Time to sign off, I’ll leave you with Tumaini Carayol’s report from Roland-Garros. Au revoir.
Jack Draper’s exit means that British interest in the French Open singles is over. Look, we made it into the second week, didn’t we? Draper came up against an opponent playing some unbelievable stuff today, but in that final service game, there were moments he passed up to stay in the game.
Those are the kind of chances that the very best players take – and it could have swung the game back in his favour. Not to be too harsh on Draper, who is still fairly new to the grand slam game. It’s just something he might need to learn if he wants to reach the very top of the rankings, and win the biggest prizes.
Draper leaves the court to a big ovation – he certainly played his part in a thrilling game – but the moment belongs to Alexander Bublik. The crowd chant his name, and he’s holding back the tears. “Sometimes you feel in life, you get one chance, and I couldn’t let it slip,” he says, channelling his inner Eminem.
“This is the best moment of my life, I’m serious. Thank you very much guys,” he adds, throwing in a bit of French too. “I can’t cry out here,” he says, “I’ve still got another match to play, I’m a professional!” Maybe more than one, you never know.
Alexander Bublik beats Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4!
A huge serve out wide, and Draper’s return drifts long. Bublik falls to the floor and gets to his feet, clay streaked over his face, crying and grinning at the same time. He’s into his first ever slam quarter final, and if he plays like that again, who would bet against him?
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Another double fault from Bublik, then an airborne smash to rescue the break point. Deuce, second serve – and Draper pulls a drop shot out of his hat! He’s giving this everything – but Bublik responds with a ferocious serve-volley setup. It pays off again on the next point, and it’s a second match point …
Bublik returns to his trusty drop shots from the back of the court – and this one clips the net cord and lands in. Match point, drop shot … but Draper finally reads one, and whips a winner across the court. Bublik is feeling the pressure, rushing his serves – he double faults, then follows up with an ace. What a ridiculous game. We’re back to deuce …
Any nerves from Bublik, seeking his first slam quarter-final? Not on his first serve, an ace straight down the middle – but Draper gets the crowd off their feet with a between-the-legs shot that catches his opponent cold. Now 15-30, as Bublik booms a forehand wide – and he misses another, just drifting past the right-hand tramline. Two break points for Draper, but he sends the first long, and under another shorter ball, he mishits wildly! Those were decent chances … but we’re back to deuce.
Fourth set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 5-4 Draper (*denotes next server) Jack Draper is staring up at the cliff-face now, serving to stay in the French Open. He gets a rare win from a net battle at 30-15, and a clean backhand winner seals the hold. Now it’s up to Bublik to serve out for the win.
Fourth set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 5-3 Draper* (*denotes next server) If there’s one thing Draper should have changed up some time ago, it’s his position when returning – he’s way behind the baseline, leaving himself vulnerable to drop shots. Which is something Bublik is quite good at; he throws one in, plus a clinical ace, and another big serve that Draper can only send a mile long. He’s one game away from the quarter-finals!
Fourth set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 4-3 Draper (*denotes next server) A first test of nerve passed by Bublik, and now Draper simply has to hold. He gets lucky when the umpire calls his tentative volley in – Bublik thinks it went long – and he muscles his way to another hold.
Fourth set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 4-2 Draper* (*denotes next server) Draper knows time is running out, and punches in an excellent return to start the game – then follows up with a curving forehand down the line. 0-30, but then a serve out wide with so much kick, Draper almost ends up in the crowd. Second serve, drop shot, and even though Draper gets there, Bublik is there to scoop it back into open court. The next rally ends with a Bublik smash, and a crashing forehand seals the hold.
Fourth set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 3-2 Draper (*denotes next server) Draper motors to 40-0 on serve but then those pesky drop shots return – he hasn’t really found any answer, or a reason for Bublik to think again. Still, he crunches down an ace to keep in touch.
Fourth set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 3-1 Draper* (*denotes next server) Draper misses an opportunity when he sends a backhand long, but digs in for deuce. No matter, Bublik digs out the hold with a floating volley that swooshes almost apologetically over the net.
If you had to guess which of these players was in the world’s top five, you’d all be wrong. In the back of his mind, Draper might be hoping that this ridiculous level drops; it’s hard to see how else he can save this match.
Fourth set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 2-1 Draper (*denotes next server) The winner of this match, by the way, will face either Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev in the quarters. They meet in the night match on Chatrier later. Draper holds here, a rare missed drop shot from Bublik helping him get on the board in this set.
Fourth set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 2-0* Draper (*denotes next server) You could say Draper has been slow to change things up, but for the last hour he must feel like he’s been playing prime Federer. Bublik quickly holds as Draper, now having to push harder in points, sends a forehand well wide.
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Fourth set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 1-0 Draper (*denotes next server) Draper to serve first, and he tries coming in behind the serve. Bublik responds with two clean winners, then perhaps the sweetest drop shot of all. Three break points, the first taken in outrageous fashion, a return hit on the rise that clips the baseline. Yowza!
A trainer is waiting courtside – requested by Draper, you’d imagine. If Bublik’s playing like this with an injury, then I fear for us all. In fact, both players leave the court: Draper for a comfort break and change of clothes, while Bublik takes some painkillers – apparently, he’s got a bit of a headache.
Bublik wins third set 6-2, leads 2-1! Bublik opens with an ace, a double fault, and an unplayable drop shot. He then gets just enough on his first serve to force Draper long; set point, full-throttle second serve, forehand ripped into the corner. There’s not much Draper can do.
Third set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 5-2 Draper (*denotes next server) Despite a couple of superbly hit early returns, Draper finds a couple of hefty first serves to stay in the set. Bublik, though, will have two chances to serve this out, if required.
Third set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 5-1 Draper* (*denotes next server) Since going a set and a break up, Draper has won three games. It’s been a huge momentum swing, and Draper needs to find his footing again quickly. It doesn’t happen here, Bublik charging on with feathery volleys and zinging cross-court winners.
Third set: *Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 4-1 Draper (*denotes next server) I’ve seen many a mercurial talent blow their chances with the overuse of drop shots – it’s refreshing to see a player make so many successfully. It’s rattled Draper, who serves a double fault and then goes long at 30-all. Another break point chance for Bublik – and another double fault from Draper, whose head looks completely scrambled.
Third set: Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 3-1 Draper* (*denotes next server) We’re going into full game-by-game mode here now. Bublik plays a couple of scruffy shots to give Draper a sniff at 0-30 but rediscovers his form quickly, and seals the hold with another dazzling drop shot, and a whipped winner when Draper somehow gets it back.
Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 2-1 Draper A wobble from Draper on serve, a couple of wild shots rescued by a big first serve down the middle. A moon ball drifts a centimetre wide, though, and it’s deuce. Ace, advantage, but Bublik fights back again and earns a break point after winning a gruelling rally. Out comes the trusty drop shot, and it’s another break for Bublik, who is playing some ridiculous stuff out there.
Novak Djokovic beats Cam Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
Djokovic gets the job gone, winning in two hours, 15 minutes for the loss of just seven games. That score is perhaps a touch unfair on Norrie, who fought gamely in the second set but just couldn’t live with his opponent’s relentless abilities. Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals; that should be decent.
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Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 1-1 Draper Bublik can produce winners that look like they just shouldn’t work – leaning back, swinging wildly, he sends a forehand pinging into the corner. Another drop shot winner, his sixth of the match, and an unreturnable serve seal the hold. Jack Draper’s in a proper battle here.
Bublik 5-7, 6-3, 0-1 Draper A very strong hold to open the third set from Draper, finished with an overhead smash at the net. Over on Chatrier, Norrie has got another game on the board, forcing Djokovic to serve it out at least.
Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-5 Djokovic Norrie scraps hard with defeat looming, but Djokovic seals another service hold with an almost dismissive drop shot in the shadow of the net.
Bublik wins the second set 6-3! Jack Draper powers through his service game, inviting Bublik to step up and finish the job. Bublik shows no sign of tension, another smartly-timed drop shot helping him edge 30-15 up, and he comes in behind his serve to bring up set points. Draper saves the first with a belting forehand down the line – but Bublik nails the set with an acrobatic volley. We’re all square!
Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-4 Djokovic After consolidating the break, Djokovic can sense the finish line and racks up another three break points when Norrie goes wide. The Briton saves the first but a mishit hands Djokovic another break.
Bublik 5-7, 5-2 Draper Bublik makes it three games in a row, following up a beautiful, spinning cross-court volley with a thudding ace out wide. It’s hard to believe he’s currently ranked 62nd in the world.
Bublik 5-7, 4-2 Draper On Lenglen, Bublik has a rare break point – and he converts as Draper mistimes a volley, allowing his opponent to drill the ball back. Bublik is playing the better stuff just now, and deservedly leads the second set.
Norrie 2-6, 3-6, 1-2 Djokovic After a quick exchange of holds, an aimless effort at the net from Norrie allows Djokovic to pick his sport and go 0-30 up. Norrie sends a forehand long on the next point, then nets on the first break point. He looks a little tired, and Djokovic is closing in on the quarter-finals.
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Bublik 5-7, 2-2 Draper Bublik crashes his way to a service hold, and there’s a feeling Draper has let him off the hook in this second set. Can he keep this run of games going? In short, no; Draper quickly holds to level at 2-2.
Novak Djokovic leads 6-2, 6-3! You have to credit Norrie for his persistence, he’s like a wasp Djokovic can’t seem to swat away. Again he fights back for deuce, but an unreturnable first serve gets the Serb over the line, and into a two-set lead. Norrie has worked so hard, but the scoreboard doesn’t really reflect his efforts.
Bublik 5-7, 1-1 Draper At 0-30, the longest rally of the match goes Bublik’s way, and he has three break-back points. On the second, Draper goes a half-inch long, and we’re back on serve. An impressive response from Bublik, there.
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Bublik 5-7, 0-1 Draper Sensing a chance to take control, Draper racks up two break points in the second-set opener. He messes up the first, sending a volley into the net, but he’s unstoppable on the next point. Bublik has played some great stuff, but he’s a set and a break down.
Norrie 2-6, 3-5 Djokovic Sensing weakness as Norrie returns, Djokovic charges to 0-40 but is somehow reeled back in with the set at his mercy. Then at deuce, Djokovic produces a trademark curling shot from outside the net that lands in the corner. In the next rally, Djokovic finds the sideline, Norrie misses it, and the break is finally sealed.
Draper wins the first set 7-5! Bublik is happy to step in and be aggressive, and it gets him 15-30 up, but Draper finds a first serve that lands right on the line, an ace, and then the finishing touch, a lovely cross-court volley to secure the set.
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Bublik 5-6 Draper A first break point of the set, and it falls to Jack Draper after a weird, looping shot played on one knee, which unexpectedly drops in. Bublik is sufficiently thrown to then cough up a double fault, and just like that, Draper will serve for the set.
Now Norrie has the trainer out, wanting some attention on his left ankle – it looks like he may have rolled it while racing back and forth in that 10-minute game.
Bublik 5-5 Draper Crowd-pleasing stuff from Bublik, blasting a cross-court winner that’s within inches of Draper’s racket, but still unreachable. Still, Draper’s fundamentals are keeping him pretty safe on serve. Are we heading for a tie-break here?
Norrie 2-6, 3-4 Djokovic Norrie has actually won more receiving points than Djokovic so far, and he forces another long, drawn-out battle against serve. Nine minutes in, game point down, Norrie batters a return into the corner, leaving Djokovic shocked and chagrinned. An ace and a hard-won rally finally get him over the line.
Bublik 5-4 Draper At 30-all on second serve, Bublik crashes down a monumental ace that shudders into the backboard behind Draper. It’s a predictably mixed bag – a wonky forehand into the net, a sublime diagonal drop-shot – but Draper misses a chance to bring up a break point as a cross-court effort goes wide. Bublik secures the hold with another delicate drop-shot, drawing cheers from the Lenglen crowd.
Bublik 4-4 Draper Bublik sees off a brief threat at 40-30 on serve, but can’t make a dent in Draper’s serve, and the British No 1 holds with some artful net play to go with the heavy hitting.
Norrie 2-6, 3-3 Djokovic Novak still not quite in his groove here – he tried putting a cap on, then quickly abandoned it, and is now shrugging performatively at his coaches after netting an underhit drop shot. He’s made 10 unforced errors to Norrie’s three in the second set. 40-15 down, that’s his cue to produce a sublime sliced volley and get back to deuce. Norrie puts away a volley and bangs down an ace to stay on serve.
Bublik 3-3 Draper Still on serve here, Bublik playing some lovely drop shots as he tries to live with Draper’s vicious, how-dare-you-keep-getting-the-ball-back groundstrokes.
Norrie 2-6, 2-3 Djokovic Just as you might have expected Norrie’s head to drop, he pushes Djokovic in an eight-minute game, saving one game point with a lovely, skittering drop shot – but ultimately shanking a shot wide to make it all in vain.
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Bublik 2-2 Draper It’s been a muscular battle of big serves so far, but Bublik offers some resistance with a fierce return down the line. Deuce, but Draper holds off his opponent with some heavy forehand hitting.
Norrie 2-6, 2-2 Djokovic The three-time champ asserts dominance, racing to a love hold and then setting up three break points. A sigh of frustration from Norrie as he goes long to surrender his second-set lead.
Bublik 2-1 Draper I’m a big fan of Bublik’s get-up – floppy hair, Armani headband and shirt, big compression sock on one leg. He looks a bit like an AI approximation of a tennis player. He’s also capable of some very, very big serves.
Bublik 1-1 Draper These two lads are smacking the ball so hard, you can hear the strings vibrating. Draper crashes down a couple of aces on his way to an opening hold.
Norrie 2-6, 2-0 Djokovic Norrie does back up the break here, and is maybe giving Djokovic something to think about after a second-gear opening set.
Bublik 1-0 Draper An emphatic service hold from Bublik, who is aiming to become the first male Kazakh player to reach a slam quarter-final. Like other Kazakh players, Bublik was born in Russia and switched allegiance in November 2016.
Norrie 2-6, 1-0 Djokovic Fair play to Cam Norrie: distinctly second-best in the first set, he opens the second by breaking Djokovic to love. Two of the three games he’s won so far have been against serve.
The women’s quarter-final draw is now complete – six of the world’s top eight, a resurgent Elina Svitolina, and the home crowd’s new hero, Lois Boisson.
(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Qinwen Zheng (8)
(13) Elina Svitolina v Iga Swiatek (5)
(6) Mirra Andreeva v Lois Boisson
(7) Madison Keys v Coco Gauff (2)
Jack Draper is out warming up, ready to take on Alexander Bublik – a player John McEnroe reckons is “incredibly talented” but on a par with Nick Kyrgios in terms of his in-game antics and off-court approach. This could be interesting.
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Djokovic wins the first set 6-2! It’s been hard work for Norrie on serve, and he slips behind against a freshly-bandaged Djokovic. Break point, set point, snaffled up as a fierce cross-court backhand is volleyed into the net by Norrie.
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Here’s the story of the day, maybe the tournament, so far. Lois Boisson, ranked outside the world’s top 300, is into the quarter-finals of her home slam.
Norrie 2-5 Djokovic Norrie holds, but can’t make a dent in Djokovic’s serve, as the No 6 seed closes on the first set. He’s looked a little irritable though, and now we’re discovering a potential reason –he gets the physio out to treat blisters on his feet that have been bothering him in previous matches.
Next up on Lenglen, it’s the British No 1, Jack Draper, taking on the mercurial Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. Bublik shocked Alex De Minaur in the second round, fighting back from two sets down to win. ““It was a bit early for me,” Bublik said afterwards. “11 am is not my preferable time [to play]. I was a bit sleepy in the first two sets. I’m not the guy who wakes up [early] always.” Fair enough.
Tuesday’s order of play is out, with four quarter-finals, all taking place on Chatrier. Play starts at 11am in Paris, 10am BST.
(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Qinwen Zheng (8)
(13) Elina Svitolina v Iga Swiatek (5)
(8) Lorenzo Musetti v Frances Tiafoe (15)
(12) Tommy Paul v Carlos Alcaraz (2) – night match
Norrie 1-4 Djokovic Norrie misjudges a drop shot – his 10th forced error, an occupational hazard when you’re playing Djokovic – and the Serb seals the game with an ace.
Madison Keys beats Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 7-5
A tough battle for the Aussie Open champ, but she gets the job done with a couple of clinical winners. Next up: Coco Gauff. This match lasted 1h 34min, the exact same length as Andreeva-Kasatkina, and with the same final score.
Norrie 1-3 Djokovic Norrie just missing the lines with a couple of ambitious shots, allowing Djokovic a couple of break points, and he restores his two-game lead with a drop shot that Norrie can’t retrieve.
Elsewhere, Madison Keys has broken Baptiste in the 11th game of the second set, and is serving for the match – but currently 15-30 down. The winner of that match will play Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.
Norrie 1-2 Djokovic Norrie hits back, a booming cross-court backhand setting up a break point – which he converts as Djokovic nets! We’re back on serve.
Norrie 0-2 Djokovic A rough start for Norrie, slipping 30-0 down on serve after Djokovic holds in the opening game. He digs in, running down a loose drop shot to get back in the game, but Djokovic takes it to deuce and gets the early break as Norrie flays a forehand wide.
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Norrie and Djokovic’s French Open records make for quite the comparison; the Briton has never reached the fourth round before and has a 7-7 career record. Djokovic has been to seven finals, won three of them and has 96 career victories on the clay.
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A quick update from Court Suzanne-Lenglen, where Hailey Baptiste is battling hard against Madison Keys – it’s 4-4 in the second set, after Keys won the first 6-3.
Thanks Yara. Lois Boisson, eh? What a performance. Cam Norrie has to hope there’s some of that stardust still floating around on Chatrier. He’s out on court, as is the three-times Paris champion, Novak Djokovic.
Niall McVeigh is back to take you through what will hopefully be a blockbuster. Enjoy!
Here is Tumaini Carayol’s preview from Paris where he writes: “I’m going to have to suffer,” Norrie said. “I’m going to have to run four and a half hours to have a chance with him, and to push him where he’s uncomfortable as well. I’m going to have to play with quality, otherwise I have no chance.”
Up next is the big one: Norrie v Djokovic. The Briton has never beat Djokovic in five attempts. They have faced each other once in a grand slam – 2022 Wimbledon – where the Serb won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The two have also played against each other once this season – at the Geneva semi-final.
When two sports collide … Ousmane Dembélé, the footballer, is out on the Philippe-Chatrier with the shiny Champions League trophy right in the centre. I am sure several people in the crowd are PSG fans as well.
The player leads an “Ici c’est Paris!” chant before thanking the fans for their support while winning their first Champions League trophy and emphasising the team are hopeful to go on and win as many trophies as possible.
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On Suzanne Lenglen the world No 7 Keys is up 6-3, 1-3 against Hailey Baptiste in an all-American affair.
Boisson is now the lowest ranked player to make the quarter-finals of a grand slam since Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open and the first French wildcard to reach the Roland Garros quarter-final since Mary Pierce in 2002. Nerves of steel with six deuces in the penultimate game and four in the final one. Her next task will be the world No 7 Mirra Andreeva.
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“Loïs! Loïs! Loïs! Loïs!” chant the crowd as the player steps up for her French on-court interview. She is reminded that this is her first top 10 win and her first match on this iconic court.
I am not quite sure what to say but thank you. Playing on this court with this atmosphere was amazing thank you.
I wasn’t expecting [this kind of performance]. Not really. I knew there was a chance, so I gave my all and I won.
I hope I am going to win it all!
The crowd roar for that last statement. She was not able to take a wildcard spot last year here due to a knee operation after tearing her ACL and now she is here! Surely the upset of the tournament so far.
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World No 361 Loïs Boisson stuns world No 3 Jessica Pegula
Wow! The 22-year-old holds her nerve and does it! She wins 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against a US Open finalist. She finishes it out in-style with a blistering forehand down the line.
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Boisson goes up 30-0 but her first double fault on the match makes it 30-30. Pegula then bites first but the wildcard saves break point with a beautifully executed dropshot. She is sheepish with a half apology, not really meaning the shot but scrambling as she tried anything to get the ball over the net.
Another drop shot from the Frenchwoman, this one on purpose, sends us to a second deuce after Pegula loses advantage, and she gestures to the crowd to keep the cheers coming.
Pegula gains the advantage again after a short rally ends with Boisson going long … but back to deuce with a cracker of a winner from Boisson.
Boisson wins the game 5-4 and is about to serve for the match … Everyone on Philippe-Chatrier is on their feet and cheering for the final French singles player in the tournament. Throughout that game Boisson recognised that her opponent was uncomfortable and the depth of her returns and shot making, including a slice and a wicked forehand, were really poised in this game.
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We are at deuce number six in this game and a fourth break point for Boisson … Every time either player is on the cusp, they just make a slight mistake with Pegula netting just now. The world No 361 (!) is going toe-to-toe with the world No 3.
Pegula’s forehand goes back to being shaky again. The American goes up 30-0 but then nets and her opponent holds with an ace and another amazing serve to hold. 4-4 in the third.
The French crowd is quite loud now, much to the annoyance of Pegula and the umpire.
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In case you missed it Kasatkina earlier bowed out at with defeat to familiar foe Andreeva with the world No 6 easing to a 6-3, 7-5 win.
Hello all. This match looked to be Pegula’s especially with how she won the first set but the French crowd has gotten behind the crowd and urged her on. Right now though the American leads 6-3, 4-6, 4-3 Boisson. Pegula’s forehand shot and one-down the line gives her the slim lead in the third.
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On Suzanne-Lenglen, Keys has opened with a service hold and leads Baptiste 1-0. Time to hand over to Yara El-Shaboury while I go and source a baguette.
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Pegula is using every inch of the court to keep her opponent guessing; a long range, cross-court slice catches Boisson out and helps the American to break point. It’s rescued with some ferocious hitting, but Boisson then misses an attempted winner and we’re back to deuce. The wild card stays sharp, putting away a forehand to hold.
Keys and Baptiste are heading on court to begin their match. On Chatrier, Pegula has worked out that variety is key – a drop shot here, a spot of serve-and-volley there – and holds to edge 3-2 up in the decider.
Pegula stops the rot with a comfortable service hold, and wins a net battle to move 0-30 up on Boisson’s serve. Nerves creep in for the underdog – a double fault sealed with perhaps the widest serve attempt I’ve ever seen – and Pegula breaks back with a winner into the corner.
Errani and Paolini have won their doubles match on Simonne-Mathieu, beating Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-3. The Italian duo are second seeds in the women’s doubles, and look like a formidable partnership.
Pegula mixes things up, a spinning drop shot helping her to 0-30 – but Boisson is unfazed, rattling off four straight points to hold. Four straight games won now by the wild card, and the upset is very much on.
Boisson is having a lot of joy targeting Pegula’s forehand – and it works again as she breaks to open the third set, the No 3 seed sending a down-the-line forehand long!
Boisson levels at 1-1 against Pegula! Any nerves from the world No 361? Not in the slightest – two fizzing winners set up three set points, and she takes it as Pegula sends a lob wide.
Keys v Baptiste won’t start for another 20 minutes – I think both players had only just arrived in the locker room when Zverev’s match ended early. So it’s all eyes on Lois Boisson as she looks to take it to a deciding set …
Back on Chatrier, Boisson holds serve and takes Pegula to deuce in the next game. The American has lost her rhythm somewhat, some loose shots handing Boisson a break point. And she takes it with an absolute ripper of a winner! The underdog will serve to level up this match …
Next on Suzanne-Lenglen, a little earlier than they expected, are Madison Keys and compatriot Hailey Baptiste. Keys is unbeaten in slams this year, having won the Australian Open title in January, and the 30-year-old is seeking a first quarter-final place at Roland-Garros since 2019.
Baptiste is into the second week of a slam for the first time, having upset Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round. She’s good friends with Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff – who awaits the winner in the quarter-finals – but has taken the long route to her current career-high world ranking of No 70, winning titles on the ITF Challenger circuit.
An epic game unfolding on Chatrier, with both players spurning game points at 3-3 on Pegula’s serve. Locked at deuce after eight minutes, Pegula digs out a drop shot and finds the baseline – and follows up with a cross-court winner. Boisson is making the No 3 seed raise her game, and so far she’s delivering, leading 6-3, 4-3.
There’s nobody ready to interview Zverev on court, so he heads back to the locker room. It’s a shame Griekspoor couldn’t continue after a competitive first set, but it means Zverev has spent under an hour on court and is into the quarter-finals, where he’ll face Novak Djokovic or Cam Norrie.
Alexander Zverev beats Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 3-0 (ret)
Zverev breaks for a second time in the second set, and Griekspoor calls for the trainer. After a very quick discussion, the Dutchman opts to withdraw from the match. Zverev is through to the quarter-finals, but looks a bit nonplussed by it all.
Pegula has two break-back points, and while Boisson saves the first with a pinpoint lob, the American prevails in the next rally. We’re back on serve at 3-3.
After that early break for Griekspoor, Zverev has taken charge – breaking his opponent in the first game of the second, and backing up with a hold to lead 6-4, 2-0.
Boisson does earn a break point, and goes for it on second serve – only to send her return wide. She gets another chance as Pegula nets, and this time the shot down the line pays off! Boisson leads 3-2 in the second set and it’s game on.
Zverev takes the first set 6-4, racing through the required service holds with minimal fuss. Boisson holds for 2-2 in the second set, but may need to start causing Pegula some problems on serve to turn this game around.
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Can Lois Boisson dig in at the start of this second set. A nervy double fault doesn’t help, but she follows it up with an ace and holds for 1-1 as Pegula nets a return. Meanwhile, Zverev has turned things around in the first set – Griekspoor misjudges a drop shot on break point, and the German leads 4-3 in the opening set.
Cam Norrie is up next on Chatrier after this match; the good news for the British No 3 is that he’s back in love with the game. The bad news is he has to play Novak Djokovic today, which may test that enthusiasm.
Fun fact: Korpanec Davies and Solar Donoso, both eliminated from the girls’ singles, are teaming up in the girls’ doubles later on. Also busy is Sara Errani – the Italian, a beaten finalist here in 2012, is playing women’s doubles with Jasmine Paolini, and then mixed doubles with Andrea Vavassori, against British duo Olivia Nicholls and Henry Patten.
Zverev gets the first set back on serve, breaking to trail Griekspoor 3-2. Pegula, meanwhile, wraps up an accomplished first set 6-3 – she’s playing the right kind of game against a punchy but inexperienced opponent.
Pegula gets another break on the board against Boisson, and this time she’s able to back it up with a hold. The American leads 5-3 in the first set; the winner of this one will face Mirra Andreeva next, which is no kind of reward.
The French men’s No 3, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, went out in the second round this year – but his sister, 16-year-old Daphnée, is in action in the girls’ singles later today.
Brit-watch: Out on court 11, 16-year-old Hannah Klugman has won her opening match in the girls’ singles, beating Spain’s Lorena Solar Donoso in three sets. On court four, Allegra Korpanec-Davies has lost 6-2, 7-5 to China’s Ruien Zhang.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles on Court Simonne-Mathieu, British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski have beaten Nuno Borges and Arthur Rinderknech in the third round.
Boisson, who is in the draw as a wild card, digs in to hold serve and the Paris crowd, a little quiet in the opening stages, are starting to get behind her. On Lenglen, Griekspoor earns a break point and converts it, putting away a volley to go 2-0 up on Zverev early in the first set.
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Pegula’s best run here came in 2022, when she lost to Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals. She defeated Marketa Vondrousova, a former finalist here, in the last round. Anyway, back to today, and Pegula has deuce on Boisson’s serve at 2-2 …
Zverev leads Griekspoor 7-2 in their head-to-head record, but the Dutchman pushed him all the way in the third round here last year, Zverev eventually winning a fifth-set tiebreak on his way to the final. This is also Griekspoor’s first trip to the last 16 at a grand slam – and he starts with a routine service hold.
Zverev is about to get started on Lenglen, up against the world No 35, Tallon Griekspoor. Meanwhile on Chatrier, Boisson breaks straight back and is level at 1-1.
A tough start for the outsider, as Pegula breaks in the first game. It’s been a remarkable run to the fourth round for Boisson; she missed the chance to make her French Open debut last year after tearing her ACL, and is currently ranked 361st in the world. She’s also the last French player standing in either singles draw.
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Boisson is serving first against Pegula – if the name seems familiar, she’s the player who received an unpleasant dig from Harriet Dart during a match in Rouen, and handled the fallout in style. And now here she is, in the French Open last 16.
Next up for Andreeva, it’ll be either the No 3 seed, Jessica Pegula, or France’s home hopeful, Lois Boisson. They’re up next on Chatrier, while Alexander Zverev takes on Tallon Griekspoor on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Andreeva chats to Mats Wilander: “I hate playing against herm we practice a lot and even that can be torture for me. I have to play people I don’t like,” she jokes. “Daria raised her level in the second set, but I thought I just have to keep going, keep believing in myself. I’m so happy to be in the quarter-finals.”
Mirra Andreeva beats Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5
It’s been a back-and-forth battle, but Andreeva has prevailed in the key moments – and she shows no sign of nerves in marching to 40-15 and two match points. The first is missed, but Kasatkina goes long on the second. Andreeva is into the quarter finals!
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Andreeva fends off a set point in a hard-fought hold, and then at 5-5, Kasatkina hits another rocky patch. The teenager has two break points, and converts with a looping, slightly mishit return that leaves Kasatkina flat-footed. 6-5, and Andreeva will serve for the match …
Gauff is asked to say something in French, but says she hasn’t learned much – pointing the blame at her Parisian coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel, for not teaching her.
Gauff: “Overall, I thought I played great – she stepped up her game in the second set, she was hitting some balls right on the line. I’m very comfortable on clay, I think my results show that! It’s the most physical surface, and I think that suits my game.”
Coco Gauff beats Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5
The No 2 seed gets the job done, serving out to book her quarter-final place. The first set was a cakewalk, the second a much tougher test – but Gauff was always in charge. She’ll face another American next – either Madison Keys or outsider Hailey Baptiste.
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That parity doesn’t last long, as Gauff moves up a gear to race to 40-0 up on Alexandrova’s serve, clinching the break as her opponent wafts a sliced shot wide. And on Lenglen, Kasatkina’s service game unravels, Andreeva delivering a ruthless cross-court winner to break straight back. Now she’ll serve to save the second set.
Kasatkina breaks again, coming out on top in a bruising rally – and now she’s serving to level the match! On Chatrier, Alexandrova and Gauff are locked at 5-5 in the second set.
Now or never for Alexandrova to take a break opportunity, at 40-15 up in the eighth game of the set – and this time she does get it done with a big cross-court forehand. And what’s this? Seconds later, Kasatkina plays a similar winner to break Andreeva and level up the second set at 3-3. Games on!
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Andreeva holds serve and is just three games from victory at 6-3, 3-1 ahead. Gauff pounces to set up three break points, but Alexandrova shows tremendous grit to prevail in two long rallies and get back to deuce. But it’s all for nothing as Gauff drills a backhand down the line, then seals the break via a helpful net-cord bounce.
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Alexandrova must wish she could have settled quicker; after burning the first set, she’s been much better in the second and is making each service game difficult for Gauff. The American digs her way to another hold, though, and it’s 3-3 in the second set.
Andreeva’s best run at a slam to date came here last year, when she beat Aryna Sablenka on her way to the semis. She’ll be looking to go that far again at least this year and has Kasatkina on the rack here – although her opponent saves a third straight break by digging out a service hold.
From absolutely dominating the first five games, Gauff has been drawn into a bit of a scrap – but her opponent simply can’t convert a break point. More chances go begging here as Gauff holds for 2-2; Alexandrova is now 0-7 on break points.
Magical stuff from Andreeva here, somehow chasing down a Kasatkina drop shot and sending a perfect lob beyond her opponent. That’s earned her a break in the opening game of the second set, and she’s threatening to run away with this now.
On Chatrier, Alexandrova is making a better go of things in the second set, getting on the board with her first service holds. She leads 2-1, still on serve.
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Andreeva breaks in the eighth game of the opening set, and is now trying to serve it out against Kasatkina. An angled forehand clips the line on set point, and she takes it 6-3.
On Lenglen, Andreeva also sees off break points to lead Kastakina 4-3, the first set still on serve. An intriguing clash of styles in that match already.
Broken again and 5-0 down, Alexandrova begins to get something together as Gauff serves for the set – but five break points come and go, and the American eventually seals the bagel despite some first-serve issues.
Gauff has made an ominous start here, taking 16 of the first 20 points and breaking twice to open up a 4-0 lead. Andreeva and Kasatkina are on serve at 2-2 in the first set.
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It’s been a nervy start from Alexandrova, losing her serve cheaply in the opening game, and Gauff backs up the break to lead 2-0. On Suzanne-Lenglen, a potential corker between rising star Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina – born in Russia, now representing Australia – is getting under way.
First up on Chatrier, it’s Coco Gauff against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The American has a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head record. Gauff reached the final in 2022, losing to Swiatek, who also eliminated her in the last two years. As for Alexandrova, she is yet to reach a slam quarter-final but is capable of causing an upset on her day.
If you missed it yesterday, Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round win over Elena Rybakina was an all-timer. The defending champion lost eight of the first nine games and was on course for an embarrassing end to her long winning run here. But Swiatek dug in, levelled up and inched her way ahead in a marathon third set, winning it 7-5 in a match that would have been an excellent final. Or who knows, maybe even Sunday’s night match.
Preamble
Bienvenue. The fourth round continues today at Roland-Garros, and if Sunday’s action is any kind of guide, we could be in for a humdinger of a day. Here’s the order of play:
Court Philippe-Chatrier (from 10am BST)
(20) Ekaterina Alexandrova v Coco Gauff (2)
Lois Boisson v Jessica Pegula (3)
Cameron Norrie v Novak Djokovic (6)
Night game: (1) Jannik Sinner v Andrey Rublev (17)
Court Suzanne-Lenglen (from 10am BST)
(6) Mirra Andreeva v Daria Kasatkina (17)
(3) Alexander Zverev v Tallon Griekspoor
(7) Madison Keys v Hailey Baptiste
Alexander Bublik v Jack Draper (5)
