Another break of serve on Philippe-Chatrier. Can Starodubtseva make it count this time? Rybakina has an early break in her match against Ostapenko, the Kazakhstani leads 3-1 in the first. It’s not exactly packed on Philippe-Chatrier for the start of Paolini v Starodubtseva but those who are watching have seen the unseeded Ukranian get an early break. Paolini should be in good form after her exploits in Rome and quickly breaks back. We’re on serve at 1-1. Jasmine Paolini, the fourth seed, is up next on Philippe-Chatrier. The recent Italian Open winner is taking on Yulia Starodubtseva of Ukraine. I’ll mostly be keeping an eye on that but also providing updates from Elena Rybakina v Jelena Ostapenko and Ben Shelton v Matteo Gigante on Simonne Mathieu. With matches just getting underway, let’s head to my inbox as Ed Graham has emailed in: About making women’s matches best of five (13:34): I’m sure this has been debated at length and I for one would love to see it. I think the accepted reason for not doing so is to do with scheduling at the major tournaments, as sometimes they barely have enough days as it is with rain delays and so on. To extend the majors beyond two weeks would be a big headache; so maybe it’ll happen once the venues have enough time, money and space to build all the extra courts they would need to get through the games in time. They all seem to be expanding their grounds, so why not? We have a bit of a lull in play now as Tommy Paul has beaten Karen Khachanov on Simonne Mathieu. The 12th seeded American eventually coming out on top 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 6-3. At one stage the Frenchman looked on course for victory but after more than three hours in the searing heat on Philippe-Chatrier Rune rattled through the fifth set to complete a comeback from two sets to one down. Swiatek speaks! “I’m happy that I was solid in the last game and not giving her free points. She used her chances and went for it every time I gave them to her. It was a great match, super entertaining, we both played nice. I’m happy with the performance,” says Swiatek in her on-court interview. “I don’t mind the heat and on clay it gives the balls the extra bounce. It’s all about control and I kind of had to balance it today. It’s tricky when it’s like that on just one day like that, the first match I played was 20 degrees, even less, and now its 30. It’s not easy to adjust because the balls fly differently in the air. I am used to playing in any conditions, maybe not here as Roland Garros is usually rainy but last year for the Olympics it was super hot so I was ready for it. “If you want to swing the same way in different in different conditions you must change something and it’s not good to change the way you play, so adjust the equipment for sure and go up with the tension on the racket.” At 30-15 down Swiatek finds a dart of backhand into the corner and when Cristian sends a forehand long down the line the reigning champions gets a match point. Cristian goes aggressive and gets a reward but there was a hairy moment when she was forced to pluck an overhead out of the sun. Swiatek wants to wrap this up without a tie-break and the two trade blows as the game ticks over five minutes. Swiatek reads a Cristian second serve to earn another match point with a backhand taken on the rise. Cristian dumps a backhand into the net and gives Swiatek a hard-fought win. In the time this set has taken, Rune has forced fifth set on Philippe-Chatrier. The Dane won the fourth 7-5. A graphic has just flashed up showing Swiatek’s first-serve percentage is down to just 50% in this set. It’s not the only reason she has struggled but it has allowed Cristian to go after the second serve a lot more. Again, it’s not fluent but Swiatek finds the hold and guarantees this set will go to a tie-break and gives her a shot on Cristian serve to close the match out. Swiatek 6-2, 6-5 Cristian. Needing to hold to stay in the match Cristian finds some big first serves to make light work of reaching 40-15 but then a double-fault gifts Swiatek the momentum to get back to deuce. Another big first serve forces a Swiatek mistake and then Cristian bangs down an ace, it’s 5-5 in the second! It has taken another tie-break but Popyrin, the 25th seed, has beaten Borges 6-4, 7-6 (13), 7-5 (7). After that wobble Swiatek looks dialled in now. Her body language is more positive as she sails through her service game with a love hold. Swiatek 6-2, 5-4 Cristian. Now then, can Swiatek pounce? She gets up 15-30 before Cristian finds the net to cough up two break points. The first goes with a long forehand and on the second Cristian ups the power to snuff out the danger. Eventually Cristian gets the hold with a wonderful forehand down the line, which prompts a turn to the crowd and a request to pump up the volume. Swiatek 6-2, 4-4 Cristian. On Simonne Mathieu, Khachanov has forced a fifth set against Paul, winning the fourth 6-3. This one is more straightforward for Swiatek. After her previous two service games both went near or over the ten minute mark this time proceedings are wrapped up a little quicker as she drops just the single point. This set is already longer than the first, mind. Swiatek 6-2, 4-3 Cristian. From down 15-30 Cristian ends up making a fairly routine hold. The crosscourt forehand to go up 40-30 in particular was a delight, wrong-footing Swiatek as she headed back to the centre of the baseline. Swiatek 6-2, 3-3 Cristian. Cristian has really found her range on Swiatek’s second serve. An open stance drive down the line gives Cristian a 0-30 lead and when a loose forehand sails long she has two break points at 15-40. One is saved with a clever serve to Cristian’s backhand and Suzanne-Lenglen rises to its feet as Swiatek saves the second with the point of the match that saw both players sliding around to get the upper hand. The pressure is starting to show on Swiatek who yells at herself after handing Cristian a third break point. Another long rally ends in another save, before another long forehand hands the advantage back to Cristian with a fourth break point. Swiatek grinds out the hold in the game’s 11th minute but she is definitely the one looking less comfortable out there at the moment. Swiatek 6-2, 3-2 Cristian. Swiatek gets a chance when Cristian draws her into the net at 30-30 but the Pole’s sliding backhand goes long. Surely the slice would have been the shot with Cristian out of the picture? Instead we are still on serve. Swiatek 6-2, 2-2 Cristian. I assumed Rune had wrapped up the third set against Halys but the Frenchman has produced a stunner, winning three games in a row to snatch it away 7-5. Halys is back in front, up to 2-1 in sets. Back on Swiatek’s serve and her forehand looks imperious but her backhand has not quite been as strong. It is one of those that goes wide down the line to give Cristian an 0-15 lead. Cristian then anticipates the wide serve, runs around it and powers a forehand cross-court to go up 0-30. Swiatek gets it back to 30-30 but then dumps a forehand long, what was I saying about how reliable that has been? Cristian’s first break point of the match doesn’t stick when she sends backhand long, but an errant backhand from Swiatek provides another chance. Again Swiatek is able to whip over a dangerous forehand and force an error. The sun is clearly causing the Pole problems on her first serve as the game passes seven minutes. Swiatek digs deep, finally finds a first serve and when Cristian gets overly aggressive on the backhand the reigning champion gets her hold. Swiatek 6-2, 2-1 Cristian. Swiatek gets an early break point on the Cristian serve at 30-40 but the Romanian finds some power to rally back, winning three consecutive points to shut the door. Swiatek 6-2, 1-1 Cristian. Cristian forced Swiatek to go a little bit deeper on that first service game of the second set, but nothing the reigning champion could not handle, dropping just the single point. Swiatek 6-2, 1-0 Cristian. A quick glance over to Philippe-Chatrier, where Rune is now serving for the third set against Halys, the Dane is 5-4 up. Paul has won the third set of his match against Khachanov on Simonne Mathieu. It went to a tie-break but the American edged that 9-7 to take a 2-1 lead in sets. Another break of serve will give Swiatek the set. The fifth seed gets up 0-15, then a two points later wayward Cristian forehand takes it to 15-30. After a strong first serve ties it up at 30-30, Cristian’s first double fault of the match gives Swiatek a break point. No mistake here as Swiatek pounces on a second serve, powering a forehand deep which Cristian cannot deal with, sending it long. Swiatek wins the first set 6-2! Swiatek is fully in control here. It’s a hold to love that’s finished off with Swiatek picking up a forehand off her toes then battering two huge forehands than ends the rally with Cristian trying to force it over the high part of the net from out wide. Swiatek 5-2 Cristian. Cristian seems to be finding her feet on her serve now and gets out to a 40-0 lead thanks to a couple of overzealous returns but even then Swiatek isn’t lying down. The Pole gets it back to 40-30 but then goes long on what was not the most difficult of second serves from Cristian. Swiatek 4-2 Cristian. For the first time Swiatek comes under pressure on her serve. An errant Swiatek backhand gives Cristian a sniff at 30-30 but then the door is swiftly shut. Swiatek lands a couple of big first serves that leave little avenue for reply from her opponent. Swiatek 4-1 Cristian. An epic second-set tie-break in the Borges v Popyrin match has finally concluded. The Australian missed out on the chance to serve for the set but has won the tie-break 13-11. Swiatek is taking her returns on the Cristian serve very early. When it comes off it’s virtually unplayable but fortunately for the Romanian the radar slips a couple of times and she is able to get her first game on the board. Swiatek 3-1 Cristian. On Philippe-Chatrier, Rune has won the second set 6-2, so he is tied at 1-1 now with Haly and they are on serve in the third. The steep bounce of Swiatek’s groundstrokes is forcing Cristian to play on the up, which is proving difficult. That’s another rapid hold and Cristian has won just two points in those opening three games. Swiatek 3-0 Cristian. This is worrying for Cristian. There was very little to indicate that the Romanian was even serving as Swiatek took complete control of the rallies from the baseline and pushed her opponent around. That’s a rapid break to love and if it carries on like this it will be over quickly. Swiatek 2-0 Cristian. No problems for Swiatek in the first game. She quickly gets 40-0 up on the back of some solid serving and power from the back of the court. It’s not a hold to love thanks to a forehand error but that’s a routine hold. Swiatek 1-0 Cristian. Swiatek won the toss and will serve first. Cristian is coming into Roland Garros off the back of her second appearance in the final of a WTA Tour event. The Romanian was denied the Morocco Open title by Maya Joint. Rune is still a break up in the second against Halys and Paul v Khachanov remains on serve in the third. Cristian and Swiatek are just heading out on to Suzanne-Lenglen now. The Polish star is currently on a 23-match unbeaten run at the French Open. The other men’s singles match taking place currently is on Court 14, with Portuguese Nuno Borges playing Alexei Popyrin. The Australian 25th seed is serving for the second set. Rune has hit back early in the second set against Halys, taking break in the Frenchman’s first service game and then consolidating with an solid hold. It’s all over on Suzanne-Lenglen where Musetti has wrapped up a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over Navone. Next up there is Jaqueline Cristian of Romania taking on four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek. When that gets underway I’ll be focus on providing game-by-game updates. Tommy Paul, the 12th seed, is playing 24th seed Karen Khachanov on Simonne Mathieu. They are currently tied at one set apiece, with the American Paul leading 2-1 on serve in the third. Musetti has taken complete control on Suzanne-Lenglen. The Italian is serving for the match at 5-2 up. On that last update, I have a solution that may open up a can of worms, but why not just make women’s matches best of five? Amelie Mauresmo has defended the French Open’s policy of prioritising men’s matches over women’s in its prestigious night sessions. Roland Garros chiefs are once again under fire for snubbing women in the primetime slot under the lights on Court Philippe-Chatrier. WTA stars Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur have this week criticised the schedulers for not showcasing women’s tennis, with the latter saying: “I don’t think they have daughters.” But tournament director and former world number one Mauresmo insists men’s matches take priority because they are longer, giving spectators more value for money. “We have one single match per night session. It hasn’t changed. Accordingly, we won’t change everything again,” she said. “The play time also is taken into consideration, potential play time, obviously because we can’t plan ahead, be it for women’s tennis or men’s tennis. “But we have to take it into consideration as to the 15,000 spectators coming in for the night session. “Since men’s tennis is played at the best-of-five sets, three sets will be played at a minimum. It’s complicated for us to do otherwise.” From PA Media Popping back over to Philippe-Chatrier, our City of London gentleman Quentin Halys is causing Holger Rune some difficulty. In fact, it’s more than just difficulty. Halys (who I should clarify is French) has just won the first set 6-4 by converting the second of his only two break points. Musetti now has a double break and looks on course for a four-set victory. On Suzanne-Lenglen, Musetti has got a key break in the fourth set and now just held his serve to take a 3-1 lead. The Italian is currently up two sets to one against Navone, who appears to have come dressed as the clay court for this match. He has an orangey-pink top with matching tennis shoes. I fear if you were watching on a bad telly he’d just look like a pair of black shorts and a floating tennis racquet. Coming in with a bit of Brit watch, ahead of his meeting with countryman Cameron Norrie in the third of the singles, Jacob Fearnley was in doubles action today. Unfortunately that journey is now over as Fearnley, playing alongside the Canadian Gabriel Diallo, went down in straight sets to second seeds Harri Helioevaara from Finland and his British partner Henry Patten, who won 6-2, 6-3. Hello all and thank you John, they do put my backhand on a lot of the marketing material for Brighton these days so I’m glad someone spotted it. And with that, I shall pass you over to Tom Bassam, his backhand the pride of Brighton. To complete the women’s action from this morning/lunchtime, Liudmila Samsonova, looking rather patched up, has just beaten Dayana Yastremska in a Russia v Ukraine match. The score was 6-2 6-3 to the 19th seed Russian. Halys is one game up. Other men’s games live at the moment – big serving Russian Karen Khachhanov is a set down but leading the second set against Tommy Paul, and Alexei Popyrin, the Australian is leading Portugal’s Nuno Borges, having taken the first set. On Philippe-Chatrier, Holger Rune, the Danish 10th seed is taking on Quentin Halys, who sounds like a City of London gentleman from the 1920s, but is a 28-year-old Frenchman playing his second Roland-Garros. Musetti and Navone are perspiring heavily on a loud Suzanne Lenglen, after which Swiatek takes the stage. Musetti is trying to see out the fourth set, in front of a vocal crowd. Navone is back and firing after his first set showing. Musetti has to see out a second serve break point. Musetti, eventually sees it out, and leads 2-1 in sets after taking that set 6-3. Sabalenka did a short interview. “I’m super happy with the win, Olga is a fighter and I knew it was going to be a fight. I really enjoyed playing against her, she played like a top 10 player and I’m sure soon she will be in the top 10. I enjoyed our battle and supper happy to be through this difficult match.” “I played with the same tension but my team had half kilo up and half kilo down for which reason but I felt pretty good with the same tension and the ball flew much better. When it is colder, I have to lower my tension so the ball flies a little bit better so maybe I will have to adjust my racquet to another condition.” It was hot out there and it meant the ball was flying truer and harder. Woe betide anyone facing her. Amanda Anisimova is up next for Sabalenka, who is is headed for Qinwen Zheng in a the last 8. That turned out harder than it looked in the first set but the world No 1’s power-hitting prevailed. Musetti has full control of his match with Navone, leading 4-1 in third, 2-1 up in sets. At last, Sabalenka takes a break point from Danilovic and can now serve out for the match. Ed Graham gets in touch: “Regarding the issue of scheduling men’s matches during the prime-time slots in the evening: could it have anything to do with the fact that the men play best of five sets and hence their matches are likely to be significantly longer? Assuming that the evening tickets are more expensive, might value for money (in terms of playing time rather than quality) be a factor?” I’m sure that’s in the thinking but there’s good reason to complain. Ansimova, the 16th seed, beats Tauson, the 22nd seed, 7-6 6-4> Danilovic is a fighter; this second set is going with serve and she’s playing some lovelly stuff, including a backhand winner to confound Sabalenka. Musetti has levelled the set with Navone. This will take a long time. Sabalenka meanwhile isn’t finding life easy from her opponent, Danilovic is playing some really nice stuff. Xheng goes through, having beaten Mboko 6-3 6-4. Amanda Anisimova, the American is involved in a ding dong with Denmark’s Clara Tauson. The first set went to Anismova 7-6, and it’s 3-3 in the second set. Sabalenka claims the first set, having swiftly pulled her game back together after losing those two games. Danilovic, to her huge credit, stops the whitewash, and suddenly she’s won two games, including a break. They were rattling along at record pace there. Sabalenka in awesome form, 4-0 up, and Danilovic is in imminent danger of being bagelled. Zheng hasn’t found it as easy in the second set, she serving to go 5-3 up but the Canadian is dragging her heels. Navone eventually took that first set off Musetti and he celebrated by grabbing a break in the opening game of the second set. Sabalenka is soon into her stride, and leading 3-0 over Danilovic. Where Quinwen claimed the set, Navone and Musetti are slugging it out at 3-3, now 4-3 to the Argentine. The Chinese 8th seed, Zheng Qinwen, is in full command of the first set over Canada’s Victoria Mboko, 5-3 up and serving for the set. In early news, Navone has a break of serve on Musetti and leads 3-2 in the first set. It looks very warm in Paris, sun drenching the court. Back to Paris, and after a day of plucky Brits, it’s some big favourites who will take to the courts. Carlos Alcaraz plays this evening so the focus goes on the big-hitting women, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka gets us underway by playing Olga Danilović, while Swiatek will follow her by playing Jacqueline Cristian. That game follows Lorenzo Musetti on Suzanne-Lenglen, the Italian playing Mariano Navone of Argentina. Plenty more to follow, including Frances Tiafoe against Seb Korda while Jasmine Paolini plays later this evening. All the news and scores as they come in. Join us.
Author: Tom Bassam (now) and John Brewin (earlier)