Key events
Swiatek opens shoulders to punish an inside-out forehand into the corner, the body-serve that follows it is too good, and she’s come out raging and ready to go. She leads 3-0 and so far, the class difference looks chasmic.
Easily said! Because Swiatek is hitting it beautifully, powerful forehands earning 0-30; Vondrousova closes to 15-40, only for the same to happen and, on break point, she frames one way out. The champ breaks at the first time of asking and, since Osaka gave her that shock, she’s been brilliant.
Swiatek begins with an easy enough hold, but Vondrousova looks to be hitting it well.
And play…
Vondrousova can be something of a slow starter, both in tournaments and matches. She won’t get away with that against Swiatek, but if she’s at it from the start, she’s the game to make things difficult; not in the way Naomi Osaka did, because she doesn’t have that kind of power, but she does have a fine command of angles and spins to keep opponents off balance. We shall see.
Here come our players…
Next on Chatrier: Iga Swiatek (1) v Marketa Vondrousova (5).
That last point is crucial: she did what she needed to do to win, and ir always kind of looked like she knew what that was an Jabeur did not. But actually, the point about having fun win or lose is crucial too because having won a major, she now knows she can and also that she won’t finish her career without; Ons can’t say the same, and that stress tells.
Gauff says Jabeur is well-loved and a tough opponent; she knows the crowd love her, she cheers for Ons when not playing her, and she loved the atmosphere, telling herself when she went to the toilet mid-match that “this is really fun, win or lose.”
She really appreciates the support she gets too, hoping the crowd will be with her next round, and says she was trying to be really aggressive towards the end having had a lot of winners hit against her – not something she’s used to. She got tight at the end, but did what she needed to do to win.
Coco Gauff (3) beats Ons Jabeur (8) 4-6 6-2 6-3
A ridiculous rally to finish, a rat-a-tat-tat at the net ending when Jabeur goes wide; the way she’s played today, she looks good for Wimbledon, confidence restored. But on clay, Gauff was too solid and patient, roaring in victory having always looked like she had the composure to find a way; she meets Swiatek or Vondrousova next.
Goodness me! Jabeur has serious moxie, caressing a drop to haul Gauff in, sending her back via lob, then tickling a second drop! Fantastic behaviour! But then she chops a miserable return into the net, ceding a third match point in the process!
A shanked forehand hands Jabeur 0-15, then a double compounds the deficit. In Gauff’s box, her mum gives her a look, but when a return drops short, she hurls everything on to the backhand winner that half the arrears. And what a return Jabeur finds next … only to get her feet all wrong at the net, blazing a volley wide; 30-all, Gauff two points away. Jabeur, though, muscles a forehand down the line that’s too good … only for her next return to drift long! Deuce it is, Gauff taking deep breaths to control herself before sending her first serve out; in comes Jabeur! But unloading the suitcase, ball shoulder-height, she can only drag it into the net; Gauff has a second match point!
Jabeur knows, I’m afraid, and she nets a forehand for 0-15 then directed to the corners, strays long. Even when a big inside-outer closes the gap and a big first serve plus one makes 30-all, it’s no surprise when Gauff finds a fine backhand that’s too good, raising match point; Jabeur, though, saves it well. And when, up advantage, Gauff’s forehand – no, that is not a misprint – restores deuce, Jabeur earns game-point a second time then, on the chase to the forehand corner, paints an absurd drop that dies just over the net! At 5-3 in the third, Gauff will have to serve for the match.
Oh man! Up 0-15, Jabeur chases to the forehand corner and whip-cracks a ludicrous forehand winner cross-court, both feet in the air while off balance. The creativity! The athleticism! But at 15-30, having cleverly created the angle for a winner down the line, she nets hitting too flat – that’s the kind of chance she’s got to take – and from there, Gauff closes out for a 5-2 lead. She’s a game away, and this match has been a lesson in keeping patient and consistent even when your opponent is hot.
A sorely needed love-hold from Jabeur, settled with a rattling net-exchange, but Gauff won’t mind that. Novak Djokovic, when up a break, often tanks receiving games so his opponent isn’t in rhythm to try and break back, and though that’s not what happened here, her opponent is running out of road.
Gauff consolidates to love, and this feels over. Jabeur just doesn’t look able to hang with her in normal play – she either finds a buzz, quickly, or she’s jiggered – and that just doesn’t look likely.
An error from Jabeur gives Gauff 30-30, what looks like a cunning drop, flighted over the face of the net, dipping into it. And then, sent wider than ideal by a decent backhand, the Tunisian goes long on the backhand and Gauff, 3-0 from break-points today, has another to attack. Jabeur doesn’t look like she’s enjoying this now, a second serve is set back hard, and this time, the leaping backhand flies wide! Gauff leads 3-1 in the decider, and it’s hard to see how Ons resolves this, the unforced errors to copious to be redeemed by winners.
And might that be one?! A forehand cross to one corner then another down the line to the other, and Jabeur has 0-15. Then, when Gauff nets a forehand, we’re at 30-all, and both players are feeling this; I’m not surprised, given I’m in a north London boxroom, not out there on Chatrier, and I’m feeling it. But Gauff hangs on for her hold, and with every one, the pressure on her opponent ramps up; my sense is that Jabeur is a lot less suited to serving second. Gauff 4-6 6-2 2-1 Jabeur
Jabeur has lost five games on the spin so could really use a convincing hold here … and she gets one, the game secured to 15. She’s in the third set at 1-1 and, as we said earlier, this match now looks likely to come down to a point or two here and there.
Jabeur might not be playing as well as before, but Gauff’s second serve and forehand aren’t better now than they were at the start. So if she keeps attacking them, she can win this – Coco has beaten one top-20 player all year – but a straightforward hold is noteworthy more because of the body language than the tennis. I know that’s no way to evaluate a sporting contest, but one of our players is all business, a bristling urgency about her work, and the other is hoping to hit a seam.
Errors from Ons mean we reach 30-all, but a stray return – of a short second serve – raise game point. Gauff, though, finds a decent backhand, Brad Gilbert having shouted at her to make Jabeur play as many balls as possible, and her inability to respond means we’re at deuce, then two errors hand Gauff set point! And when she punches a decent forehand return down the middle but close to the line, Jabeur nets her riposte and that’s a set apiece! The American looks the more solid player now, confident that her game will look after her in the big moments. Gauff 4-6 6-2 Jabeur
Goodness me! Gauff makes 15-0 then batters away from the back, Jabeur sliding into a get in the backhand corner, then skidding towards the fore to hook a frankly ludicrous winner almost over her shoulder for 15-all! She salutes the crowd but still only gains one point for her trouble and at 40-15 the game looks Gauff’s. A double, though, makes things tense … the feeling quickly alleviated when a netted return secures the consolidation. My sense now is that Jabeur needs to play her best stuff to win and her opponent does not; she’ll shortly serve to stay in the second set. Gauff 4-6 5-2 Jabeur
Now then! Jabeur plays a dreadful game, is broken to love, and Gauff leads 4-2 in set two! I daresay she pays careful attention to securing her hold this time.
This is a crucial game and, at 15-all, Gauff sends down a double then nets a first serve. Jabeur steps in, lands a return on to the sideline and, after dominating the rally eventually ends it to raise two break-back points. A forehand sent wide burns the first, but Gauff, suddenly hitting moon-balls, sets up an overhead, and Ons doesn’t need asking twice. She breaks back, and that feels like a big missed opportunity for the No3 seed.
Another drop from Jabeur hauls Gauff in, and despite her speed and anticipation, she can’t get there in time. But down 30-0, she finds a sensational forehand return, cutting the corner to arrive at the ball early and stepping in, a winner cross-court sending a message. And at 30-40, a backhand winner down the line – Jabeur having hit to the wrong corner – raises deuce, and when a lob falls long, Gauff has break point! AND HAVE A LOOK! Sent a second serve, the American takes control of the rally, finding a pair of big forehands, then a deep backhand, and that’s the break! Jabeur has dominated to this point, but she’s naturally cooled a little, and the two are so well-matched that even a slight difference can be all the difference! Jabeur leads 6-4 1-3.
In comms, Chris Evert still fancies Gauff, but another forehand winner from Jabeur soon has her laughing at herself. And when Gauff goes long on the forehand, Jabeur having previously found a gorgeous angle on the volley, we’re again at deuce; danger for the US Open champ. But she just about works a route through it, a moon-ball inciting Jabeur to crack a forehand, Del Potro-style, that doesn’t quite come off. Gauff 4-6 2-1 Jabeur
A better drop-response from Gauff, a pick-up down the line at the end of the match’s longest rally so far, means that at 40-30, she’s a sniff. And she gets a second serve to attack too, a backhand cross setting up a definitive forehand winner to make deuce, then another second serve nailed to restore it from advantage. Jabeur isn’t playing as well now, even if aces down the T raise two further game-points; Gauff saves the first, but a superb wrong-footing backhand, inside-out and on to the line, means Jabeur is again clenching fist as she secures the hold. Momentum, though, might just be switching.
Down 30-0, Jabeur finds a delicious lob and we wind up at 40-30, but this time she waves a drop into the net and Gauff secures a crucial hold. But how can she find a break? Jabeur doesn’t have an obvious weakness to attack, but if the she can lengthen points and put her under pressure, things can quickly change; it’s unlikely she’ll stay as hot as she was during that first set for the duration of the match. Gauff 4-6 1-0 Jabeur
What I enjoyed about that set was how measured Ons was. Naturally she looked to attack Gauff’s backhand, but she was really clever in keeping things varied, most particularly her lengths – her drop-shot game was on point – and in hitting without overhitting.
Up 15-0, Ons onses, a double keeping things interesting. But a pair of sizeable forehands make 30-15, Gauff then finds herself directed along the baseline, and that raises two set-points. AND JABEUR ONLY NEEDS ONE! An ace down the T completes a tremendous set (of tennis), the no8 seed finding her unique combination of power, spins and angles to break down one of the game’s form players. Lovely, lovely stuff; check to you Coco! Gauff 4-6 Jabeur
Jabeur is getting after Gauff’s second serve – down break point, the American felt obliged to put more on it, landed it, and still lost the point – and two in a row here turn 30-0 to 30-all. They’re not even bad efforts, it’s just Jabeur is feeling herself and seeing it big. Another return, short but low-bouncing, incites Gauff to net, and at 30-40 that’s set point; a big first delivery is good enough to save it. But again, a second dig comes back hard, and when a missed backhand is the response, we know Gauff is feeling the pressure; this time, she saves set point when Jabeur nets a return that ought really to take over the rally. It’s a minor detail, but she might regret missing that chance because from there, Gauff serves out, inviting Jabeur to serve for the set at 5-4.
Yup, it’s Jabeur in charge here. She consolidates easily enough for 5-3 and Gauff needs to have a think; she’s barely landed a blow when returning.
Lovely from Jabeur, backing away slightly to punish a forehand inside-out and cross-court for 15-all. Gauff, though, responds with a barrage of backhands … only to net a drop-retrieval, having offered the chance via weak second serve. Suddenly, this has the feel of a big game, and down 40-30, Jabeur leaps into a backhand, both feet off the ground, to send a glorious winner ripping down the line. She salutes the crowd and seizes control of the next point via drop that clambers over the net and dies … only to net her putaway! What an oversight that might prove to be! Or not! Jabeur halts a rally of baseline thwacks because Gauff drops long – the umpire checks, then it’s eyes down for break point! – but again, Ons can’t close out a rally she’s controlling, overhitting a forehand cross-court to bring us back to deuce. This is getting tense now and another fine drop from Jabeur earns her advantage, Gauff only able to set up her volley, and this time a long forehand means Ons takes charge of the set, up a break at 4-3! I’ve not seen her play like this in a long time, and how great it is to see her find herself on such a big occasion! Gauff 3-4 Jabeur
A decent return from Gauff makes 30-15 but Jabeur is finding first serves, and though she’s soon drawn into a net exchange, a tasty volley is good enough. The pot is boiling.
Another terrific hold from Gauff who makes 40-0 then picks a drop, skidding in to flip a backhand pick-up cross-court for a clean winner. Things will change as the match progresses, but at the moment it looks like it’ll turn on a point her or there. Gauff 3-2 Jabeur
I like the way Ons has started here: she’s not waiting to be asked, but she’s not hitting wildly either, targeting Gauff’s forehand with her own superior iteration. But up 40-15, she swipes a backhand wide having opened plenty of space for it – she’s trying to end points as quickly as she can – and further thrashing from the back makes 2-2. So far, it’s Jabeur stepping in and looking to dominate.
Jabeur gets after a second serve to make 30-15 – that’ll be a plan I’m sure – so Gauff makes sure she doesn’t get a look at another, successive aces securing the game. She looks extremely serious out there: having had a taste of victory, she’s desperate for more, whereas Jabeur is just guessing.
Now then. Jabeur powers through a love hold, finishing it off with an ace, and it looks, for now, like the step-up in competition has incited a step-up in her level. Gauff 1-1 Jabeur
It’s a funny thing, really: I don’t actually think Gauff’s forehand is loads better than before, it’s more that she plays with so much more confidence and poise now that she’s better at hiding it. She does, though, find a forehand winner for 40-1 only for Jabeur to deploy her own to make deuce … then again to regain deuce. The difference between the two shots is stark, but after ceding advantage, Gauff holds it down well, securing her hold, and already this looks a fascinating match,
Oor Ons did, though, play a bit better in the last round against Clara Tauson. If she can get her forehand going, especially cross-court, she’ll be in business. But it’s Gauff to serve and off we go!
I don’t enjoy saying this, but I wonder if the principal difference between these two is of mentality: Gauff has found a way to play well enough at the most important moments, such tht she now trusts herself and expects to win, whereas Jabeur has not so does not.
Our players are ready to come out. Chatrier is nowhere near as full as it should be, and this feels early for this level of sport. But once we get going, none of that will matter.
Preamble
Salut tout le monde et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2024 – jour dix!
One of the brilliant things about these competitions is the stratospheric height of their bottom levels: however relatively bad they might be, two weeks of brilliant tennisers letting it all hang out is better than almost everything else that exists in the world.
However, a classic tournament requires classic matches, and we’re at that point now where our best players need to deliver. We’ve already enjoyed the first-week bonus of Iga Swiatek v Naomi Osaka, but today comes one potential jazzer followed by another.
We begin with Coco Gauff, who has everything – everything being a single, solitary Grand Slam title – that Ons Jabeur wants. On the face of things, the American’s form and newly-found equilibrium should be enough to hide her iffy forehand, but if her opponent hits a groove – and there’ve been hints – it’s far tricker to call.
Next up, we can expect Iga Swiatek, double defending champ, to find a way past Markta Vondrousova. But the Wimbledon champ is canny, unique, and improving through the rounds, so don’t be surprised if this closer than expected.
And we’ll end our coverage with Jannik Sinner – another who’s hit a new level – against Griggzy Dimitrov. Baby Fed, as he was once known, hasn’t hit the heights expected of him, but at 33 he’s still improving – and will be well aware that chances like this one don’t come along often.
On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST