On Chatrier, Kanepi starts with a hold then pushes Martic to deuce, but she hangs on at we’re at 1-1.
Sevastova feels she’s a chance when a winner gives her 30-15, but a swinging lefty serve out to the backhand quickly reacquaints her with reality. Still, after an ace is confiscated following a mark-check, they end up at deuce, before Vondrousova brings it home. 3-0 her.
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There’s got to be a way of ensuring that the courts are full for these matches. There’s hardly anyone on either of them.
Sevastova played an absolute brute of a match on Friday, hanging in there to outlast Elise Mertens (3) 6-7 6-4 11-9, so she might have some tightness to shake, or some tiredness if it goes long. And Vondrousova breaks her immediately to lead 2-0.
Martic has looked in good touch here, beating good players - Jabeur and Mladenovic - with ease, then Karolina Pliskova, the number two seed, 3 and 3. At 28, she probably isn’t asserting herself as a force in the game, but might just have run into the form of her life.
Opening up, we’ve got Kanepi v Martic [31] on Chatrier and Vondrousova v Sevastova [12] on Lenglen. I’d have those the other way around, but we’re splitting class.
Preamble
Salut! We’ve got some serious gear going down today, with one absolute belter in men’s and women’s and plenty else besides.
Stefanos Tsitsipas v Stanislaw Wawrinka and Sloane Stephens v Garbine Muguruza are matches which not only pit two of the best players against each other, but the most inventive, graceful and compelling ones too. All four of them will feel they can do something here, and none of them wait to be asked.
And as well as that, we’ve got Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Nishikori v Paire, Vondrousova v Sevastova and Vekic v Konta.
On y va!
Men's singles
(1) Novak Djokovic v Alexander Zverev (5)
(4) Dominic Thiem v (10) Karen Khachanov
Stan Wawrinka (24) v Roger Federer (3)
(7) Kei Nishikori v Rafael Nadal (2)
Women's singles
Madison Keys (14) v Ashleigh Barty (8)
(3) Simona Halep v Amanda Anisimova
(7) Sloane Stephens v Johanna Konta (26)
Marketa Vondrousova v Petra Martic (31)
