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Fernandez 4-6, 4-3 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
The Canadian edges back ahead and the players sit down for a drink and a bite to eat. It’s still cloudy in Paris, but certainly much drier than we’ve seen so far this week. Jabeur will serve – can Fernandez force a deciding set here?
Swiatek 4-2 *Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
And another hold for Swiatek. Can she apply pressure on her opponent’s serve?
*Fernandez 4-6, 3-3 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
All square after another hold for the Tunisian on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
*Swiatek 3-2 Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
Bouzkova holds. She’s got 67% first serves in to 73% for Swiatek.
Fernandez 4-6, 3-2 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
With some trademark creativity in her shot-making, Jabeur gets a break back, and we’re back on serve in the second set.
Swiatek 3-1 *Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
Swiatek is moving through the gears in satisfactory fashion, consolidating that break of serve with ease. It’s going to be a tough day at the office for Bouzkova.
*Fernandez 4-6, 3-1 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
The Canadian now moves a break up in the second set. We’ve got a ball game on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
*Swiatek 2-1 Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
Bouzkova coughs up a double fault and with it a break of serve for the Polish world No 1. It’s been a bright start by the Czech, or at least it had been before that.
Fernandez 4-6, 2-1 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Fernandez, who you will remember lost to Emma Raducanu in the US Open final in 2021, is forced to work to hold her serve early in the second. She duly does so.
Swiatek 1-1 *Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
The Polish world No 1, who has won 14 matches in a row, holds to 15, sealing the game with an authoritative winner to the corner.
Tauson 6-2, 2-1 Kenin and Potapova 7-5, 3-2 Wang are a couple of other live scores.
*Swiatek 0-1 Bouzkova (*denotes next server)
The Prague-born Czech player rounds off an opening hold with an ace. A positive start. Now Swiatek gets to serve, though.
Paquet 1-6, 0-3 *Vondrousova (denotes next server)
Frenchwoman Chloé Paquet and home favourite (born in Versailles) is being thoroughly outplayed by the reigning Wimbledon champion and is in danger of going a double break down in the second, and surely final, set.
Now, it’s Iga Swiatek’s 23rd birthday today, and the world No 1 is about to begin against Marie Bouzkova on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
By the way, if you missed Osaka v Swiatek in the last round, seek out the highlights. Watch in full on demand, even. It was a corker.
Jabeur wins the first set v Fernandez! 6-4It was looking nip and tuck until 3-3, but Fernandez’s level dropped after a very bright start. And now she has a set to make up.
Fernandez 4-5 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Well that was definitely commentator’s curse. Fernandez is broken to love and ends the game limply by netting with a basic unforced error. Jabeur will serve for the set.
*Fernandez 4-4 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
The Canadian breaks straight back. You sense this could develop into a really gripping match between players with contrasting styles but who look well matched.
Fernandez 3-4 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur breaks in that crucial seventh game of the first set and via double fault, too …
Kate Connolly
A Berlin court has begun hearing an appeal by the German tennis player Alexander Zverev against a fine imposed on him for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, an accusation which he denies.
As the world No 4 competes at the French Open in Paris, his lawyers are fighting his case in court, after he was fined €450,000 (£384,000, $489,000) in October for allegedly trying to strangle Brenda Patea, his then partner and the mother of his three-year-old daughter, Mayla.
“I tried to stay very focused about my game,” says Sinner. “Thanks everyone. It’s amazing to play here on this court.
How many rackets does he have? “Eight.”
With different tensions? “No, I never change the tension. Otherwise it’s “mental” too much. I prefer to string them in the same way. Only in Madrid, we went up a little bit … No, I don’t want to change.”
Does he still ski? “I do. For Christmas, the day after Christmas, usually me and my friends go to ski. Which is very nice, it’s a tradition … But I have to be very careful, I don’t want to lose my tennis career. My team is always concerned when I go … but I have to, it’s in my blood.”
Next, the interviewer asks him for some fashion tips. “I’m not good in fashion. They just give me things to wear, and I wear it. I just try to look good.”
Sinner beats Kotov! 6-3, 6-4, 6-4Les jeux sont faits.
Sinner is through in straight sets.
“All elements of his game were thoroughly tested,” reckons one of the commentators.
Jannik Sinner. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images*Fernandez 2-2 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Fernandez is looking super-busy and super-focused. She forces a break point at 30-40 but Jabeur saves it with an ace. The Tunisian then seals another hold with a confidently struck winner to the corner. Fernandez shakes her head, frustrated at letting a chance slip.
*Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 3-5 Sinner (*denotes next server)
Sinner is one game away, but as this match is a done deal I am focusing more on Fernandez v Jabeur.
Fernandez 2-1 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Fernandez opens the game with a wonderful drop shot that bounces perfectly over the net and spins away from Jabeur, who hasn’t bothered to run for it anyway. She could not have placed that any better with her hand, as John Parrott might say if he was moonlighting as a tennis commentator.
Jabeur produces one cracking counterattacking pass but soon Fernandez holds to 30, rounding off the game with another brilliant shot, this time a spinning backhand volley that’s incredibly well controlled into space down the line.
Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 3-4 *Sinner (*denotes next server)
Kotov gets it back to 3-4 and is making the second seed work for his win.
“Enquiring minds want to know,” emails Olga. “Why the hyphen between Philippe Chatrier?”
That’s a great question, and one that I was pondering earlier. I have no idea. Anyone?
*Fernandez 1-1 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur rounds off her own opening hold, to 15, with a handsome winner down the line.
*Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 2-4 Sinner (*denotes next server)
Are you a Sinner or are you a winner? Looks like he’s both. The Italian moves one step closer to the last 16.
Fernandez 1-0 *Jabeur (*denotes next server)
The Canadian holds in tidy fashion to begin. Jabeur went to the drop shot on the very first rally, but it didn’t pay off: Fernandez ran it down and Jabeur hit the resulting attempted lob a little long.
Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 2-3 *Sinner (*denotes next server)
And there’s the third-set break for Jannik Sinner. He pumps his fist and celebrates, knowing that should be (almost) the final nail in Kotov’s coffin.
Leylah Fernandez wins the toss and will bat. Serve, even.
Leylah Fernandez will serve. Photograph: Caroline Blumberg/EPA*Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 2-2 Sinner (*denotes next server)
All square in the third on Philippe-Chatrier. Sinner just pulled off a quite spectacular forehand drop shot that left Kotov floundering.
Ons Jabeur, in a pre-recorded interview, is asked who she would choose between Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka, both close friends of hers.
“That’s a tough question,” she replies. “I choose Paula Sabalenka. A new player.”
Leylah Fernandez (31) v Ons Jabeur (8) in next up Suzanne Lenglen.
And next up on Philippe-Chatrier it’s Iga Swiatek (1) v Marie Bouzkova. We’ll see how effectively Kotov battles in this third set and keeps that pair waiting in the wings …
*Kotov 4-6, 4-6, 1-1 Sinner (*denotes next server)
As it turns out, Kotov does apply a bit of pressure on Sinner’s serve. It goes to deuce but the Italian closes it out.
Why not have a crack at our Quiz of the Week?