One game away from the opening set

New York Times

2 days ago

Follow live coverage from Roland Garros with Paul and Alcaraz out on court after Tiafoe was beaten by Musetti Getty Images
U.S. No.1 Tommy Paul (12) is in quarterfinal action against Carlos Alcaraz (2) in the final game of day 10 at Roland Garros.
The match is underway and the winner will face Lorenzo Musetti (8) after he beat another American hope, Frances Tiafoe (15), in four sets, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka (1) beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen (8) to set up a mouthwatering semifinal against defending champion Iga Świątek (5), who beat Elina Svitolina (13) in straight sets. TV: TNT, truTV, Tennis Channel (U.S.); TNT, Discovery+ (UK)
TNT, truTV, Tennis Channel (U.S.); TNT, Discovery+ (UK) Streaming: Max for main coverage, Fubo (try for free) for secondary
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Musetti 5-2* Tiafoe
Just a few signs that Musetti can be a bit flimsy here against a full-force Tiafoe.
A lazy backhand into the net gets Tiafoe to 30-30 and the backhand power then brings the American his first break point of the match — saved by a remarkable backhand slice from Musetti that almost tickles the net before dying at Tiafoe's feet.
From there, Musetti isn't hanging around and he holds. The Italian is now a game away from taking the first set. Getty Images
Musetti *4-2 Tiafoe
Back onto the Tiafoe serve, and we've got a replayed point after one of his spare balls rolls out of his pocket. Never ideal.
And yet from that moment, we're finally seeing Tiafoe finding his feet — and just importantly, his first serves.
A lovely drop shot and then a strong volley at the net get Tiafoe to 40-15. But just as you wonder if Musetti is going to be brushed aside for once, a gorgeous backhand down the line switches the dynamic.
Only for a point, though. Tiafoe brings the power with a delicious forehand of his own to seal the game. That is much more like it from the No.15 seed. Getty Images
Musetti 4-1* Tiafoe
Lorenzo Musetti was the bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics on these courts last summer, and he has been playing at this French Open like someone who knows he can cause anyone issues at Roland Garros.
A hold to 15 ticks off another as Tiafoe continues to look a little lost on his first Chatrier outing of the year. Getty Images
Musetti *3-1 Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe actually has the head to head advantage between these two, winning 4-3 — although the pair's only meeting on red clay came in 2023 in Rome, with Musetti winning a third-set decider.
Tiafoe's erratic start continues but at least this time his serve holds and he grabs his first game of this quarterfinal.
The hope will be that he settles down from here — because eight unforced errors inside the opening four games really is not the one. Getty Images
Musetti 3-0* Tiafoe
Tiafoe gets Musetti to 40-30 and it's close, but that isn't going to get him on the board.
Musetti serves it out and consolidates his early break. The American is yet to get going here. Getty Images
Musetti *2-0 Tiafoe
Like for like with the opening service games here, as Tiafoe has to deal with 30-30 — just as Musetti did.
But Tiafoe hits flat into the net off his backhand to give up a first deuce, before an erratic forehand is well wide.
Musetti is moving well, looking settled early, gets a look at Tiafoe's second serve — and it's a wild backhand to complete the set.
An early break for Musetti here. Getty Images
Musetti 1-0* Tiafoe
As Max has teed up — with the two women's quarterfinal matches done for today, it's time to switch attention to the men.
Frances Tiafoe (15) and Lorenzo Musetti (8) are now getting going on Court Philippe-Chatrier: a court where Tiafoe has yet to appear so far at this championship.
Musetti holds his opening service game. The breeze is still up, it seems. Getty Images
Only a second ever Grand Slam meeting between Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka to come, and a first anywhere for 10 months — meaning Thursday's meeting promises to be absolutely blockbuster.
They've never met at a major when both were Slam champions, with their only other Grand Slam meeting coming at the 2022 U.S. Open: a few months before Sabalenka broke her duck in Melbourne.
The setup is perfect. Świątek is the dominant champion here, against the player who has usurped her as world No. 1 but has never reached a Roland Garros final.
Their meeting a year ago in Madrid was by a distance the best WTA match of 2024, and this has the potential — without wishing to jinx it — of getting to that kind of level.
Bring it on. Getty Images
Look at this fantastic image of Lois Boisson roaring with delight after stunning third seed Jessica Pegula to reach the quarterfinals yesterday.
More celebrations like this today please.
📸 Credit to Ian MacNicol of Getty Images for this snap!
Good question.
The quarterfinals on the bottom side of the bracket take place today, with Frances Tiafoe (15) or Lorenzo Musetti (8) set to contest the semifinal against Tommy Paul (12) or Carlos Alcaraz (2).
We could have an all-U.S. semi, meaning a guaranteed American finalist on red clay! Alcaraz and Musetti will have something to say about that, though.
Tomorrow, the top half play: with top seed Jannik Sinner against Jack Draper's conqueror Alexander Bublik and Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Novak Djokovic (6).
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I hope you're keeping track of Iga Świątek's winning streak at Roland Garros.
It's now at 26 matches since Świątek was beaten by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals of the 2021 French Open.
Her extended run is now equal to the longest winning streak in a single women's singles Grand Slam this century.
Świątek is level with Serena Williams, who enjoyed the same run at the U.S. Open from 2012 to 2015.
Here is that winning ace for Iga Świątek. It was her third of the quarterfinal — all three coming in that final game as she served for the match.
Remarkable.
As you can imagine with a four-time champion and the winner at Roland Garros each of the last three years, Iga Świątek is a walking record right now.
For starters, she has now become the player with the highest winning percentage at the French open women's singles in the Open Era — equalling none other than Margaret Court. 95.2% — Margaret Court, IGA ŚWIĄTEK
92.3% — Chris Evert
89.4% — Steffi Graf
88.4% — Justine Henin
* Data via Opta Ace Getty Images
Iga Świątek chatted on court on Chatrier after her win and admitted how difficult it will be facing Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal.
She said: 'For sure I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set. Elina plays better under pressure, when she is losing she steps up. So I am happy that after I saw my intensity was low, I got it high again.'
When asked to explain her three aces in the final game, she added: 'I can't! You could see the serve was kind of weird because of the wind, we were both figuring out how to do it.
'I just went all in. I started to find the lines, that doesn't happen very often, so it was nice to get some points for free.
'I know it's always a challenge (against Sabalenka). I just need to focus on myself, and go for it. She's been having a great season so I'm not going to lie, it will be a tough match, but I'm happy for the challenge.' Getty Images
FINAL: Świątek 6-1, 7-5 Svitolina
Good run for Elina Svitolina, the 13th seed, but fifth seed and defending champion Iga Świątek proved too strong today.
Świątek will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a mouthwatering semifinal here at Roland Garros.
Fans with Poland flags and scarves bouncing in delight.
IGA IS INTO THE SEMIFINALS!
A big ace, her third in that final game, and that's the match wrapped up. Getty Images
Świątek 6-1, 6-5* Svitolina
Crisp change of direction from Świątek, Svitolina can't return it. Then a big ace for 30-0.
Svitolina nice and consistent in that rally, forcing the mistake, 30-15 and the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier rise in noise, backing the underdog.
Wow, another ace. 40-15 and two match points... Getty Images
Świątek 6-1, *6-5 Svitolina
At 15-30, it's a huge point for Elina Svitolina. Lose it and she gives up two break points. Win it and she's 30-all on her own serve.
She does win it but is on the back foot of the point and though her floaty ball might have landed wide, Świątek doesn't take any chances and smashes it away.
Świątek grips it and rips it, big forehand into the corner, Svitolina can't return that.
Break and Iga Świątek will serve for the match and a place in the semifinals.
After beating Elena Rybakina, Świątek spoke about an important tactical change she made mid-match.
She stepped back behind the baseline to return serve, which she almost never does, even against the most powerful players in the sport.
Svitolina isn't in that category — but she is going for almost every groundstroke, especially when it is her turn to return serve.
Świątek moved back from the baseline during rallies against Rybakina too, buying herself more time to take control of points.
She could do with doing it again here, as she is putting herself under pressure when she perhaps doesn't need to do so.
That might be because, as she said, she was very resistant to making that change.