Sabalenka going for everything

New York Times

16 hours ago

Catch up on the French Open semifinal reaction after Gauff and Sabalenka beat Loïs Boisson and Iga Świątek respectively at Roland Garros Getty Images Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka is known for her power. It's hard to believe that she's hitting her groundstrokes harder than she's had the entire match, isn't it?
She's plastering Iga Świątek's serve off the return, dictating the point and putting the Pole on her heels. Sabalenka is hitting her forehand even flatter. And her backhand is deep off the return, forcing Świątek to hit unforced errors.
It's one of the main reasons why Sabalenka's up a double break in this final set.
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 4-6, *4-0 Świątek
This is where Sabalenka has come alive.
It has been an up and down match for her but Świątek is crumbling as Sabalenka asserts herself as No. 1.
She is running away with the third set as Świątek makes error after error and can't keep the ball on the court. Getty Images
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 4-6, *4-0 Świątek
Wow, wow, wow!
You could maybe have predicted a Sabalenka win over three sets but her surge to a 4-0 lead in this third set is really impressive.
She's just broken Świątek without the reigning champion managing to get a point on the board. A rough start to the set for the No. 5 seed.
This is a scintillating start to the final set for Aryna Sabalenka. The world No. 1 hasn't had a sniff at a break of Iga Świątek's serve.
Until that last game. I love how Sabalenka hit behind the No. 5 seed with a powerful cross court forehand out wide, before Świątek committed an unforced error to end the game.
After breaks of serve today, there have been four service holds and six immediate break backs. Let's see if Sabalenka can consolidate. Getty Images
Iga had good reads on that break point. She was in position to extend the rally but couldn't seem to handle the pace.
I had her winning in three sets. I still believe — but if she keeps making errors by going for big shots instead of getting into points, that's going to be a problem.
She's up 24-14 on points longer than four shots. But Sabalenka is 71-46 on points that last four points or fewer. Getty Images
Another bit of Sabalenka variety — a chipped return short in the court off a strong first serve — draws a crucial error from Świątek, who again tried to hit up on a low ball close to the net rather than hitting a slice with her racket under the ball.
She has been good at the net the past few games, but not on that sort of shot. Sabalenka duly breaks to move four games from the final. Getty Images
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 4-6, *2-0 Świątek
How important could this be?
Sabalenka gets the break as Świątek drills a return into the net. After a frustrating second set, Sabalenka has chance to replicate the first with a blistering start to this deciding set.
Świątek has made five unforced errors in this set so far.
Sabalenka won't be happy about her first-serve percentage dropping to 48 percent in that set, but it does give her something to build back up in the decider.
The short point / long point battle is the same as it was, but Świątek won 71 percent of points behind her first serve in the second set, compared to 43 percent in the first.
Sabalenka actually raised her effectiveness too, from 64 percent to 75 percent. Getty Images
Break points won: Sabalenka: 60 percent
Świątek: 50 percent
Winners:
Unforced errors: Getty Images
The feel Świątek demonstrated in that exchange at the net is symptomatic of a set in which she's played with much better variety and touch. We're back level at a set each and have the third set this match deserved.
I went for Sabalenka in three before the match, have to stick with that — even though the momentum is with her opponent. Getty Images
In full recognition of the fact that there is a 50 percent chance I'm wrong... I think Sabalenka needed to win this match in two sets.
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 4-6 Świątek
That was an excellent set from Świątek.
She turned things around to make it a game where she could thrive as opposed to fighting for it on Sabalenka's terms.
What a treat (for us, anyway) to go to a third set. Getty Images
A few more sliced returns and lobbed defenses are also sneaking in. Not always coming off but giving Sabalenka different looks. Sabalenka throws in a change-up of her own with a nice drop shot, flowing into the court and wafting it over the net.
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 4-5* Świątek
That was an important hold from Sabalenka — can she take this further and turn the tide in this set like Świątek did to her in the first?
Świątek will get another chance to get the job done here. Getty Images
Iga Świątek's serve isn't the strongest part of her game. However, I've been impressed with her ability to finish points quickly on her serve.
At 30-5, Świątek unleashed a 180 km/h wide serve, before capitalizing on the forehand approach winner. Then at game point, a blazing 188 km/h serve up the T which Aryna Sabalenka couldn't handle the return.
Let's see if the efficient serving continues as the match progresses. Getty Images
Iga seems to be playing some very basic big-margin tennis.
She's going cross court and into open spaces. Limiting her errors. First serve percentage climbing into the 60 neighborhood. Controlled aggression.
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), 3-5* Świątek
A couple of perfectly placed serves have put Świątek within a game of this set.
That might be her strongest service game of the match — and this has been a much faster set at 33 minutes to 77 minutes in the first.
She's moving through the gears now. Getty Images
Wow. Service holds. In this match?
Yes, you're not dreaming. That's four straight holds between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek.
If the five-time slam champion holds in this next game, it'll be the first time either player has three consecutive service holds. Getty Images
Sabalenka (7)7-6(1), *2-4 Świątek
Świątek has been finding the backhand winners and looks increasingly self-assured as she finds answers to Sabalenka's way of playing this match.
The Pole did not hold a game until the seventh of the match so it's hardly a surprise that it has taken her a while to find her groove in her serve again.