The French Open

Roland Garros Women’s Day 4

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

Iga Swiatek struggled but mounted a third-set fightback to extend her spring win streak on a wet Wednesday at the French Open as a majority of matches were postponed due to the weather.

The top seed and three-time Roland Garros winner triumphed in a thriller over fellow multiple Grand Slam champion and one-time No. 1 Naomi Osaka 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 under the closed roof of the Chatrier showcourt.

The world No. 1 rallied from 5-2 down in the final set and saved a match point in the ninth game as nerves got the better of Japan’s Osaka, playing this spring for the first time since trakin 2023 off to give birth.

Swiatek broke again for 6-5 and closed out her narrow escape a game later on her first march point at the three-hour mark.

She has now won her last 14 matches on clay.

“It was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set, but I managed somehow to win this match, which is kind of abstract, but I’m glad that I didn’t give up,” Swiatek said.

“I honestly didn’t believe I could win, because I would be pretty naive.

“But it didn’t change the fact that I just tried to do work to play better. I

actually managed to be more focused at the end of the match, which went pretty badly In first and second sets.

“I felt like I’m not completely in the zone. When I was under the biggest pressure I was able actually to switch that and maybe that made the difference.”

Osaka took defeat with a positive attitude: “I cried when I got off the court. But I think I’m doing pretty well.

“I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself. I feel like I played her on her better surface.

“I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens.”

Third seed Coco Gauff posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over former semifinalist Tamara Zidansek.

“I definitely didn’t think it was as strong as my first round. I felt like I could have,

especially in the second set, probably won it a little bit sooner,” Gauff said.

“There’s always things you can do better, but I try not to over-analyse everything..

2023 quarter-finalist and eighth seed Ons Jabeur battled past an upset-minded Camila Osorio, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to win her 15th career win in the Paris second round.

Tunisia’s three-time Grand Slam runner-up took a tumble onto the clay in the second set, slightly upsetting her rhythm and allowing her Colombian opponent to start comeback and win her first set in her series with Jabeur.

But the seed recovered in a third set containing five service breaks, with Jabeur edging out victory with the help of 31 winners.

“They were obviously tough conditions for me,” Jabeur said. “I don’t like when the ball gets too heavy.

“I didn’t know how to manage much in the second set, but I’m glad I turned it back in the third.”

She added: “I just tried to focus a lot on my serve. I was trying to be more aggressive.

“I felt it was a bit humid inside that court. I had the game to win this match. I just

needed to believe more.”

Sofia Kenin sent Carolina Garcia out in their first career Grand Slam meeting and left the French crowd disappointed with a 6-3, 6-3 win in 85 minutes.

The American played the 2020 final here, losing to Swiatek four months after winning her lone Grand Slam trophy in Australia.

Kenin broke four times from nine chances to reach the third round in Paris for the fourth time.

“I love red clay, I feel like it suits my game. I try to use it to my advantage, and I love the courts here,” Kenin said.

“Playing on Philippe-Chatrier was even more special and memorable. I feel like I’m super comfortable on that court. I’ve got some amazing memories there, so I try to use that to my advantage.”

Garcia, twice a Paris doubles champion, was playing her home major for the 14th time and now stands 3-8 in second-round play here; she reached the quarter-finals seven years ago.

“I felt like I played super well. The atmosphere was very equal. I
enjoyed it very much,” the winner said. “Winning today obviously meant a lot to

me, especially beating Caro.”

ATP

Zverev scratches 7-year itch with return to Shanghai SF

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2026

Bill Scott

Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.

The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.

After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.

“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.

“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.

“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”

Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.

Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.

“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].

Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.

ATP

Zverev to take over as world No. 1

Published

4 days ago

October 12, 2026

Bill Scott

Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,

The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.

Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.

His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.

Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd

China Open

Zheng claims China Open title over Andreeva

Published

5 days ago

October 11, 2026

Bill Scott

Zheng Qinwen continued an injury comeback season on Sunday, defeating Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 to win the China Open.

Victory at the 1000-level event was the first trophy for the 54th-raked Chinese player who once reached fourth in the world before elbow surgery.

Zheng saved three set points in the opening set and claimed victory by winning the last 11 points of the set, breaking late in the second to conclude her success over her teenaged opponent.

The winner now owns six career trophies after winning her first 1000; she last claimed a title in Tokyo two years ago.

In an odd twist, the new winner was cajoled into singing a few bars of karaoke during the trophy ceremony.

She will now move back into the ranking top 25 while Andreeva advances to third in the world behind Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka after defeating her third top 10 opponent this season.

“The feeling was incredible, two weeks here in Beijing, in front of my home crowd is one of my dreams, especially playing against Mirra, such a great player,” the winner said.

“I’ve been through a very, very tough year.”

Andreeva broke new ground in her own career by reaching the final, becoming the third-youngest this century to reach the top 3 behind Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.

“She’s a great server. I also think today I missed a lot of returns trying to go for it, trying to be more aggressive,” Andreeva said,

“I wanted to go for it but couldn’t really find I guess the margin, couldn’t really find the rhythm, as well. I will probably need to look at this match and just see why, try to improve and learn from that.

“Overall of course it was a good tournament,” she added. “A lot of positives to take from these two weeks. Of course, I felt like today just wasn’t meant to be.

“I think I will be able to look to this match maybe from a different perspective and see maybe some good things.”

Main photo:- Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd