Key events
Elena Rybakina, world number four, is warming up in light gold on court Phillipe-Chartrier.
Gracheva goes a set up against Begu
*Gracheva 7-5 Begu (*denotes next server)
More nervy play from both, the tall Begu going a set point down when she hits miles wide. Then she loses her ball toss and double faults to lose the game and go a set down.
Gracheva 6-5 Begu* (*denotes next server)
It’s not warm out at Roland Garros, the crowd in coats, though the players are in short sleeves. Unforced errors abound as Gracheva holds serve.
*Gracheva 5-5 Begu (*denotes next server)
Gracheva is pumped, in her patriotic blue dress, gets around Begu’s defences with some high energy play. The Tricolore is waved in the crowd. But nerves do their worst and she goes from 30- up to losing the game as Begu saves three set points.
Gracheva 5-4 Begu* (*denotes next server)
Begu goes 30-0 up but mis-hits a return to let Gracheva back in the game. And Gracheva makes the most of it with a brave smash. She hits the back of her heels to exhort herself. Begu wins a huge rally but they go to deuce, Gracheva with the crowd at her elbow, and she fights off a break point to go 5-4 up.
*Gracheva 4-4 Begu (*denotes next server)
Begu holds serve to draw level, starting to hit her serving straps with improved accuracy.
Let’s make a Saturday morning trip over to court Suzanne-Lenglen where the last French woman standing, Varvara Gracheva, is 4-3 up against Irina-Camelia Begu.
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to day seven of our French Open coverage, the clay still brick red, the organisers hustling to fit everything in after the rain of the first few days.
Lots to keep an eye on today, including Aryna Sabalenka playing “best friend” Paula Badosa, second on Court Philippe Chatrier, while Novak Djokovic takes on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who like Djokovic is let to lose a set, in the night session. Alexander Zverev (whose domestic abuse trial was adjourned on Friday) and Daniil Medvedev also play.
