The French Open
Roland Garros 2024 Women’s Day 7
Aryna Sabalenka took a break-strewn opening set to get acclimatised and then unleashed her game on Paula Badosa on Saturday to roll into the French Open fourth round 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday.
For the fifth day in a row, rain and chilly temperatures made a mockery of the schedule, with only moveable roofs on the Chatrier and Lenglen showcourts allowing play to go on.
Sabalenka won an opening against her best friend in the game in an opening set riddled with seven service breaks in a dozen games.
But the second seed took a stranglehold on her Spanish opponent in the second set as she swept to the win in 77 minutes after leading 4-0.
The only hint of trouble for two-time Australian Open winner Sabalenka came when she trailed 5-3 in the first set, a problem she quickly remedied, losing only one more game in the match.
“I knew I could come back,” she said. “I tried to play my nest and fight for every point in tough conditions.”
Sabalenka said that by adding weapons into her game, she has to avoid the problem of over-thinking while on court.
“It’s more complicated to play, but I didn’t think so much today.
“I was just feeling the game and trusting my instincts, going for all of my shots.
“It’s tough to play your best friend,” said the player with a 5-2 record over the Spaniard who has been returning from 2023 back problems.
“I tried to only focus on myself and bring my best game.”
The winner improved to 14-3 this season on clay, losing only to WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek in Madrid and Rome finals plus going out to current Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the Stuttgart quarters.
“I grateful to be here after all I went through,” former No. 2 Badosa said . “Last year I was on the sofa.
“Today I played one of the best players in the world at Roland Garros.”
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina started off Day 7 play with a 67-minutes defeat of Belgian Elise Mertens, winning 6-4, 6-2.
“It was a tough match, but as always, my serve helped me a lot,’ the Kazakh said.
“I was more confident in the second set so I’m really happy with the performance.”
After pulling out of Rome with stomach illness, Rybakina said she faces constant fitness battles.
“I’ve been struggling a bit with sleep, some issues,and I had to skip tournaments.
“Also allergies and everything. But now I’m feeling pretty well and focused.”
The 88th-ranked Moscow-born French player Varvara Gracheva stunned Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-3 to keep fragile home hopes alive.
The Romanian lost three straight set points serving for victory while leading 5-4 40-0 as Gracheva mounted her miracle comeback.
Lenglen crowds broke into a rendition of the French Marseillaise anthem after the surprise win.
“I will remember that moment until the end of my life,” Gracheva said.
“After the (on-court) interview, they said it’s your first French Open as a French player with the French crowd.
“I said yes. I couldn’t believe what a wonderful atmosphere it was,” said the player who lost seven straight matches from the Australian Open before breaking the spell with a qualifying win in Charleston two months later .
Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen was upset 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-6) by Elina Avanesyan.
Main photo:-Aryna Sabalenka consoles her best friend on the tour Paula Badosa after victory today – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
ATP
Sinner stages fightback to win second Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner rallied after dropping a 65-minute opening set, with the Italian lifting his second straight Wimbledon title 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday over Alexander Zverev.
The result between the pair of elites will keep Sinner on world No. 1 while Zverev nudges injured Carlos Alcaraz aside to take the second ranking position as a result of his performance here.
Sinner collected a fifth trophy at a major after fading in the heat six weeks ago to exit the French Open second round but working with his team and taking medical advice to get back on top of the fitness situation.
Sinner’s recovery in his first-round match from two sets to one down took him all the way to the title a fortnight later.
Sinner crushed a forehand to the empty court on match point to clinch victory in three and three-quarter hours.
“It’s been an amazing final one again. Sasha and I gae it all we had,” Sinner said. “I’m happy about the win and the level that we both played.
“thanks to this crowd – there is no better place to play tennis.”

The match began as a slow-moving affair, with each of the first two sets taking an hour as the pair tested each other throughout. Zverev came to Centre Court one month off his breakthrough Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
Italy’s Sinner won his first Wimbledon trophy a year ago over Alcaraz, who has been off court since April with a wrist injury and has no return date as of yet.
The victory was his 44th of the season against a mere three defeats and his fifth title of 2026.
Zverev accepted defeat and joked during the trophy ceremony: “Jannik, I’m not sure I like you any more. You’ve beaten me 10 times in a row
“But congratulations, Jannik showed why he’s the best player in the world. It was great to share Centre Court with you.
“Unfortunately it did not go my way, but me and my team have had a pretty good two months even if I lost this final.
“I came here never reaching the quarter-finals. At age 29 I actually feel that I can win this trophy.”

The German, who went through a serious knee injury drama several seasons ago, suffered a scare in the third set as he slipped while chasing a Sinner dropshot.
“The 29-year-old sat on the grass favouring his right knee as Sinner came around the net to help him to his feet. Zverev played on after the incident without any medical intervention.
Zverev drew first blood by winning the opening set to end a 14-set losing streak against Sinner.
But the Italian top seed slowly turned the momentum as his game kicked in.
After winning the second and third sets, Sinner moved towards domination of his German opponent in the fourth set
The holder came from 0-30 down to square at two games apiece and broke on his third opportunity of the seventh game to take 4-3 command, backing that up with a love game, 5-3.
Sinner claimed the trophy three games later, firing 15 aces among more than 50 winners.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner falls to the ground to celebrate as he wins Men’s Singles – by Roger Parker/ISF LTD
ATP
Zverev brings the curtain down on Fery-tale run
Alexander Zverev dominated from the start to end the unexpected victory run of Arthur Fery at Wimbledon, with the British wild card going down 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 in the Friday semi-final.
The 23-year-old Paris-born Brit dubbed “Cross-Channel Fery” by tabloid media, lost his bid to become the first local to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Murray and only the fourth Briton overall to get that far here.
With his dominating victory in two and a quarter hours, German’s Zverev became the 13th man to reach the final at all four Grand Slams; he won his only title at a major a month ago at Roland Garros over Flavio Cobolli.
Zverev will be playing in his fifth Grand Slam final.
The mis-match ended on the second seed’s first match point, which he earned with a winning stab volley at the net.
The German took victory a point later as Wimbledon local Fery’s return landed long over the baseline.
Zverev will now face the winner from top seeded holder Jannik Sinner and seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic for the title.
“It’s amazing, this is the Grand Slam where I’ve struggled the most and all of a sudden I’m in the final,” the 29-year-old winner said.
“I’m incredibly happy and proud. But we have one more match to go and that’s what the focus is on.”
Zverev paid credit to Fery, calling his run to semi-final glory “amazing.”
“Credit to Arthur, he’s just beginning his career and I’m sure he will do great things on the court.”
Zverev said he does not care whom he plays in the Sunday final. “No matter who it is, it won’t be easy. I have to trust myself and believe that I can win. That’s what I’m gonna do.”
Zverev has won his last nine matches against British opponents dating to 2023.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev celebrates straight sets win – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd
ATP
Player media “strike” suspended after Wimbledon peace talks
Peace talks behind tightly closed doors at Wimbledon have resulted in a suspension of a top player media strike during the Championships.
A consulting firm representing players who are seeking a rise in prize money to at least 20 percent of tournament takings at the four Grand Slams, broke the news on Monday as opening day play got underway.
It cited “constructive meetings” with Wimbledon bosses over the weekend.
Leading players including world No. 1’s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka limited their time during pre-event media to just 15 minutes – the same protest they staged five weeks ago at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon increased prize money by 20 percent for this edition, but the total is still less than what players are seeking.
Wimbledon officials were quick to spin the truce as a win-win.
“I think it’s great news that we and they can now just concentrate on the championships and on the tennis,” All England Club boss Sally Bolton said.
“We’ve had some really fruitful conversations over the weekend. They’ve been really positive.”
While the pause will last over the Wimbledon fortnight, the prize money issue still remains, with the player side saying “the underlying matters remain unresolved.”
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