That, then, is us – thanks all for your company, and please do join me tomorrow from 1pm BST for … Carlos Alcaraz [1] v Novak Djokovic [3] and Casper Ruud [4] v Alexander Zverev [22]. Decent!
Swiatek is delighted to reach her third Roland-Garros final in four years – it’s tough to play such a tough tournament, and she’s excited for Saturday now. Asked why Haddad Maia gave her more trouble than anyone else, she replies with “Oh my God!” then says she’s not sure so soon after the match but offers her leftyness, ability to hit with lots of spin – good for clay – and courage. She’s pleased to have played so well in the breaker, having not done so well in them recently, and asked if she’s changing anything for the final, reckons if you get there, you should keep doing what you’re doing and the aim is to treat it like any other match. She hopes for a good, entertaining match, then thanks the crowd even if she’s not sure they were shouting Bea or Iga, prior to addressing her countryfolk in Polish. Now, though, i guess she’s off for some lebowski, and we’ll see her again in the final.
Haddad Maia might just’ve made a breakthrough these last two weeks. She’s proved to herself that she can compete against anyone, and her power-touch game is very well-suited to Wimbledon.
Iga Swiatek [1] beats Beatriz Haddad Maia [14] 6-2 7-6(7)
Another fantastic match, finished by Swiatek’s forehand. One to the corner from the back, then another to the same corner from the net, and Haddad Maia looks gutted and well she might – she thought she was going to win that set, but the best players find their best tennis at the best moments, and Swiatek’s belief got her through that. She meets Muchova in the final, and if both play as they did today, that’ll be a serious contest.
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Swiatek 6-2 6-6 Haddad Maia (8-7) Oh yes! Backhands of impeccable length from Swiatek but then she unfathomably changes it up, a tentative forehand tempting her opponent to try for a forehand winner … and she nails it! Wow! It was there for her, but match-point down, she might’ve hedged; she did not, unloading the suitcase and reaping the rewards. Except Swiatek, playing from memory now, unleashes an awesome forehand cross-court, and now hasa second match point, this time on her own serve….
Swiatek 6-2 6-6 Haddad Maia (7-6) She can, and Haddad Maia quickly nets; I’ve not a clue who’s going to win this breaker because neither woman is playing consistently enough to look reliable. This isn’t as high quality a match as the first semi but it’s plenty exciting, and as i type that, Swiatek crouches low to send a glorious backhand winner spinning cross-court to raise match point….
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Swiatek 6-2 6-5 Haddad Maia (6-6) Haddad Maia botches a pretty simple putaway, but it shouldn’t discourage her because she was there to win that point and it wasn’t on her serve. But then she balloons a forehand that is, and that thing top players do – somehow win when apparently playing poorly – looks almost inevitable. Except Swiatek goes long again, so it’s set point Haddad Maia; can the world no1 find a first serve?
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Swiatek 6-2 6-5 Haddad Maia (3-5) Immediately, Swiatek retrieves the situation when Haddad Maia shanks a forehand long, but a long backhand shortly afterwards and it’s 5-3! Suddenly, a decider looks imminent!
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Swiatek 6-2 6-6 Haddad Maia (2-3) Oh yes! A backhand down the line, Swiatek’s security blanket, gets her out of trouble when down 0-1 and behind in the next rally – her forehand is giving her grief again – and so’s her ball-toss. Then, at 2-2, Haddad Maia hangs in there until the error comes, and will now serve a point in front with the mini-break…
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Swiatek 6-2 6-6 Haddad Maia* Swiatek goes long on the forehand, but then a good return onto the line forces her into the next rally and eventually – after a couple of good shotas, to be fair – Haddad Maia nets. And have a look! Swiatek coaxes a backhand down the line with love and force for a clean winner and 15-30 … only to wildly thrash a return to who knows where. Then, on 30-all, Swiatek misses the sideline by fractions with an inside-out backhand, before Haddad Maia monsters a forehand down the line to earn her breaker, and isn’t she pleased with herself for that!
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Swiatek* 6-2 6-5 Haddad Maia A love-hold for Swiatek, who looked really purposeful in that game. I’d not be at all surprised if she finishes the match with a break when Haddad Maia serves in a sec.
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Swiatek 6-2 5-5 Haddad Maia* A double gives Swiatek 15-all … no it doesn’t, a check revealing the second second serve to be on the line. For all the difference it makes, Haddad Maia sending a forehand long … before soft hands at the net give her 30-15. From there, she quickly closes out, and she’s so amped – it’s great to see.
Swiatek* 6-2 5-4 Haddad Maia Swiatek finds herself 15-30, swipes a backhand wide, and suddenly she’s in trouble! Not for long: a backhand winner and service winner follow … but then a backhand drops long … but then Haddad Maia goes long, and how vexed is she! She knew that was a chance, her third break point burned – in fairness to Swiatek, though, she did land her second serve on the line – and shonuff she’s soon sitting down, prior to serving to stay in the tournament.
Swiatek 6-2 4-4 Haddad Maia* Though this is the game in which I’m expecting a break, Muchova will be watching wondering if maybe, just maybe she can, because Swiatek, though she’s playing well enough to win, isn’t playing all that well. She does, though, make 15-3o thanks to two errors from Haddad Maia, who levels the game with a terrific forehand down the line. Swiatek then dumps a backhand unnecessarily, loops a forehand that sits up … and the Brazilian splatters a winner for a crucial hold.
Swiatek* 6-2 4-3 Haddad Maia Swiatek is hitting through her forehand again, quickly making 30-0 … but Haddad Maia then opens her shoulders, a forehand winner then another levelling the game. And have a look! Forced onto one knee to respond to a shot of testing length, Swiatek can only go long so must now face another break point … then a serve onto the edge of the box facilitates a clean-up forehand for deuce. And from there, Swiatek cleans up – with the help of a net-cord.
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Swiatek 6-2 3-3 Haddad Maia* Back on her game, Swiatek moves Haddad Maia about the baseline then rams a forehand winner into the space she’s created for 15-all. Haddad Maia, though, behind in the next rally, collars a forehand winner down the line … then Swiatek’s forehand, back in the match, makes 30-all and an error from the Brazilian – in fairness, after being dragged about again – means she’s facing break-back point. And a decent return from the no1 seed sees a forehand riposte sent wide, which is to say that normal service is resumed.
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Swiatek* 6-2 2-3 Haddad Maia Swiatek pastes a forehand onto the line for 30-15 – that’ll make her feel better – then Haddad Maia clouts a return long, just. At 40-15, there’s trouble with the ball-toss, and a big forehand makes 40-30, but then a strong serve is returned long and Swiatek hangs on.
Swiatek 6-2 1-3 Haddad Maia* Haddad Maia is feeling herself now and Swiatek looks a little tentative – I guess when you’ve got high standards and you’re a little off them, it doesn’t feel like you’re still playing well. So Haddad Maia makes 30-0 … then a fantastic forehand return cross-court breaks the sideline for a clean winner, Swiatek reminding herself of who she is and what she does … only to make two more forehand errors, the second a real shank from mid-court, and suddenly this match has changed!
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Swiatek* 6-2 1-2 Haddad Maia Lots of players have all the shots; what sets Swiatek apart, I think, is her consistency – she’s brilliant of course, but I don’t think she does much we’ve not seen before. But a double and a forehand error, responding to one of great power and length, give Haddad Maia 30-all, and a forehand into the net – not even the top of it either – hand over a break point. This could be the match right here, because Swiatek won’t offer up too many chances … and the Brazilian only needs one, a forehand dropping long! Here we go!
Swiatek 6-2 1-1 Haddad Maia* Swiatek’s level has dropped a bit, and Jo reckons leaving the arena between sets won’t have helped. I can see that, but perhaps she needed something? Anyhow, at 30-0 she works Haddad Maia from side to side, then unleashes a brutal forehand winner down the line, but the Brazilian closes out well and is on the board in set two.
Swiatek* 6-2 1-0 Haddad Maia It’s impossible to see a way for Haddad Maia, who’s outmatched in pretty much every department. She’s got the lefty serve, but other than that, though she might have the power edge, Swiatek has more than enough of her own, and better wheels, hands and eyes. Still, the Brazilian hits a good forehand winner for 30-15, then a mishit gives her 40-30 … after which Swiatek goes wide; deuce it is, and Haddad Maia sets up then plays a lovely volley for advantage! But facing a second serve, she can’t get enough action on the ball, larruping a forehand long, and a fine forehand means game-point Swiatek … except a double follows. For all the difference it makes: Switek burns an advantage, then quickly secures the hold.
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Iga Swiatek takes the first set 6-2!
Swiatek 6-2 Haddad Maia* A double hands Swiatek 15-30, then sent to the corner she hoists a lob of perfect length which allows her to thrash back a forehand winner. Haddad Maia then goes long and her breaking to love in game one feels a long time ago.
Swiatek* 5-2 Haddad Maia Minor controversy as Haddad Maia plays a ball that’s out, sending her response out – she contends the call came prior to, but the point goes to Swiatek. And the next, superb defence allowing her forehand to take over and elicit the error. Haddad Maia, though, then runs around her backhand to muscle a second serve down the line – she’s not at all daunted by the opponent or occasion – but swiatek is just too good, a backhand winner securing a three-game lead.
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Swiatek 4-2 Haddad Maia* Swiatek lands one on the chalk and the bounce incites Haddad Maia to go long. But a backhand down the line makes 15-all – Swiatek’s response drifts long – and at 30-all, good chasing from the Brazilian means she’s still in the rally to power a backhand that hits the service-line and dies. Swiatek, though, keeps doing what she’s doing to make deuce, Haddad Maia misses a forehand down the line – here comes another break point – then slices a risky backhand into the tape. Swiatek breaks, and that reflects the balance of play – she’s clearly superior, dictating the majority of rallies.
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Swiatek* 3-2 Haddad Maia In a sense, this match is the opposite of the one we just saw: here, the higher-ranked player is the one with all the shots and varieties, while the lower-ranked one has the big shots. Which isn’t to say Swiatek can’t hit it hard – she can, though it’s not entirely clear where the power comes from – just that she’s an all-rounder. Should she win here, I’m certain she’d prefer to meet Muchova, a less-good version of herself, than Sabalenka, who has the tools to hit her off the court, but in the meantime she doubles for 30-all; can Haddad Maia make something of it? Er no, a pair of winners, the second a gorgeous top-spin forehand taken off the tootsies, secure the game and though she’s not hit her best level yet – today or this year – 70% of her is more than enough for most players.
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Swiatek 2-2 Haddad Maia* Thanks Michael. If Haddad Maia is to make a match of this, she can’t afford to be broken again, but soon finds herself down 0-30. A big serve halves the arrears, though, then a really good point, dictated by big groundstrokes and finished with a volley, makes 30-all. We wind up at deuce, then Swiatek goes long before Haddad Maia punishes a forehand to win a point in which she was behind. This is boiling nicely.
Daniel is back from his break, so I’ll hand back over now. Enjoy the rest of the match.
Swiatek* 2-1 Haddad Maia
Swiakek holds, but it is Haddad Maia who is showing some enterprise from the back of the court. On the very rare occasions where Swiatek does lose, it is normally to aggressive opponents who play on the front foot. That means Haddad Maia has to make some difficult shots, but the Brazilian is very capable of that.
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Swiatek 1-1 Haddad Maia*
Swiatek responds. Of course she does. Haddad Maia is such a clean-striking lefty, but Swiatek attacks the second serve, dictates the rallies, and breaks back with ease, forcing a couple of errant shots. We’re back on serve.
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Swiatek* 0-1 Haddad Maia
Haddad Maia breaks to love! Woooooooow. It is the Brazilian that look like the tournament favourite, taking the first game with some stylish swishes of the racket, including two ridiculously powerful return winners, the latter and decisive one off a first serve. Quite the opening statement.
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Some breaking Brit-based news for you, courtesy of PA.
Jack Draper will miss Wimbledon with the shoulder injury he suffered at the French Open last week. It is a huge blow to the 21-year-old, whose progress has been disrupted by a series of injuries.
The latest came in practice ahead of his first-round clash at Roland Garros last Monday against Tomas Etcheverry, with Draper forced to serve underarm before calling it a day after only one game of the second set.
While hugely disappointed that his body had again let him down, Draper was optimistic the problem with his left shoulder would not disrupt his grass-court campaign too much.
However, having had a scan and seen a specialist, Draper has decided to miss the whole of the British summer season.
Draper wrote on Instagram: “It’s clear my shoulder is going to need time and rehab to get back to where it needs to be. My team and I have made the difficult decision to miss the grass court season this year.“I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs but this one is tough to take. The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering.”
He is optimistic he will not need surgery and is hoping to return to the match court in mid to late July. When he has been fit, Draper has shown he has the potential to be among the best in the world but that has not been nearly as often as he would have liked.
Last season a promising run to the third round of the US Open was ended by a leg injury and, after illness disrupted his pre-season, Draper has already missed large chunks of this year with hip and abdominal problems.
In Paris last week the Londoner said he felt “mentally destroyed”, adding: “I hate being the guy who is injured a lot.”
Draper made his Wimbledon debut in 2021, losing to Novak Djokovic, while last year he pushed Alex De Minaur to four sets in the second round.
Swiatek has won every set this tournament, and taken just five hours and 30 minutes to reach this semi-final. The world’s best player is in frightening form.
A moment/minute’s silence is observed for the victims of a knife attack, which took place in Annecy this morning.
Hi everyone. What a match that was. Here’s hoping we’ll be treated to something similar with Swiatek v Haddad Maia. It’s worth remembering that these two have met once before, last year in Toronto, and it was the Brazilian who came out on top in a three-hour, three-set epic.
Swiatek looks very focused as the players come out on Chatrier. I’m not sure anyone could accuse the No 1 seed of looking complacent. Lots of Brazilian support in the stands, though. This should be a good one.
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Phew. I’m going to take a little break; Michael Butler will croon you through the start of our second semi, and I’ll be back presently.
Coming up next: Iga Swiatek [1] v Beatriz Haddad Maia [14]. Niiiiiice!
As for Sabalenka, she’ll be feeling very poorly for a very long time. She had the match not just on her racket but in her pocket, relaxed, left the door open, and had her house ransacked. When she’s calmed down, she’ll remember that she played well – it took a fine player playing the game of her life to beat her and even then she had to help her – but she’ll be hurting, bad.
Muchova is really quite calm, calmer than me, saying hi to everyone and that she doesn’t really know what happened – she just tried to keep fighting and she’s so happy. Complimented on her game and how natural it is with all its variations, she admits that she’s been told similar before, but doesn’t want it to get into her head so she stays humble. She notes that it’s a team effort, thanking those who’ve helped her get to here, and reckons it’s easy to play on a court this good in a match so big. It’s an incredible feeling to here people cheering and calling her name, and on Saturday, she’ll meet Iga Swiatek or Bea Haddad Maia in the final! My absolute complete and utter days, she’s earned it. What a player, what a competitor, what a match!
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Karolína Muchová beats Aryna Sabalenka [2] 7-6(5) (5)5-7 7-5!
What a game of tennis! What a game of anything! Not long after missing seven months, a a backhand down the line and Muchova reaches her first Grand Slam final having won five games in a row – just as Sabalenka lost them – pinching a classic for the ages. That was brilliant brilliant brilliant, and Muchova’s intelligence in coming up with a plan, her skill in executing it and her moxie in coming back were stupendous.
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Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 6-5 (40-0) Sabalenka Muchova makes 15-0 – she’s won 14 of the last 20 points – but unlike many of Sabalenka’s pre-Melbourne defeats, it’s not because the pressure got big on her, it’s because she assumed she’d done enough. Er, not so old mate. Muchova quickly makes 30-0 when a return goes out, then draws Sablenka to the net with a drop … which she can’t return! Three match points Muchova!
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 6-5 Sabalenka* Sabalenka belts a forehand long then gets herself a fresh racket. She’ll be raging at herself because she knows this match should be over, but she also knows how hard it is to close out, and at 15-all, Muchova comes in on a second serve to try and increase pressure … to no avail. Sabalenka looks by far the stronger player, but at 15-40 she sends down a double, then a fault … then another! A double-double – her third, while Muchova hasn’t served any – means deuce, then Saba thrashes a half-court backhand long! There’ve been so many errors these last few games and now Muchova, who looked beaten 10 minutes ago, has a point to serve for the match! And serve for the match she will because when Sabalenka frames one, she charges in, lashes a forehand winner, and what on earth is going on?! What a lesson this is for the no2 seed: give someone your little finger, they take your entire hand.
Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 5-5 Sabalenka Muchova is so, so weary, but somehow mind prevails over body and she holds to love! My days she needed that, and in co-comms Chris notes that at 5-2, Sabalenka played a slightly lazy game, allowing Muchova some impetus, and now look!
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 4-5 Sabalenka* Oh wow, Muchova moves out of court to ram a forehand winner down the line, then at 15-all Sabalenka nets and at 15-30 thwacks long … way long! I wasn’t expecting so careless a game, despite the pressure, and as I type that Sabalenka swipes a backhand wide! That was dreadful, and as the clock ticks past three hours, the match, already a classic, remains in the balance!
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Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 3-5 Sabalenka Muchova doesn’t have the kaiach to keep at this, quickly down 0-30. But a gift from Sabalenka hands her a foothold and a decent second serve, right onto the line, forces a drop that sits up and begs to be despatched; 30-all. But a backhand slice floated long means match point … and Muchova finds a first serve, then larrups a forehand from corner to corner, making deuce, holding on from there for her hold. Sabalenka will have to serve for it…
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 2-5 Sabalenka* Sabalenka didn’t play Wimbledon last year because Belarusians – and, of course, Russians – were banned. So she went to Florida and got herself fitter, work that’s paying for itself now. At 30-all she’s still got the strength to clobber groundstrokes, the two contacting the net-cord three times between them, before a sensational backhand, oblique and breaking the sideline, ends the longest point of the match, then an ace follows and Sabalenka is a game away!
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Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 2-4 Sabalenka Muchova badly needs a first serve here because make no mistake, Sabalenka is a killer who’ll have noted her fatigue. Naturally, she sends a decent delivery out wide … only to overhit her clean-up! Is she flagging? Is this the beginning of the end? Er, no mate, Sabalenka makes consecutive errors, the second a really tame backhand that floats long; er maybe, she hits a big forehand which yields a moon ball that’s nowhere near anywhere; 30-all. So Muchova responds with her sixth ace – it’s been there almost every time she’s really needed it – only for Sabalenka to make deuce by punishing a pair of forehands, then advantage via backhand return and backhand winner. Magnificent behaviour, raising break point – she’s 3/11, Muchova 3/3 – and facing a second serve, she launches herself into the rally and her opponent can’t respond! Might that be the decisive blow? Muchova looks really tired now.
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 2-3 Sabalenka* Muchova curls a forehand winner cross-court for 0-15, then Sabalenka nets a forehand and has momentum shifted again? 0-30! Er no, three consecutive errors from Muchova make 30-40 and is she tiring? She can be excused for it if she is, flexing legs while waiting to receive, but the rejuvenating power of a double for deuce means she’s soon hammering a forehand return … which Sabalenka sends back at her with interest for a clean winner, quickly securing the game thereafter. She looks to be lasting the better, but the line between success and failure is so thin it’s impossible to say with any certainty who’ll win this.
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Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 2-2 Sabalenka No doubt there’ll be plenty on the tour wondering if they can do what Muchova’s doing, but for it to work, it requires precision, power, composure and nerve, so all the best with that. Anyroad up, at 15-all Sabalenka opens the space for a forehand winner only to overhit it – Chrissy notes that she doesn’t need to go for lines – especially as, given the situation, she’s likely to pull things a little. We get to 30-all, though, then on game point Muchova plays a lush drop, and that’s enough for final-set parity.
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 1-2 Sabalenka* “Oh my word!” yells Chrissy when, at 30-0, Muchova is dragged over to the forehand side, responding with a leaping, stretching forehand winner down the line. “They’re motivating each other, bringing each other’s best games out … just wonderful to watch.” And she should know – on which point do check out BBC’s God of Tennis series, which is a lot of fun. One of the things I most loved was her explaining that she just responds well to pressure – imagine being able to say that of yourself – while, back in the present, Sabalenka holds to 15. There’s still nary a Rizla blue in it,but she looks the better player at the moment.
Muchova* 7-6(5) (5)6-7 1-1 Sabalenka Now then. Two errors from Muchova – prompted by good play by Sabalenka – give the favourite a sniff, and a forehand winner, whipped from centre to corner, cross-court, raise three break points. You know, though, that Muchocva won’t get feart, and she saves two then faults; Sabalenka steps in. So Muchova tries a kicker down the middle, the return lands on the chalk, is backed up with a fine forehand … and look at that! A gorgeous forehand down the line makes deuce and Muchova has serious moxie. Oh yes she does! Sabalenka earns advantage with a jazzer of a forehand, backpeddling having invited her opponent to the net … so that opponent lamps an ace down the middle … then with advantage of her own, does it again! “Staggeringly good” says our commentator, and he’s right. Karolina Muchova is forreal.
Muchova 7-6(5) (5)6-7 0-1 Sabalenka* It’s silly, but I love that both sets finished 7-6(5) because it illustrates just how close this match has been. Before this game, Sabalenka had won one more point than Muchova and at 40-15 looks to be forging ahead in the match, but a fine get forces her to spin 360, hitting an extra ball – she’s laughing as she does it – then Muchova puts a way a volley to give her something about which to think. Not for long, she quickly closes out, and now Muchova must respond, but under the pressure of being behind.
Aryna Sabalenka wins the second set 7-5(5) to force a decider against Karolina Muchova!
Sabalenka guzzles a second serve, slamming a backhand cross-court, then a big forehand sets up the overhead and though she manages to direct it at her opponent, it’s good enough because Muchova nets. Another fantastic set of glorious tennis is over … now here comes another! Don’t mind if we do!
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Muchova 7-6(5) 6-6 (5-6) Sabalenka Oh Saba! Oh man! She wins her first point but then up 6-4, she sends down a double! One go left, but on the Muchova serve…
Muchova 7-6(5) 6-6 (4-5) Sabalenka But then Sabalenka overhits a forehand – that needed more spin so might’ve been nerves – then Muchova dumps another backhand! Sabalenka has two serves to make it 1-1…
Muchova 7-6(5) 6-6 (2-4) Sabalenka You know what? As soon as this match is finished, we get to watch another! It’s not a bad old life (sometimes). Muchova, though, is disappointed to stick a nondescript backhand into the net, and it makes me double-take because of how rarely that’s happened previously, and next point Sabalenka rocks back and carts a luscious forehand into the corner for the mini-break, consolidated with a booming serve. The decider the match – and more importantly we – deserve looks imminent.
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Muchova 7-6(5) 6-6 Sabalenka* A bazzing first point of the game, Sabalenka playing a monster and Muchova forcing her to hit four more balls than she might’ve done. She holds to love, though – game point also features a variety of gets before falling to her – and we’ve got ourselves another breaker. Can Muchova stay as calm during it as she did during the first, now the final is within reach?
“It’s unkind to call Sabalenka a ‘mindless ball basher’ (in the style of say Tsonga or Berdych in times gone by),” returns James Wilson, “but Muchova rather makes her look like that today with her brilliance. Sablenka has taken major strides to fix her serve and just hammer the ball off both sides but she’s looking back to what she was this time last year – all the shots, but little variety and patience. Credit to Muchova for forcing her to revert to her 2022 vintage. A long way to go though still.”
Yup, it feels like she’s turned up assuming that if she does what she’s been doing she’ll win, rather than gameplanning for what Muchova might do. She’s played lots of pressure=points well though.
Muchova* 7-6(5) 6-5 Sabalenka Muchova has served superbly today – she’s done everything superbly – and she holds to 15, forcing Sabalenka to serve to stay in the tournament once again. P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E.
Muchova 7-6(5) 5-5 Sabalenka* Muchova does make 0-15, but Sabalenka unleashes from mid-court until her opponent can’t take any more, then disburses a violent ace out wide for 40-15 … then another down the T for 5-5! She backs herself now, which makes the quality of Muchova’s play even more impressive.
Muchova* 7-6(5) 5-4 Sabalenka Yeah, about me saying momentum had switched; perhaps not. A straightforward hold for Muchova, and now I’m wondering if we’ll look back at today as the time a new force in the game announced itself. Sabalenka must now serve to stay in the competition.
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Muchova 7-6(5) 4-4 Sabalenka* I said just a second ago that no one plays perfectly for an entire match, but Muchova is playing this match perfectly, drawing Sabalenka to the net, where she misses a volley for 15-40, then taking pace off the ball before upping it when she’s ready, forcing the error! This is intense, compelling, affirming stuff.
“There’s a flies like a buatterfly, stings like a bee weak gag in here somewhere, Muchova deriving from the Slavonic word for ‘house fly’ - Mucha/Muha. Aren’t flies known for how quickly they can, well, fly? Their aeronautical design via nature is pretty sweet. A bit like Karolina’s game (I’ll get my coat).”
I believe the genus was named after her.
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Muchova* 7-6(5) 3-4 Sabalenka Yup, she has a go, but with her back half-turned as she digs out a backhand from the corner, Muchova sneaks to the net in order to despatch a volley. Sabalenka, though, makes 15-all with a drop that just about clambers over the net, and when her opponent guides an approach wide, she’s two points from a break. And, though, Muchova then levels the game, a barrage of backhands give her 30-40 … except, and yet again, Muchova finds her best gear when she needs to, working her way to the net for a put-away. Problem being she needs to do likewise immediately afterwards because she sends a forehand long, and this time Sabalenka’s power is too much, a sensational backhand return, annihilated cross-court, setting up a backhand winner. That’s the break, and I wonder if momentum has shifted here, not because Muchova isn’t playing well – she is – but because no one can play perfectly for an entire match and the world no2 has turned it up.
Muchova 7-6(5) 3-3 Sabalenka* Sabalenka has stepped it up here, landing a lot of first serves and making the match the one she wants to play rather than the one Muchova is forcing her to play. She holds to 15, sealing the deal with a lovely backhand caressed down the line, and I’d expect her to attack the serve in the next game.
Muchova* 7-6(5) 3-2 Sabalenka Sabalenka wallops a forehand to get 30-15, so Muchova slams an ace down the middle and quickly closes out.
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Muchova 7-6(5) 2-2 Sabalenka* I talk about this a lot, but we may have reached the mythical stage of both players playing well at the same time – deploying contrasting yet complementary styles too. Sabalenka makes 40-0 in typical style, but out of nowhere Muchova fights back to deuce, hitting through her in the process. From there, though, she closes out, and this is the best match I’ve seen in absolutely tiiiiiiiime.
Muchova* 7-6(5) 2-1 Sabalenka So she tries a drop, it works, and she makes 0-15 … so Muchova redeems the situation with an ace down the T. Her timing today has been faultless, but Saba isn’t who she is for no reason and her forehand earns her the next two points for 15-40. Muchova, though, responds with a telling drop, only for two more forehands, a return and a winner, restoring parity in set two. A year ago, I’m not sure Sabalenka is capable of that, but she’s a very serious proposition nowadays.
Muchova 7-6(5) 2-0 Sabalenka* Muchova punishes a weak second serve for 15-all, then Sabalenka sends a backhand long.As Chrissy notes, she’s answering every question she’s asked, wearing the power and using her lightness of foot to keep her opponent off balance. And forcing another error, she’s got 15-40, then sticks a forehand return onto the line, and Sabalenka can’t respond! Mucxhova leads by a set and a break, and suddenly the no2 seed looks bereft of ideas!
Muchova* 7-6(5) 1-0 Sabalenka That was so impressive from Muchova. Obviously there’s the skill required to play like that, along with the confidence to try things, but more than anything it’s the temperament that’s striking – at no point did she get tight. And she holds to love, closing the game with a serve-volley point, stretching for a lovely, controlled putaway.
Muchova 7-6(5) Sabalenka Sabalenka comes in – Muchova’s tactics have forced her to change her own – and when she goes long, she’s set-point down, though on her own serve. And Muchova plays it brilliantly, stretching to loop a return close to the line – intentionally – before a backhand cross-court opens a backhand down the line, a clean winner that is a fitting end to a fantastic set (of tennis). The underdog leads, and the no2 seed has some thinking to do!
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Muchova 6-6 Sabalenka (5-5) Sabalenka hits the line with a second serve, then does likewise with the forehand that’s behind it, and when she cracks a forehand just wide, I’ve not a clue who’s going to shade this.
Muchova 6-6 Sabalenka (4-3) Immediately, Muchova snaffles a mini-break, a fine forehand return, cross-court and punkt into the corner, eliciting the error. We then progress to 3-2, a monstrous forehand then another good one arranging a volley for 4-2 – Muchova is winning more points behind her second serve than her first, which is ridiculous, especially against this opponent – but then Sabelnka plays a nice approach, puts a nervy overhead onto the line, and we’re back on serve.
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Muchova* 6-6 Sabalenka Oooh yeah! Muchova comes in and this time Sabalenka is ready for her, unleashing a forehand pass that leaves burn marks on my screen. No matter, a gorgeous backhand down the line makes 15-all – I love the way Muchova plays these shots, almost ushering the ball rather than hitting it because her footwork and timing are so good – and a drop soon gives her 40-15, Sabalenka marooned behind the baseline. So next point she batters away then comes in … only to net her volley, and we’ve got ourselves the breaker we and both players deserve.
Muchova 5-6 Sabalenka* Breaking back like that will have given Sabalenka even more confidence, but at 30-15 Muchove plays a drop-winner then, second-best in the next point, hoists a momentum-switching lob only to hit the top of the net when poised to make 30-all. That was a thrilling rally but, and we looks ready for another when Muchova sends a lovely return down the line, but this time it’s Sabalenka who guides from behind her and whence it came – Muchova slips, which tells you how little she was expecting that ball, there, though she wouldn’t have got it in any case.
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Muchova* 5-5 Sabalenka Sabalenka makes 0-15 then hammers away from the back, except right as 0-30 looks imminent, Muchova comes in and despatches a terrific backhand volley before guiding a forehand into the corner for 30-15 – in comms, the think this is Federer-liked. Sabalenka, though, doesn’t panic, coming in so Muchova couldn’t to paste a forehand winner of her own, but again the Czech responds, a fine serve backed up with a forehand which raises set point! So Sabalenka ups the power, disbursing further mighty forehands for deuce, then again so she can clean up at the net, and now she has a chance to break back! Again, Muchova finds a first serve, but this time Sabalenka spanks a return close to the line, eliciting the error, and that is a champion’s behaviour. This is a really enjoyable tussle, engaging brain as well as heart.
Muchova 5-4 Sabalenka* More power off from Muchova and Sabalenka, coming in, botches her putaway at the net. She does make 15-all, but now Muchova approaches the net, inviting the pass, and Sabalenka can’t; then, from 15-30, she comes in again, twice, and both times finishes points, one with a forehand volley and one with a flowing forehands into the corner, both times having opened the court with clever angles, and that’s the break! Muchova will now serve for the first set!
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Muchova* 4-4 Sabalenka Sabalenka gets to 0-15 and then smokes a return down the line; Muchova responds well, finding a really good length, but then whams a forehand into tape for 0-30. She needs to steady here and does, making 30-all in short order, and looks to be enjoying the contest confident that she belongs; again, she finds great length, it prompts Sabalenka to drop a little short, and she comes in to stroke a forehand winner into the corner then quickly closes out. This is an absorbing contest, and if it comes down to a few points in a breaker, Muchova has a serious chance of causing an upset.
Muchova 3-4 Sabalenka* Has anyone ever hit the ball harder than Sabalenka? There’s Serena, obviously, and in the game now Rybakina and Ostapenko. But I’m not sure any of them go as hard and as flat as often. But hang on, Muchova digs one out from behind her in the backhand corner, forcing Sabalenka to play another shot, and her overhead goes out! 30-all and another mini-chance, quickly extinguished with a service winner and a netted volley running in. However, prior to missing the putaway, Muchova played an excellent point and will be pretty happy with how things are going.
Muchova* 3-3 Sabalenka Muchova is doing a pretty good job of landing her first serve and Sabalenka hasn’t quite found her timing on the return yet. She gets to 40-0 and even when she nets a slice, Chrissy praises her for changing the pace, then Saba slaps into the net and we’re back level. This is shaping up into a decent contest.
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Muchova 2-3 Sabalenka* Sabalenka thrashes away as Muchova scurries and slides to hither and yon, doing a good job without ever looking likely to threaten the serve. A hold to 15, and the no2 seed looks extremely imposing.
Muchova* 2-2 Sabalenka Yup, Muchova plans to mix things up, serve-volleying on the first point of the game – Sabalenka nets her return – before caning an ace down the T for 30-0. She does then go wide with an inside-out forehand, but a cunningly-placed forehand, looping into the corner, takes her close to 2-2 … then Sabalenka collars her second serve, humping a winner cross-court for 40-30. She’ll have known she needs to land her first effort if she’s to compete here – when Sabalenka has a go at another, she hits long and that’s deuce – but even when she does, to the forehand, the ball comes scorches straight back past her, raising the first break point of the match. Muchova, though, responds well, sending down another ace … only to net on the forehand immediately afterwards … only to respond well again, targeting the backhand to come in which works nicely. Deuce it is, Muchova sends to the backhand corner and spiriting a fine flick cross-court with soft wrists and hands – Sabalenka’s volley falls wide, just – then closes out. On the one hand, she won’t want many tight holds like that but, on the other, she’ll feel good that she saw it out.
Muchova 1-2 Sabalenka* Muchova gets to 30-all and in the circumstances this is a chance. Muchova, as we thought she might, slows down the pace of things, forcing Sabalenka to generate her own power – if she wants to. Which she doesn’t – instead she comes in slices a gorgeous drop, then on game-point monsters consecutive forehands, illustrating the conundrum of facing her perfectly: how do you beat someone who can hit it harder than you, who also has a better touch than you?
Muchova* 1-1 Sabalenka A solid start from Muchova,b ut then at 40-15 Sabalenka runs in and from mid-court slices a lovely backhand winner cross-court to the forehand corner. She’s playing with almost indecent confidence, but when she spanks a forehand from the back it drops fractionally long and Muchova is on the board. Meantime, Chrissy notes that Saba is kinder to herself now, allowing points she doesn’t win to pass without chastising her behaviour. On which point, to learn how to practise self-compassion – and other helpful behaviours – check out the work of Dr Shefali Tsabary.
Muchova 0-1 Sabalenka* (*denotes server) I love the simplicity of Sabalenka’s serve – there’s so little movement, it’s just toss, set, bend, whack. She starts nicely too, a big topspin forehand winner giving her 40-15 and the game sealed with an ace.
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And … play.
Absolute sake dept: Chatrier, though buzzing, is a long way off full. What is wrong with people?
Sabalenka goes to No1 in the world if she wins the competition or if Swiatek loses today. She’s yet to lose a set in the competition, and her last two wins, over Sloane Stephens and Elina Svitolina, were extremely impressive.
As I alluded to earlier, Muchova recently had seven months off with an abdominal injury, so being out there now must be gravy – Hawksmoor’s bone marrow gravy, no less.
Muchova wins the toss and, as per the present vogue, opts to receive. The idea is, I imagine, to put an opponent under pressure while settling oneself.
The wind’s kicking up a little which might help Muchova – she’ll be looking for points of difference – but on the other hand it might help Sabalenka, who can hit either with it or through it.
Here come our players!
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What I will say is that there’s more chance Muchova beats Sabalenka than Haddad Maia beats Swiatek, partly because Sabalenka is still Sabalenka – her new-found confidence isn’t yet fully entrenched – but also because Muchova has more to offer that might cause trouble. Haddad Maia has nice hands and serious power, I just don’t think she’s enough of either to see off Swiatek.
Watching a further interview with Muchova, she won’t share her tactics but does seem to fancy herself. My guess is she tries to keep Sabalenka moving so that she can’t plant her feet and whack, which’ll mean drops, lobs, balls to the corners and variations of pace, spin and angle.
Wow. Wow wow wow wow.
Ruud is not even close. Let me introduce you to Stewart Cink! pic.twitter.com/ofBAKumJRu
— sollie (@simensollie) June 8, 2023
We see some VT of Muchova, who says reaching the final in Rome a couple of weeks ago – she lost to Badosa – and though she’s the kind of person who wants everything now, she’s happy to have made the semi here eventually but of course still wants more.
I’m not sure Casper Ruud will win the men’s competition, but he absolutely strolls the best tan-line contest.
Preamble
Salut! And welcome to Roland-Garros 2023 – day 12!
I like these calm little moments before the storm. It reminds me of Beethoven. Can you hear it? It’s like, when you put your head to the grass. You can hear it growing. You can hear the insects, bzzzz ... Do you like Beethoven?
So said Norman Stansfield in Léon and, though he wasn’t talking about our women’s semi-final matches – probably – he might’ve been. Because on the face of things, there’s no tension here as we know exactly what’s going to happen: Aryna Sabaklenka blazes through Karolína Muchová and Iga Swiatek devastates Beatriz Haddad Maia – the kind of light work best soundtracked by Mozart – then the two winners convene on Saturday for an absolute Brahms of a final.
But sport – and women’s tennis in particular – tend not to work that way. After a miserable time with injury, Muchová will feel that her time is now, and knows that not long ago, Sabalenka was a fragile thwacker liable to falter under pressure. If she plays to her maximum, she’ll fancy her chances of reminding her reborn opponent exactly who she used used to be.
Haddad Maia is a not dissimilar tigela de moqueca, a powerful hitter with hands and belief at her physical peak. It’s difficult to discomfit Swiatek, especially on clay, but the Brazilian is here because she’s hit purple patches in each of her last two matches, and she can find that level today, she’s a problem.
Most likely, of course, the favourites do enough – though neither has been seriously tested in reaching this stage. Swiatek, the defending champion, the reigning US Open champion and the world No 1, is a generational talent with disquieting equanimity and no weaknesses. Real talk, she seems impregnable on clay … except Sabalenka is in majestically murderous form, assaulting the ball like it just called her mum a rude word and fortified, since winning the Australian Open, with all the confidence that eluded her in the years prior to that.
Or, put another way, this going to be good … and what comes next might be even better. On y va!
Play: 3pm local, 2pm BST
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