Key events
Svitolina* 4-6, 0-2 Rybakina
Svitolina is such an easy player to root for. She’s done so much to raise awareness and money in support of Ukraine during the war, and is something of an honorary Frenchwoman here, given she’s married to Gaël Monfils, who lost in the second round of the men’s singles. But the atmosphere is fairly muted with the stands still rather empty – although the crowd do try to raise Svitolina’s spirits when she goes a break point down in the first game of the second set. It doesn’t work, however. Rybakina holds and then backs up the break. This match looked good on paper but Rybakina is now threatening to run away with it.
Rybakina wins first set 6-4
So Svitolina is serving to stay in the first set. Which she does with not too much fuss, holding to 15. Just as Rybakina steps up to serve for the set, so does Avanesyan on Suzanne Lenglen. Where to look? Gah! At 30-all on Philippe Chatrier, Svitolina goes for broke down the line and misses. Set point for Rybakina. And there are two set points for Avanesyan. Rybakina doesn’t mess about, taking hers, but Avanesyan is taken to deuce. And is then broken. It’s 5-3.
Svitolina* 3-5 Rybakina
A hold from Svitolina and then she’s straight at Rybakina in the next game, as she gets to 0-15 with some good hustling. Rybakina then double faults for 0-30. Rybakina’s pace trumps Svitolina’s running in the next two points, 30-all. But here’s another break point. A cross-court backhand battle ensues, deuce. And from there Rybakina holds.
Svitolina* 2-4 Rybakina
Sviotlina is showing here what she’s best at as she scampers around the court to get to the short ball – she’s supremely fit and her movement is so good. But Rybakina is the better ball striker – and recovers from her stutter to hold and then break. The third break of the match so far. And then she holds to put daylight between her and the Ukrainian.
Avanesyan* 3-0 Paolini
They’re also under way on Suzanne Lenglen, where Avanesyan, the 21-year-old Russian, has already bagged a double break against Paolini, the 28-year-old Italian 12th seed who’s enjoying the best season of her career. Avanesyan knocked out the Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen in the previous round, while Paolini accounted for the 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
Svitolina 2-1 Rybakina*
Rybakina looks in control as she seeks to consolidate the break. She’s striking the ball so cleanly already. But then – out of nowhere – she throws in three consecutive unforced errors and is broken to 30. Didn’t see that coming. And a flurry of unforced errors from the Russian-born Kazakh in the third game mean Svitolina is now ahead.
The sun is even out today. Mon dieu!
No messing about from Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, on Philippe Chatrier: she’s broken Svitolina in the opening game. At 15-40, Svitolina nets her first serve, lands her second, but then goes on to send a forehand long.
Today’s order of play for the main courts
COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER
11am start/10am BST
(15) Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v (4) Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)(22) Emma Navarro (US) 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) v (12) Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
(11) Alex De Minaur (Australia) v (5) Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
Varvara Gracheva (France) v Mirra Andreeva (Russia)
(12) Taylor Fritz (US) v (7) Casper Ruud (Norway)
Preamble
Bonjour mesdames et messieurs! Ça va? Tu es bon? Très bien!
Welcome to our coverage of day nine of the French Open, where the singles schedule is on track despite the rain’s best efforts to scupper proceedings this fortnight, and the fourth round will wrap up in the men’s and women’s draws.
After Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Marketa Vondrousova showed they meant business yesterday, especially Swiatek with her 6-0, 6-0 demolition job, today the other title favourites Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina get the chance to deliver a riposte. Rybakina is up first on Philippe Chatrier in what could be the women’s match du jour against Elina Svitolina, while Sabalenka follows against the American 22nd seed Emma Navarro. Then it’s Novak Djokovic – half-defending champion, half-zombie after his record 3.07am finish yesterday morning – against the Argentinian 23rd seed Francisco Cerundolo.
Over on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Alex De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev would be going some to beat Djokovic’s record given they’re scheduled to play around lunchtime in Paris, but they may also be only part-human by the time they’re done with each other in what could be a battle that goes on and on.
Also in action on that court is Casper Ruud, the runner-up for the past two years, against Taylor Fritz, while we’re guaranteed two first-time grand slam women’s quarter-finalists as Elina Avanesyan faces Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva plays Varvara Gracheva, the only French hope left in the singles.
Play begins: tout de suite!
