Swiatek fuelled by 'positive energy' to oust Raducanu
"This place inspires me," said Iga Swiatek - and that pronouncement alone in her Roland Garros stronghold should have been enough to terrify the resurgent French Open champion's challengers.
The 'Queen of Clay' hasn't won a single tournament - indeed, she hasn't even reached any final - since she won her fourth title here last year. She's sounded and looked riddled with doubt.
Yet on Wednesday, back at 2 Avenue Gordon Bennett, she was somehow infused with what she felt was "positive energy".
What a performance she delivered to hammer another grand slam winner, Emma Raducanu, who's been in resurgent mood herself of late, but who just couldn't live with the peerless Pole in a 6-1 6-2 rout.
"It was so one-way and so one-sided," Raducanu sighed, doubtless recalling how she only took one game off Swiatek in their Australian Open joust in January.
"I guess when Iga is playing well on a court that she's very familiar with, the difference is huge."
It was and it always is against the luckless Briton. Swiatek shrugged that it was just a match-up that works well for her as she improved their head-to-head to 5-0 without a set dropped.
It's now 23 match wins in a row for Swiatek at her favourite slam, but she's not about to pretend everything is fixed after such a rocky year by her imperious standards.
Two wins did not a grand slam triumph make, she gently chided her interrogators. "You always need to be on your toes and ready for what life brings you. And sometimes, it's going to be good, and one day it's not going to be so easy."
Aryna Sabalenka is making it look easy, though. Swiss leftie Jil Teichmann was excellent early on, leading 3-1, but ended up getting pounded into the red dirt 6-3 6-1 for her impertinence.
There's be a terrific third round clash in prospect between China's Zheng Qinwen, who won the Paris 2024 Olympic title on these courts, and Canada's exciting 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko after they both made comfortable progress.
Eighth seed Zheng is looking hugely impressive, her power overwhelming Colombia's Emiliana Arango 6-2 6-3, while Mboko's maiden slam adventure will continue into a sixth match after beating Germany's Eva Lys 6-4 6-4 .
Elina Svitolina was up late, cheering on husband Gael Monfils in his three-and-a-half hour, five-set comeback triumph over Hugo Dellien in Tuesday's night match, but the 13th seed showed no ill-effects as she beat Anna Bondar 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.
"I'm very happy with his performance, the way that he fought yesterday," she said, adding with a smile: "Of course, I cannot allow myself to be frustrated for him to make his match long!
"I just fully support him. Doesn't matter what time he plays."
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Friday fright night for Alcaraz before Paris triumph
Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Poportunity knocks: Big clay court breakthrough as Aussie surges into French Open's second week
With his backhand fortified and his confidence rising, Alexei Popyrin has an opportunity to reach the quarterfinals of a grand slam for the first time after surging into the second week of the French Open with a stirring display on Friday. After a run of outs at Roland Garros surprising given his credentials as a former French Open boys' champion, the Australian has demonstrated in Paris over the past week the weaponry that makes him a threat on the shifting surface. Pitted against tough Portuguese Nuno Borges in a third round clash on Friday, Popyrin overcame the frustration of having several opportunities go begging in a dramatic second set on the way to a 6-4 7-6 (11) 7-6 (5) triumph in just over three hours. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. After being untouched on serve for the best part of the 75 minutes, the Sydneysider twice dropped his delivery when attempting to move to a two set lead and ultimately required six set points, while saving two himself, to snare a pivotal moment in a testing battle. Opportunity knocked at different stages through the third set as well, with the three-time ATP Tour titleholder holding four break points at 4-3 and then two match points at 5-4 in service games of Borges. Popyrin was then forced to save a break point of his own at 5-all, with his superb serve coming to the fore once again. Come the tie-breaker, he was the superior player and used a balance of power and touch to seize an important win in his career on his fifth match point, with a booming serve down the T proving unreturnable. '(The second set) was very important. I think going two sets to love up, or one set all, is a completely different ballgame,' Popyrin said. 'To be able to get through that tiebreak, I had two opportunities to serve for the set (and) wasn't able to do it, considering how well I served the whole match. 'That was quite a surprise. Those were the only two times I was broken in the whole match. It was a weird kind of four or five games. Then ... going through that tiebreak, it was really tight. I knew how important it was. 'But at the same time, I just tried to keep focus on my serve. Then when the opportunity arose on my return, then I would try to capitalise on it. That's kind of what happened.' He will now face top American Tommy Paul, a semi-finalist in the Australian Open two years ago who is currently ranked No.12. The pair have met four times, with the American leading the head to head 3-1, but none of their meetings have been on clay. Paul has been stretched the distance in two of his three matches to date, including a five set triumph on Friday on what was a particularly warm day in Paris, but the Australian said he doubts the extended matches will worry him. 'Honestly, I think Tommy is one of the fittest guys on tour. The work he puts in the gym, the work he puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out on Sunday and play normal,' he said. 'For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters. It's to keep focusing on myself, to keep focusing on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks and trying to bring that level again, trying to bring that consistent level. 'For me, that's the most important. Not to focus on how he feels or what he's done in previous rounds. I know how fit he is. I think the whole tour knows how fit he is. He's not going to come out there and show you that he's tired, that's for sure.' It was an impressive performance from Popyrin, who rose in prominence last August when becoming just the fourth Australian after Pat Rafter, Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt to win at Masters level when successful in Montreal. He followed that exceptional effort by upsetting 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic at the US Open when reaching the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time. Popyrin believes that experience will stand him in good stead for Sunday's opportunity. 'I know how I'm going to be feeling in the fourth round of a slam. Going into the fourth round against 'Foe (Frances Tiafoe) in the US Open, I had no idea how I was going to feel, especially coming off a match like the third round against Novak,' he said. 'You get the emotional highs, then you top that off with the physical stress. You're never going to be 100 per cent going into a fourth round of a slam. That's something I can kind of learn from, which we have. 'But then again, the first three rounds have been nowhere near as tough as that Novak match in the third round there. It's actually a positive on my side. I'm feeling quite good, considering the circumstances of it being a fourth round of a slam. Hopefully I can keep feeling that way.' In a season that has been far from a smooth ride, with Popyrin's former coach Xavier Malisse shocking him at Indian Wells when calling an end to what had been a fruitful partnership, the agile right-hander has regained his best form in Paris. He had been building in recent weeks with runs to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and also the Geneva Open clinched by Djokovic last week. But under new coach Wayne Ferreira, Popyrin has taken another step forward in a career that has promised much after his success as a junior in Paris in 2017. He believes he is becoming more consistent under his new mentor. 'That's what I've been talking about all week, I think, the consistency part,' he said. '(It is about the way) I play these matches, where you can play your best tennis against a top-10 player, but when you play a player ranked 40, 50, 60, you're the favourite, you have to bring that consistent level, the level you play against a top player. That's what I struggled with. 'I think changing the mindset into being a little more consistent, not going for winners at the first opportunity, trying to build a point up, I think that helps. That's kind of the way we've been focusing the first, well, since the start of the clay. It's been working well.'
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Friday fright night for Alcaraz before Paris triumph
Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
