Live Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek: Score and updates from French Open semi-final

Telegraph

a day ago

Latest updates
Simon Briggs Tennis Correspondent, at Roland Garros. Live updates. Rob Bagchi
05 June 2025 4:12pm
4:12PM
Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 4-6, 1-0 Swiatek (denotes server)
A good return from Swiatek has Sabalenka on her heels and she nets for 15-all.
Swiatek again returns well but changes her mind at the last second with the open court at her mercy to net. 30-15.
A long rally ensues and as Sabalenka comes to the net Swiatek creams a passing shot for 30-all.
A glorious forehand pass down the line from Sabalenka brings up 40-30, and she blasts an unreturnable serve down the middle to win the game.
4:08PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 4-6 Swiatek* (denotes server)
Sabalenka gets the first serve back but nets a regulation forehand and swears at herself for such carelessness.
Sabalenka hastens to the net after playing a drop shot but you have to execute better against the fastest player in the womens' game. A short exchange at the net follows which Swiatek wins.
A lovely pass brings up three set points for Swiatek, the first of which she converts after sending Sabalenka scampering every which way, with a selection of perfectly places groundstrokes. It's one set all.
4:03PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 4-5 Swiatek* (denotes server)
Sabalenka moves 15-0 up but fails to do with a moonball from Swiatek, driving a volley a mile out of court.
A very late out call on a searching long groundstroke from, Swiatek puts Sabalenka 30-15 up and then a lovely drop shot gives her 40-15.
She takes the game by melting another serve down the T.
It'll be Swiatek to serve to level the match.
4:00PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 3-5 Swiatek* (denotes server)
At 15-0 Sabalenka hangs in the point and forces Swiatek to the net with a brutal drop shot the Pole can't reach.
That was a refreshingly long rally.
Swiatek sends a winner perilously close to the baseline toi move 30-15 up and then, after a superbly placed serve, approaches the net to smash home another winner.
If she keeps serving this well she will win the set. She takes the game thanks to another thunderous serve.
That's three holds in a row to 15 from the four-time champion.
3:56PM
Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 3-4 Swiatek (denotes server)
At 0-30 Swiatek throws her racquet at a thunderous Sabalanka crosscourt backhand reminiscent of Carlo Alcaraz.
Swiatek is then given a talking to by the referee for requesting he come down to check the mark of Sabalenka's winner.
A heated exchange follows with Swiatex claiming 'it's not fair' but the referee holds his ground, refuses to come down, as Swiatek had taken too long to make the appeal. It turns out she was right and Sabalnka;s shot was out, but after much ado about nothing Sabalenka serves out the game.
3:52PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 2-4 Swiatek* (denotes server)
Swiatek is looking to preserve her two game lead and is serving well enough to do so.
She pulls out a delightful passing backhand down the line too to move 40-15 up.
And she then puts away a smash to take the game.
3:48PM
Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 2-3 Swiatek (denotes server)
Sabalenka gets back in her serving groove and takes the game with ease.
That must have been the shortest game of the match so far.
3:42PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 1-3 Swiatek* (denotes server)
It's not easy for anyone to buy a hold of serve in this match. Infosys do a stat where they rate particular shots out of ten and they gave Sabalenka a 9.8 for her returning across the whole of the first set. Swiatek got 9.4.
Sabalenka pulverises a return but Swiatek responds with an ace to level at 15-all.
Sabalenka sends a crosscourt forehand wide and in the next rally Swiatek elects to comes to the net where she executes a delightful drop shot for 40-15.
She then repeats the feat – another drop shot – this time from the baseline and that's game. Wonderful tennis from the reigning champion at last.
3:41PM
Sabalenka* 7-6(1), 1-2 Swiatek (denotes server)
Sabalenka is struggling with her serve and throws in two unforced errors to fall 0-40 behind.
All of a sudden it's amateur hour and after forcing Swiatek behind the baseline again she inexplicably sends a backhand into the tramlines. It's another break of serve!
3:38PM
Sabalenka 7-6(1), 1-1 Swiatek* (denotes server)
After an exchange of points Swiatek crashes down a serve that Sabalenka can only just get a racquet head to, but Sabalenka hits some brutal long groundstrokes that keep Swatek pegged back, forcing the Pole to net twice and bring up break point.
Sabalenka drills another ferocious forehand and Swiatek has no answer,an db breaks back.
That's two breaks of serve in the first two games.