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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
Hot-headed Nick Kyrgios will skip the French Open for the ninth time in his chequered career, with the now-part-timer vowing to take another crack at Wimbledon.
The 30-year-old, once notorious as the foul-mouthed bad boy of the ATP, has gone quiet in recent seasons as his career trailed off due to injury, a 2023 wrist operation and what some see as a lack of desire to compete at the elite level.
The Australian who played the 2022 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, , has made just two Grand Slam appearances in the four intervening years.
With his current ranking flirting with the 1,000 mark, Kyrgios will need either a wild card or qualifying rounds to secure his first place at the All England Club since 2022.
The Kyrgios disdain for clay is evident, with the Aussie last competing at Roland Garros nine years ago; in five previous entries, he never advanced past the third round.
Kyrgios detailed his rough-draft schedule to Britain’s Tennishead: “The clay court and I have an interesting relationship—maybe not this year, but next year is a possibility.
“I’m working toward Wimbledon and will be playing in Stuttgart and Mallorca this June. I can’t wait to be back on the grass playing some really, really high-level tennis.”
Kyrgios opened up a bit more to the Good Trouble podcast: “All I do now is play for the fans.”I still have a massive following.
“Now, I just enjoy going out there for the fans and putting on a crazy show, seeing the kids out there, that’s basically why I’m playing now.
Main photo:-Wimbledon 2022 Novak Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios in Mens Singles Final – Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Novak Djokovic is playing tennis on his own terms in 2006, with the 37-year-old happy to pick and choose his events as a record-breaking career winds down.
Djokovic will be back on court at the Indian Wells Masters, his first event since losing the Australian Open final in January to Carlos Alcaraz after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semis.
The five-time champion won three trophies on the trot from 2014-2016 sounded happy to be back in a comfortable and familiar setting in the Californian desert.
“My logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that,” he said.
“Schedule is unclear; it revolves mostly around Slams. I pick and choose where I want to play. It’s not just from a tennis standpoint but also emotionally, whatever it is that inspires me to come.”
The Serb with 24 GrandSlam titles added: “Indian Wells has been always a location that I was really happy to come back to in a tournament that I really love playing.
“I haven’t had great results and performances in the last 10 years, but in the first 10 years of my career, this was one of my best tournaments.
“I really enjoy the thrill of competition. I enjoy still getting out there in front of the
fans and really being competitive.”
The ATP No. 3 said he sees no signs yet of slowing. “No. 3 is no so bad in erms of ranking and results and performances.
“I’m still competitive. I still have that edge, and I’ll keep on
going as long as I feel like it.”
Stan Wawrinka wrapped up his career with a fourth-round loss and then shared a beer on court to make the end of his Australian Open career on Saturday.
The 40-year old three-time Grand Slam champion lost a battle to Taylor Fritz 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and walked off court for the final time at the event where he won his first Grand Slam title 12 years ago
The Swiss will retire at the end of this season after more than two decades in the sport in a career overshadowed somewhat by compatriot Roger Federer.
Wawrinka was farewelled after the match by TD Carig Tiley, with the pair sharing beers which Stan retrieved from his bag.
With his family and longtime coach Magnus Norman in the stadium, the fans gave the right-hander with perhaps the most beautiful and lethal backhand in the game a standing ovation.
“At the end of last year, I felt that retiring was the right thing to do,” Wawrinka said. “But this season is not a farewell tour.
“I wanted one last chance to say goodbye to the people of Melbourne; there are so many emotions here.
“I’m sad to leave but this has been an amazing journey.”
Main photo:- Stan Wawrinka shares a tinnie with Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley
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