Key events
Rybakina wins the first set 6-4
So Svitolina serves to stay in the first set. She does so without too much fuss, sticking to 15. Just as Rybakina steps up to serve for the set, Avanesyan does the same with Suzanne Lenglen. Where should you look? Go! At 30 on Philippe Chatrier, Svitolina goes for the boundary and misses. Set point for Rybakina. And there are two set points for Avanesyan. Rybakina doesn’t make a big deal about it and takes hers, but Avanesyan is taken to deuce. And then it is broken. It’s 5-3.
Svitolina* 3-5 Rybakina
A grab from Svitolina and then she goes straight to Rybakina in the next game, as she reaches 0-15 with good effort. Rybakina then makes a double fault for 0-30. Rybakina’s pace surpasses Svitolina’s in the next two points, all 30. But here’s another breaking point. A backhand battle ensues across the court, deuce. And from there, Rybakina holds strong.
Svitolina* 2-4 Rybakina
Sviotlina shows what she does best here as she runs across the field to get to the short ball. She is extremely fit and her movements are so good. But Rybakina is the better ball striker – and recovers from her stutter by holding and then breaking. The third break of the match so far. And then she manages to put daylight between her and the Ukrainian.
Avanesyan* 3-0 Paolini
They are also underway with Suzanne Lenglen, where Avanesyan, the 21-year-old Russian, has already booked a double break against Paolini, the 28-year-old Italian twelfth seed who is enjoying the best season of her career. Avanesyan eliminated Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen in the previous round, while Paolini was responsible for 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
Svitolina 2-1 Rybakina*
Rybakina appears to be in control as she tries to solidify the rift. She hits the ball so cleanly. But then – out of nowhere – she throws three straight unforced errors and is broken to 30. I didn’t see that coming. And a series of unforced errors from the Russian-born Kazakh in the third game means Svitolina now takes the lead.
The sun is shining even today. Mon dieu!
No fuss from Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, about Philippe Chatrier: she broke Svitolina in the opening match. At 15-40 Svitolina scores her first serve, lands her second, but then sends a forehand long.
Today’s playing order for the main courts
COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER
11am start / 10am BST
(15) Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v (4) Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)(22) Emma Navarro (USA) v (2) Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
Not before 4pm/3pm BST
(1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v (23) Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina)
Night session – not before 8:15pm/7:15pm BST
(4) Alexander Zverev (Germany) v (13) Holger Rune (Denmark)
COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN
11am start / 10am BST
Elina Avanesyan (Russia) vs (12) Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
(11) Alex De Minaur (Australia) v (5) Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
Varvara Gracheva (France) v Mirra Andreeva (Russia)
(12) Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. (7) Casper Ruud (Norway)
Preamble
Bonjour ladies and gentlemen! Ça va? How are you? Très bien!
Welcome to our coverage of day nine of the French Open, where the singles schedule is on track despite the best efforts of rain to thwart proceedings this fortnight, and the fourth round concludes with the men’s and women’s draw .
After Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Marketa Vondrousova showed yesterday that they meant business, especially Swiatek with her 6-0, 6-0 demolition job, today the other title favorites Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina get the chance to deliver a counter-reaction. Rybakina is up first behind Philippe Chatrier in what could be the women’s match du jour against Elina Svitolina, while Sabalenka follows next against American 22nd seed Emma Navarro. Then it’s Novak Djokovic – half defending champion, half zombie after his record of 3.07 yesterday morning – against Argentina’s 23rd seed Francisco Cerundolo.
On Court, Suzanne Lenglen, Alex De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev would do everything they can to beat Djokovic’s record as they have to play in Paris around lunchtime, but by the time they’re done with each other they might only be partially human. others in what could be a battle that continues.
That court will also see Casper Ruud, number two for the past two years, in action against Taylor Fritz, while we are assured of two first Grand Slam Women’s quarter-finalists when Elina Avanesyan faces Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva plays Varvara. Gracheva, the only French hope left in singles.
Playing begins: all suite!
