French Open semi-finals: Irate Sabalenka loses lead over Swiatek in first set - radio & text

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 14:55 BST
Title: Swiatek breaks to level first set
Content: Sabalenka 4-4 Swiatek*
But it is Iga Swiatek who takes the fifth point for another look at a break...
And would you believe it, Aryna Sabalenka double-faults!
From 4-1 down, Swiatek is back level in the first set. What a momentum swing.
Update:
Date: 14:54 BST
Title: 'Sabalenka is getting a little bit frustrated with her serve'
Content: *Sabalenka 4-3 Swiatek
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
Aryna Sabalenka is getting a little bit frustrated with her serve here.
She is straining and I'm not sure whether she has seen that Iga Swiatek has gone back behind the baseline.
She tends to lose patience when her opponent is able to extend the rallies over and over again, we saw that in the Indian Wells final.
Update:
Date: 14:53 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sabalenka 4-3 Swiatek
Now it's Aryna Sabalenka shouting at her team.
The world number one, despite retaining a position of authority in this first set, is beginning to feel the heat under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier.
After a double fault is followed by a miss, Sabalenka lets out a huge roar as she gets level and tries to psych herself up for anther couple of points.
Update:
Date: 14:51 BST
Title: 'Swiatek has adjusted to the heaviness of these shots'
Content: *Sabalenka 4-3 Swiatek
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
You can just tell that Iga Swiatek has adjusted to the heaviness of these shots from Aryna Sabalenka.
She is reacting a lot better and her eyes are sending the reactions to her brain quicker.
Update:
Date: 14:50 BST
Title: Swiatek holds serve
Content: *Sabalenka 4-3 Swiatek
That could be huge for Iga Swiatek. A first hold brings the defending champion within one game of Aryna Sabalenka for the first time. It's game on!
Update:
Date: 14:49 BST
Title: 'Swiatek has just glanced up to her box quizzically'
Content: Sabalenka 4-2 Swiatek*
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
That's not an easy situation for Aryna Sabalenka at all.
She thought she was up 5-1 and we could see the tension leaving her body for a second.
Iga Swiatek has just glanced up to her box quizzically, asking what to do with her serve because she hasn't held serve as yet. I'm not sure whether she got any tactical advice.
Update:
Date: 14:49 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sabalenka 4-2 Swiatek*
A run of unforced errors from Aryna Sabalenka, who makes a really poor miss at the net, gives Iga Swiatek three chances to complete her first hold of serve.
Sabalenka closes to within a point with a backhand into the corner. How Swiatek could do with this next point...
Update:
Date: 14:47 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
It's disappointing to see Court Philippe Chatrier not completely full for a match of this magnitude between the two biggest stars in the women's game.
There are gaps in the posh seats closest to the action, as well as empty sections in the top part of the lower bowl.
Tickets at Roland Garros have increased slightly this year, with the main show-court costing either €330 (£280) or €445 (£375) for today's action.
Perhaps those lucky enough to afford them are saving their energy for French hope Lois Boisson later...
Update:
Date: 14:46 BST
Title: Swiatek hits back again
Content: Sabalenka 4-2 Swiatek*
Iga Swiatek strikes back... again!
The defending champion may have not managed to hold serve yet, but she is at least getting stuck in to Aryna Sabalenka's now. There is still a lot of work to do but, crucially, it means she is not out of this first set.
Update:
Date: 14:44 BST
Title: Break point Swiatek
Content: *Sabalenka 4-1 Swiatek
Iga Swiatek dials up the pressure by reaching break point, which Aryna Sabalenka swiftly dismisses with a powerful first serve.
Swiatek then fires back with a blistering backhand return to prevent Sabalenka escaping to a 5-1 lead, before forcing a second break point.
Update:
Date: 14:41 BST
Title: Deuce on Sabalenka serve
Content: *Sabalenka 4-1 Swiatek
Iga Swiatek is having a stern word with herself between points as she desperately searches for some rhythm out there.
Aryna Sabalenka thinks she has wrapped up a hold with a brutal ace at 40-30 but a late let call by the chair umpire means her joy is short-lived.
Swiatek capitalises, taking a free swing at the end of a game she thought she had already lost to reach deuce.
Update:
Date: 14:41 BST
Title: 'Swiatek has adjusted her return stance'
Content: *Sabalenka 4-1 Swiatek
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
Interestingly enough, Iga Swiatek has adjusted her return stance.
She is now standing a few feet further back behind the baseline, allowing herself more time to react to Aryna Sabalenka's serve.
It is the same thing she did against Elena Rybakina when she was down 6-1 2-0 - and we all know how that ended.
Update:
Date: 14:36 BST
Title: Sabalenka restores double break lead
Content: *Sabalenka 4-1 Swiatek
Frustration for Iga Swiatek, but relief for Aryna Sabalenka just as it had begun to look as though her opponent had stolen the momentum - or at least part of it.
Swiatek nets on the second break point to put Sabalenka back in absolute control.
Update:
Date: 14:35 BST
Title: 'Glimpses of a strategy from Swiatek'
Content: Sabalenka 3-1 Swiatek*
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
We are catching glimpses of a strategy here from Iga Swiatek. She is using her backhand inside-out into Aryna Sabalenka's forehand.
Sabalenka's forehand is a huge weapon, but in Madrid and Rome it was a little bit awry and shaky at times.
Swiatek has not only arrived on the board, she has also arrived in this match.
Update:
Date: 14:35 BST
Title: Break points Sabalenka
Content: Sabalenka 3-1 Swiatek*
Perhaps I spoke too soon...
Iga Swiatek may have gained a foothold on Aryna Sabalenka's serve, but she continues to struggle to handle pressure in her own games.
A double fault gifts Sabalenka three break points for a 4-1 lead.
Update:
Date: 14:33 BST
Title: How much can stars glean from practice sessions?
Content: Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
Intense rivalries are what make sport tick - we all know that.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have created the pre-eminent duel of this WTA era, having dominated the tour since Ashleigh Barty retired three years ago.
Getting a closer look at your main rival in practice sessions has become an increasing trend and it's interesting this pair have been sussing each other out as recently as a fortnight ago here.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka practised on Court Simonne Mathieu before the tournament began
So what can we read into that?
"When you play with rivals, you try a few things out that you wouldn't in a match - just to see how they react," says former world number nine Andrea Petkovic, who is covering the semi-final for BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Both of them will have gained some new knowledge in those practices.
"But Roger Federer never really cared in practice and then 'whoopsie' turned it on in a match. So there has to be some caution with what happens."
Update:
Date: 14:32 BST
Title: 'Swiatek should try to stay in rallies longer'
Content: Sabalenka 3-1 Swiatek*
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
I do think Iga Swiatek is rushing a bit here. She should try to stay in the rallies longer. It would help her to take some pace out of these shots.
You can just see some nerves creeping in. We have even seen her opt for a backhand on a ball that was landing on her forehand side.
Update:
Date: 14:32 BST
Title: Swiatek gets one break back
Content: Sabalenka 3-1 Swiatek*
Yep, it feels as though Iga Swiatek has arrived now.
An assured cross-court backhand hauls Aryna Sabalenka back from game point, and another sets up a second break point.
This is the competitive match all inside Court Philippe Chatrier anticipated! After a return to deuce, Swiatek continues to frustrate Sabalenka by reaching a third break point and catches the line to get up and running.
Update:
Date: 14:27 BST
Title: Sabalenka saves break point
Content: *Sabalenka 3-0 Swiatek
Another impressive winner from Iga Swiatek, hammering a forehand down the line to move level before arriving at a first break point.
She's unable to take her first opportunity, but this is much more promising from the former world number one.
Update:
Date: 14:25 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
Blimey. Sabalenka means business.
The pace of her returns means time is being taken away from Swiatek. And she does not like being hurried.
Sabalenka is not just simply a ball-basher these days, though. She is illustrating that by coming forward and showing some touch.