French Open 2024 live updates: Jannik Sinner on court after Coco Gauff and Swiatek reach semi-finals
French Open 2024 live updates: Sinner on court after Coco Gauff and Swiatek reach semi-finals
Follow live coverage of day 10 at the 2024 French Open, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in action today as they aim for the semi-finals
Firstly, I’m thankful we got a previous version of the above graphic into this coverage BEFORE Iga Swiatek rattled through that quarter-final with Marketa Vondrousova.
Secondly, here’s the picture in the women’s singles ahead of tomorrow when we will get the bottom two quarter-finals and a completed semi-final line-up. It’s simmering nicely.
What a supreme performance that was from Iga Swiatek (1). Here’s what she said about that latest straight sets win and her 19th victory on the bounce:
💬 “Honestly, everything worked. I feel I’m serving better and that gave me an extra boost of confidence. I could get on with my game and not overthink anything.
“Today was pretty straightforward. I’m happy I could stay focused. Sometimes in the past my intensity has gone down a bit…but I felt I was in the zone today.”
And as for taking on a familiar opponent in Coco Gauff (3) in the semi-finals, Swiatek added:
💬 “You don’t want to change routines. It’s good to just keep going and think of it as another match. With Coco that’s not easy, she likes playing on clay and playing here. So I’ll think about it and we’ll see how we play.”
She signs off by thanking the crowd and saying, “I’ll see you in two days” — and even that sounded ominous.
Swiatek tees up Coco clash in the semis
Swiatek tees up Coco clash in the semis
SWIATEK 6-0 6-2 VONDROUSOVA
And that is it. Barely longer than an hour on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and Iga Swiatek has demolished the fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova as if she wasn’t worthy of sharing the court with her.
The Pole and top seed does at least throw in an unforced error in her final service game, to offer a glimpse of being human.
But it doesn’t last long, much like the match. Swiatek through to face Coco Gauff (3) in the semi-finals.
Courtesy of our colleagues at The Athletic, here’s how the women’s singles draw looks after that Coco Gauff win.l
She’ll play the winner of Iga Swiatek vs Marketa Vondrousova, on court now.
On the other side of the draw, the winner of Jasmine Paolini vs Elena Rybakina will face the winner of Mirra Andreeva vs Aryna Sabalenka.
SWIATEK 6-0 *4-2 VONDROUSOVA
The good news for Marketa Vondrousova is she won’t lose this match without registering a game.
The bad news, however, is that she’s already a break down in the second as Iga Swiatek marches on like some kind of tennis terminator… or Tennis-nator, if you will.
The top-seed did need to save a break point in the third game. But her response was to break Vondrousova in the next game and then hold.
The world No 1 is now two games away from a semi-final clash with Coco Gauff.
Why Swiatek’s bagels are as good as anyone, ever
In case you were wondering if Iga Swiatek’s penchant for bagels was a little overhyped, our graphic should put it into context.
It basically shows Swiatek averaging as many 6-0 set wins as any leading woman in the modern era, at what is still only the start of her world No 1 journey.
Just look at the names across to her right on that graphic. Iconic.
If Swiatek keeps this up over the long-term, which admittedly is easier said than done, then she would likely be among — and maybe alone as — the greatest of all time.
Welcome to Iga’s Bakery: How world No 1 bagels her opponents
As The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare explains here, bagels — as sets that end 6-0 are known, because the zero looks like one — are seen as such an embarrassment largely because they are so rare.
In just five years on tour however, world No 1 Iga Swiatek has shattered this orthodoxy. As The Athletic showed last month, her number of bagels per week while world No 1 stacks up against the greats — level at the top with 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert.
But how does she do it? Using data from Hawk-Eye and speaking to the players who have to face her each week, here are the staple ingredients at Iga’s Bakery. Check out Charlie’s piece below.
Iga Swiatek’s (tennis) bagels: How the WTA
Iga Swiatek’s (tennis) bagels: How the WTA world No 1 bakes her 6-0 sets
SWIATEK 6-0 *0-0 VONDROUSOVA
Goodness gracious me. There can’t be many tougher challenges in sports than facing Iga Swiatek right now.
The Pole wraps up a bagel, winning the first set 6-0 against fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova.
I make it that Vondrousova only won 14 points in that set. And eight of those were in the fourth game, which she lost.
Astonishingly, that is now the third set in a row that Iga Swiatek hasn’t allowed her opponent to win even a single game. Ouch.
What’s happening in the doubles?
The only men’s doubles match of the day, Machac/Zhang vs Molteni/Gonzalez (8), has just started on Lenglen. It’s 1-1 on serve in the first set.
In the women’s doubles, Errani/Paolini (11) thrashed Anshba/Detiuc 6-2, 6-0, Dolehide Krawczyk (8) beat Kudermetova/Chan 6-2, 7-5, and Shnaider/Navarro defeated Niculescu/Bucsa 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Kato/Kichenok (16) are a set and break up on Melichar/Perez (2) at 6-3, 3-2, while Zvonareva/Andreeva just took the first set 6-3 against Eikeri/Neel (13).
None of the four mixed doubles matches due today have started yet.
Gauff marches on into semi-finals
In case you missed it earlier, there was a beaming smile and a feeling of warmth from Coco Gauff (3) as she took in her final moments on Court Philippe-Chatrier today.
Fresh from beating eighth seed Ons Jabeur in three sets, the US star said:
💬 “I could tell from the crowd, you guys wanted her to win… When I’m not playing I cheer for her, too.”
But today was Coco’s day and so she marches on in Paris, where next she will face either Iga Swiatek (1) or Marketa Vondrousova (5), who are on court now.
Catch up on a cracking match and Gauff reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros, with Matthew Futterman’s piece below.
Coco Gauff beats Ons Jabeur to reach French Open semi-finals
Coco Gauff beats Ons Jabeur to reach French Open semi-finals
The inevitable Iga Swiatek has raced into a 3-0 lead against Marketa Vondrousova on Chatrier with a break at the first opportunity.
And it’s deuce on the Czech’s second service game…
What a day it was yesterday for the defending French Open champion, top seed and world No 1. Novak Djokovic was taken to the brink by Francisco Cerundolo — but more so by his own body. Especially his right knee. As Djokovic said himself:
💬 “At one point I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what’s happening.”
It will come at some point for Djokovic, now 37 years old. Just like it has with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. And that creates an interesting discussion over how and when.
So allow me to point you in the direction of this excellent piece from our correspondent Matthew Futterman, on exactly that. I reckon you’ll have enough time to read it and still be ready for the next quarter-final primed for Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Novak Djokovic: French Open defiance reminds us of inevitability of time
GO FURTHER
Novak Djokovic: French Open defiance reminds us of inevitability of time
What’s coming up in the singles?
Following that Gauff win against Jabeur on Court Philippe-Chatrier imminently is world No 1 Iga Swiatek facing fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova in the women’s singles.
In the men’s singles, Grigor Dimitrov (10) vs second seed Jannik Sinner after that, with Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) vs Carlos Alcaraz (3) due at around 7.15pm BST, 2.15pm ET on Chatrier later on
Gauff’s new record
An interesting stat from our friends at Opta: At 20 years and 82 days old, Coco Gauff is the youngest player to reach three (or more) consecutive women’s singles semi-finals at Grand Slams since Mario Sharapova, who managed four between Wimbledon 2006 and Roland Garros 2007.
She plays and speaks so well for someone who’s just 20!
Big win that for Coco Gauff, who dropped a set and was properly tested for the first time this tournament.
As for Jabeur, a disappointing ending but generally a very encouraging return to form for a player who has struggled so much for fitness and results this year.
The sport is so much better for having a confident and healthy Ons Jabeur
Coco Gauff: ‘Really fun’ match despite support for Ons Jabeur
Coco Gauff, speaking on Chatrier after the match, said: “She’s a tough opponent, well loved on tour. Honestly whenever she’s not playing, I cheer for her too. I know you guys wanted her to win but thanks for making it such a good atmosphere!
“Even when I was in the bathroom, I was thinking ‘this is really fun, win or lose’. There were two people behind my bench cheering for me, and I could hear them. I know I have a lot of love here in Paris, and hopefully you guys can help me through the next round.
“She was hitting a lot of winners against me, which I’m not used to against anybody, really. I got a bit tight on a couple of match points but I did what I needed to do.”
Coco Gauff wins it!
Oh, such a shame for Ons Jabeur.
A brilliant match ends on a poor note for Ons Jabeur.
She has not one, but two very makeable smashes to save the third match point. The first, with Gauff backing away and so much of the court open, is almost straight at Gauff, who manages a loopy return for a second smash.
With the left side of the court completely free, Jabeur directs her smash there, but pulls it horribly wide. Groans around court, but justified applause for Coco Gauff.
She shouts with delight. Great victory. She’ll face Iga Swiatek or Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-final.
