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Roland Garros Women’s Day 10
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday to earn her first semi-final at the French Open in a grudge match missing both a pre-match picture and a concluding handshake.
The WTA No. 2 from Belarus is public enemy No. 1 for Ukrainian players like Svitolina, with all of them refusing to interact with Russian or Belarus players as the invasion of Ukraine continues.
Sabalenka, who could take over the No. 1 ranking spot for the first time under certain scenarios for the Grand Slam, accepted the pre-ordained snubs gracefully, with Chatrier showcourt fans giving both players applause.
Sabalenka continues to break new ground at Roland Garros after never getting to the second week of play in Paris; in five previous editions she had never been past the third round.
She is now into a semi-final against Czech Karolina Muchova, who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-2.
Sabalenka struck 30 winners to just seven for former No. 3 Svitolina, making a post-pregnancy comeback this season.
“She’s a tough opponent and is doing really well after giving birth,” the winner said.
“I was happy with the atmosphere for the match, it was amazing.
“I want to stay here for as long as I can and bring my best tennis.”
“I trained a lot as a kid on clay, so I’m very comfortable on the surface. I hope I can go farther at this tournament.”
The Australian open champion beat Muchova in the only previous match in China four years ago.
Muchova will be contesting her second Grand Slam semi-final after Melbourne in 2021 prior to an abdominal injury after the US Open two years ago which kept her off court for half a season.
The 19th-ranked Muchova has battled back from a ranking which stood 235 last August; she owns an improving 23-7 match record this season in WTA draws.
“I played great from the start of both sets, that for sure helped,” the winner said.
“Nastia was playing very aggressive but a few mistakes helped me.
“I’m pleased about that and great that I won in two sets.”
The 26-year-old whose ranking is back up to 43rd said she hopes to keep going as she plays her second semi at a major.
“I’m really, really happy with the semi-finals; it’s a really great result for me, so I appreciate it a lot.
“Of course I’m still in the tournament, so I’m trying to focus on another match – the tournament starts here.
“I look calm but I’m super, super pleased with the way this tournament is going.”
Main photo:-French Open 2023Aryna Sabalenka (—) wins quarter final match and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina avoids handshake by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
23 Time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams claims she would have received a 20 year ban if she had failed a drugs test similar to that which ATP World No. 1 Jannik Sinner received just a three month suspension in February 2025.
“I love the guy, love this game,” Williams, told Time magazine after being named one of its 100 most influential people.
“He’s great for the sport. I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him.
“(But) if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten grand slams taken away from me.”
43 year old Williams retired in 2022 and joked that she took extra precautions to avoid any accidental ingestion of an illegal substance, and that a PED scandal would have landed her “in jail.”
“I miss it a lot, with all my heart. I miss it because I’m healthy,” Williams said. “If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much.”
Sinner’s suspension ends on May 4, having twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024 and is expected to make his return to the tour at the Italian Open, in the ATP 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome beginning on May 5.
The Italian has always maintained his innocence, claiming the drug entered his system through a massage from his trainer.
Harriet Dart the British No.4 has apologised after suggesting to the Chair Umpire during her first round loss, 0-6,3-6 at the Rouen Open in France to Lois Boisson, that her opponent “should wear deodorant, she smells really bad.”
The crushing defeat lasted just 28 minutes.
Dart later posted on her Instagram page : “I want to apologise for what I said on court today, it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret.
“That’s not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and how she competed today.
“I’ll learn from this and move forward.”
Today the French player made light of the incident and “reached out” on Her Instagram page that WTA Sponsor and soap manufacturer Dove might be looking for a “collab”
Main photo:- Lois Boisson reaches out to WTA Sponsor Dove – © Instagram
Sefanos Tsitsipas overcame a slow start to his Monte Carlo Masters title defence with the three-time holder and defending champion forced to go the distance to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win into the third round on Tuesday.
The Greek was tested by Australian Jordan Thompson before staging a fightback to take control and advance in his opening match of the European clay spring.
He advanced with 22 winners against 29 unforced errors in two hours. Tsitaipas recovered after his Aussie opponent claimed the opening set with just four unforced errors.
“After the first set I tried to work around my serve,” the winner said. “There were tricky moments at the start. I had to get a hold of my serve.
“I started to feel more stabilised and tried to return well. There was not much to work with but I tried to pay without reserve.
“I hung in and tried to find something to reignite my consistency in my game. Once the serve clicked my confidence on return became better.”
Tsitsipas is trying to become the first man to win the event four times after the 11 of Rafael Nadal.
The 26-year-old owns an ATP leading 29 wins in clay events at the Masters 1000 level.
Main photo:- Stefanos Tsitsipas winning in Monte Carlo – by ATPTour.com
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