Win over Rybakina floods Swiatek with new Paris belief
Iga Swiatek may be the most successful active star in women's tennis but even the five-time grand slam champ admitted she really needed the pick-me-up that her hard-earned triumph over Elena Rybakina has given her at Roland Garros.
The Pole, who's after a fifth French Open crown and a fourth in succession, has been struggling for confidence all season but the way she dug herself out of deep trouble to defeat former Wimbledon champ Rybakina in Sunday's terrific fourth-round clash has flooded her with timely new belief.
The 24-year-old was trailing by a set and 2-0 on Court Philippe Chatrier, and appeared in danger of getting blown away by the clean-striking firepower of the Kazakh which Swiatek likened to having to face Jannik Sinner.
But she somehow managed to battle to a 1-6 6-3 7-5 victory, roared her delight in uncharacteristically ecstatic fashion and declared: "It means a lot."
It's been a hard time for the 24-year-old, who's not won a title all season and has looked as if she's never quite regained her equilibrium ever since a short doping ban last season.
"So I needed this kind of win to feel these feelings that I'm able to win under pressure, and even if it's not going the right way, still turn the match around to win," Swiatek explained.
"It's a great confirmation for me. Obviously it's great to also have full control over the match but against great players, it's not always going to be possible. I'm happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court."
She's now won 25 straight matches at the French Open - but there is one woman who's beaten her there over the last four years and that's China's Zheng Qinwen, who stopped her in her tracks in the semi-final on the way to winning Olympic gold less than 12 months ago.
And eighth seed Zheng is now making good progress herself again, defeating Russian Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-3 to set up a quarter-final humdinger with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who got her toughest workout yet in this edition with her 7-5 6-3 win over American 16th seed Amanda Anisimova.
And Sabalenka, who lost to Zheng in the Italian Open, has no doubt where a world no.1 v Olympic champ tie should be staged.
She's played a couple of matches on the No.2 court, Suzanne Lenglen, but declares: "If you ask me what I prefer, I prefer to play on Philippe-Chatrier.
"The court is so beautiful, and it's much bigger. The moment you step on the Chatrier, you feel like, okay, this is a big stage, and this is where I'm meant to be. This is where I want to compete, and I want to fight, and want to bring my best tennis."
Shock of the day came with in-form Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini being knocked out by the ever battling Elina Svitolina, who saved three match points while battling into her fifth Roland Garros quarter-final.
The Ukrainian stalwart Svitolina has never been beyond the last-eight but was left dreaming on Sunday after she held firm to take down last year's runner-up and fourth seed Paolini 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to set up a quarter-final with Swiatek.
The Italian will be sick of the sight of Svitolina, who also knocked her out in the third round at the Australian Open in January. In that match too, Paolini was leading by a set only for never-say-die 30-year-old to stage a comeback and win the third set to love.
Iga Swiatek may be the most successful active star in women's tennis but even the five-time grand slam champ admitted she really needed the pick-me-up that her hard-earned triumph over Elena Rybakina has given her at Roland Garros.
The Pole, who's after a fifth French Open crown and a fourth in succession, has been struggling for confidence all season but the way she dug herself out of deep trouble to defeat former Wimbledon champ Rybakina in Sunday's terrific fourth-round clash has flooded her with timely new belief.
The 24-year-old was trailing by a set and 2-0 on Court Philippe Chatrier, and appeared in danger of getting blown away by the clean-striking firepower of the Kazakh which Swiatek likened to having to face Jannik Sinner.
But she somehow managed to battle to a 1-6 6-3 7-5 victory, roared her delight in uncharacteristically ecstatic fashion and declared: "It means a lot."
It's been a hard time for the 24-year-old, who's not won a title all season and has looked as if she's never quite regained her equilibrium ever since a short doping ban last season.
"So I needed this kind of win to feel these feelings that I'm able to win under pressure, and even if it's not going the right way, still turn the match around to win," Swiatek explained.
"It's a great confirmation for me. Obviously it's great to also have full control over the match but against great players, it's not always going to be possible. I'm happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court."
She's now won 25 straight matches at the French Open - but there is one woman who's beaten her there over the last four years and that's China's Zheng Qinwen, who stopped her in her tracks in the semi-final on the way to winning Olympic gold less than 12 months ago.
And eighth seed Zheng is now making good progress herself again, defeating Russian Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-3 to set up a quarter-final humdinger with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who got her toughest workout yet in this edition with her 7-5 6-3 win over American 16th seed Amanda Anisimova.
And Sabalenka, who lost to Zheng in the Italian Open, has no doubt where a world no.1 v Olympic champ tie should be staged.
She's played a couple of matches on the No.2 court, Suzanne Lenglen, but declares: "If you ask me what I prefer, I prefer to play on Philippe-Chatrier.
"The court is so beautiful, and it's much bigger. The moment you step on the Chatrier, you feel like, okay, this is a big stage, and this is where I'm meant to be. This is where I want to compete, and I want to fight, and want to bring my best tennis."
Shock of the day came with in-form Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini being knocked out by the ever battling Elina Svitolina, who saved three match points while battling into her fifth Roland Garros quarter-final.
The Ukrainian stalwart Svitolina has never been beyond the last-eight but was left dreaming on Sunday after she held firm to take down last year's runner-up and fourth seed Paolini 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to set up a quarter-final with Swiatek.
The Italian will be sick of the sight of Svitolina, who also knocked her out in the third round at the Australian Open in January. In that match too, Paolini was leading by a set only for never-say-die 30-year-old to stage a comeback and win the third set to love.
Iga Swiatek may be the most successful active star in women's tennis but even the five-time grand slam champ admitted she really needed the pick-me-up that her hard-earned triumph over Elena Rybakina has given her at Roland Garros.
The Pole, who's after a fifth French Open crown and a fourth in succession, has been struggling for confidence all season but the way she dug herself out of deep trouble to defeat former Wimbledon champ Rybakina in Sunday's terrific fourth-round clash has flooded her with timely new belief.
The 24-year-old was trailing by a set and 2-0 on Court Philippe Chatrier, and appeared in danger of getting blown away by the clean-striking firepower of the Kazakh which Swiatek likened to having to face Jannik Sinner.
But she somehow managed to battle to a 1-6 6-3 7-5 victory, roared her delight in uncharacteristically ecstatic fashion and declared: "It means a lot."
It's been a hard time for the 24-year-old, who's not won a title all season and has looked as if she's never quite regained her equilibrium ever since a short doping ban last season.
"So I needed this kind of win to feel these feelings that I'm able to win under pressure, and even if it's not going the right way, still turn the match around to win," Swiatek explained.
"It's a great confirmation for me. Obviously it's great to also have full control over the match but against great players, it's not always going to be possible. I'm happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court."
She's now won 25 straight matches at the French Open - but there is one woman who's beaten her there over the last four years and that's China's Zheng Qinwen, who stopped her in her tracks in the semi-final on the way to winning Olympic gold less than 12 months ago.
And eighth seed Zheng is now making good progress herself again, defeating Russian Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-3 to set up a quarter-final humdinger with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who got her toughest workout yet in this edition with her 7-5 6-3 win over American 16th seed Amanda Anisimova.
And Sabalenka, who lost to Zheng in the Italian Open, has no doubt where a world no.1 v Olympic champ tie should be staged.
She's played a couple of matches on the No.2 court, Suzanne Lenglen, but declares: "If you ask me what I prefer, I prefer to play on Philippe-Chatrier.
"The court is so beautiful, and it's much bigger. The moment you step on the Chatrier, you feel like, okay, this is a big stage, and this is where I'm meant to be. This is where I want to compete, and I want to fight, and want to bring my best tennis."
Shock of the day came with in-form Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini being knocked out by the ever battling Elina Svitolina, who saved three match points while battling into her fifth Roland Garros quarter-final.
The Ukrainian stalwart Svitolina has never been beyond the last-eight but was left dreaming on Sunday after she held firm to take down last year's runner-up and fourth seed Paolini 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to set up a quarter-final with Swiatek.
The Italian will be sick of the sight of Svitolina, who also knocked her out in the third round at the Australian Open in January. In that match too, Paolini was leading by a set only for never-say-die 30-year-old to stage a comeback and win the third set to love.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
40 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Lorenzo Musetti spared French Open disqualification after kicking ball into lines judge
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2. The 23-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4. The No.8 seed was lucky not to be disqualified after kicking a ball at a line judge, however. In the second set against Tiafoe, Musetti kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the female line judge, standing about three metres away, in the chest. Tiafoe looked stunned at the other end of the court and gestured towards the umpire, who eventually gave Musetti a code violation. There were echoes of Novak Djokovic being defaulted at the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball. Later, Tiafoe said: 'I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened. I think that's comical, but it is what it is. 'Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is.' Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his mate Jannik Sinner is standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. 'We are Italian, we are elegant,' he joked afterwards. Musetti will meet Alcaraz, who steamrollered American No.12 seed Paul for the loss of five games in another one-sided night match. Paul's right thigh was heavily strapped and he was unable to produce his best tennis. 'I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis. I had to do my work,' Alcaraz told the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd.
ABC News
40 minutes ago
- ABC News
Aryna Sabalenka wants 'equal treatment' over scheduling of French Open women's matches
Aryna Sabalenka is the top-ranked player in women's tennis. Yet even that status did not spare her from competing in front of empty seats at Roland-Garros. The three-time major singles champion faced China's Zheng Qinwen in the first quarterfinal match on Tuesday, beginning at 11am (local time) on Court Philippe-Chatrier. When play began, large sections of the 15,000-seat stadium were still unoccupied. It is a common sight in the early hours at the French Open, when many ticket holders opt for lunch or arrive later in the day. "It was a big match and probably would make more sense to put us a little bit later just so more people could watch it," Sabalenka said after her 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win. "I definitely think that would make more sense to kind of like move our match for a little bit later." But scheduling more night sessions for women is proving a tough issue to resolve for French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo. Since the introduction of night sessions in 2021, only four women's singles matches have been featured in that marquee time slot. Serena Williams played in the first night match at Roland-Garros, but pandemic restrictions meant the stands were empty. No women's matches have been scheduled for the evening session this year, which Sabalenka said needed to be changed. Asked about her views on the fact that women have not played a single night match this year, the Belarusian said they deserved "equal treatment." "There was a lot of … great battles, a lot of great matches which would be cool to see as night sessions," Sabalenka said. "Just more people in the stands watching these incredible battles. And just to show ourselves to more people. I definitely agree that we deserve to be put on a bigger stage. Like better timing, more people watching." Sabalenka plays defending champion and fifth seed Iga Świątek in the semifinals. Świątek, chasing a fifth French Open title, defeated 13th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 7-5. American Francis Tiafoe said tennis rules lacked consistency after Lorenzo Musetti escaped punishment for kicking a ball that struck a line official in his quarterfinal victory. The incident occurred in the second set of their match when Musetti was given balls to serve. The Italian kicked one with his left leg and inadvertently hit a line judge, who barely flinched even though she was hit on her upper body. Musetti apologised and was immediately given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct by the chair umpire. But he was not defaulted and the incident drew comparisons to another involving Novak Djokovic at the 2020 US Open. A petulant swipe at the ball after having his serve broken brought an end to Djokovic's campaign in New York five years ago after he struck a line judge in the throat. "Obviously he [Musetti] did that and nothing happened," Tiafoe told reporters after his 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat. "I think that's comical, but it is what it is. Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. "Obviously, it's not consistent, so it is what it is." Musetti said it was an "unlucky coincidence". "I immediately went to the line umpire, and I of course said sorry, I apologised to everyone," Musetti said. "It was right to have a warning, but I think the umpire saw that there was no intention about that, and that's why probably just let me continue my game." Musetti will next face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who advanced to the semifinals via a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory over 12th seed Tommy Paul. Reuters
West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Musetti eases past Tiafoe to reach semi-finals
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2 in the same stadium where he won a bronze medal at last year's Olympics. The 23-year-old No.8 seed will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Tommy Paul on Friday for a place in Sunday's final. Tiafoe, the No.15 seed, reached Tuesday's quarter-final without dropping a single set. But he was not quite up to the task against Musetti, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2024, and it showed right away. Tiafoe missed all eight first serves in his first service game and sent a backhand wide to give Musetti a break and a 2-0 lead. He looked up at his coach, David Witt — who's worked with Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula in the past — and complained about the wind. The deficit was 3-0 after just 13 minutes. By the time that set was over, 21 of Musetti's 30 points had arrived via mistakes by Tiafoe, nine forced and 12 unforced. Tiafoe's first break delivered a 2-1 lead in the second, and when he smacked a forehand winner to level the match at a set apiece, he let out a roar and shouted, "Let's go! Let's go!". During that set, Musetti was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct for kicking a tennis ball that inadvertently hit a linesperson. Unlike most top-level tennis tournaments, which rely on electronic line-calling, there are still humans on court at Roland Garros to decide whether shots land in or out. However, Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his pal Jannik Sinner standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. "We are Italian, we are elegant," he joked afterwards. With agencies
