Roland Garros - Day 11 - RAIN ☹️

Day 11 of 2019 Roland Garros 

RAIN ☹️

Roland Garros - Day 10 - Roger wins Swiss fight

Day 10 of Roland Garros 2019 and first of the quarter finals

Men’s Singles

Quarter finals 

Rafa Nadal (2) defeated Kei Nishikori (7) 6-1 6-1 6-3

If this is the sort of stuff dished up at a Grand Slam tournament when we are reaching the pointy end of proceedings, then I’m sort of pleased I’m not in Paris this year. Nishikori gave us plenty to cheer about in his five set epic win against Benoit Paire, but he failed to turn up when required to play Nadal.

From the outset, holding serve for the seventh seed was clearly going to be a tortuous effort, 100% input for fractional gain. Nishikori held just four times from eleven attempts at the line, and when he broke the Nadal serve to draw level in set two, 1-1, it only served to precipitate a Spanish run of six straight games, the fifth of which sealed the second set.

Never send a boy on a mans errand.

Roger Federer (3) defeated Stan Wawrinka (24) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4

Well, here is a story of take your chances when they come, or “au revoir mon ami”.

Stan Wawrinka had suffered all his long and distinguished career from Federer Fandom. This had marked respect for a Swiss compatriot, who just happens to be the biggest name in a generation of tennis, and alledgedly a friend, with regular insipid on court performances when competing against the almighty.

Before Roland Garros 2019, Roger had turned “Stanimal” into a wimperimg pet 22 times from 25 contests. Interestingly, the three successes for Stan came on clay, where the pair had met just 7 times, including 2015 Roland Garros, the year in which Wawrinka whipped Federer in the quarters in straight sets before ultimately tearing down the world #1 Djokovic in the final.

And it appeared this years RG quarter final may see Stan rule once more, with him leading 6-7(4) 6-4 4-3 and serving. With Stan yet to be broken in the match, and Roger looking less assured than at any stage of the tournament, the 24th seed had everything in his favour. Except for a brief incursion of the fandom. Wawrinka contributed a shocker from the line, and Federer broke serve. After that Federer created two set points. Wawrinka saved those and even had two break points for a 6-5 lead. Those chances went begging. So eventually a tie break. No one in the universe handles tie breaks anywhere near as capably as Federer, and he clocked his second one up for this match alone.

Wawrinka fought hard in the fourth set, saving four break points in the third game and another in the fifth, while Federer cruised through, surrendering just four points on serve in four visits to the line.

The inevitable service break came in the ninth game and at 4-5 Wawrinka saved one match point while Federer served for it. Stan even had a break back opportunity, but Roger dismissed that and on his third match point decided to end things.

Roland Garros - Day 10 - Vondrousova !

Day 10 of Roland Garros 2019 and first of the quarter finals

Womens singles

Quarter finals 

Marketa Vondrousova defeated Petra Martic (31) 7-6(1) 7-5

No surprise to see a Czech player reach the semi finals of 2019 Roland Garros, but it isn’t Petra Kvitová,who withdrew with injury, or Karolina Pliskova, whose chances were dashed by Petra Martic.

Instead it is the teenager, Vondrousova, who has taken all before her, and is the only player left in the race yet to drop a set.

Fortunate to escape the clutches of the Croatian in set one, when down 5-6 and 0-40, Vondrousova scrambled into a tie break where she prospered. After exchanging mini breaks Vondrousova led 2-1, and thereafter it was a Czech picnic.

Riding the crest of a wave, Vondrousova won eight of nine points in her first two service games of set two, and in between broke Martic to love.

Martic maintained her composure, and broke back in the fifth game, only to lose grip on the contest when Vondrousova secured another break the very next game.

All looked rosy for the unseeded player when leading 5-2. Martic was serving to stay alive, and she saved one match point, eventually forcing Vondrousova to serve it out at 5-3.

40-30 arrived, and with it a second match point. Then nerves took over and produced a disastrous double fault - two of the worst racquet swings Vondrousova is ever likely to deliver.in her career. The effect was clear, and Martic broke serve with the third of her chances.

The next two games went to serve, and Martic served to stay in the tournament (for a third time). 30-40 and a third match point for Vondrousova. Saved by Martic. The fourth match point ended with a Martic mistake, and Marketa Vondrousova won a semi final berth.

Johanna Konta (26) defeated Sloane Stephens (7) 6-1 6-4

Despite the rankings, Konta had beaten Stephens on both previous occasions the two had met. These were each in 2019, in Brisbane in straight sets, and in Rome in three sets.

In a lengthy opening game, Konta saved a break point before holding serve on her fourth game point. Stephens levelled comfortably for 1-1, but that was the only thing resembling comfort for the American as she was torn apart after that, broken twice, while Konta didn’t face another break point. The set was British 6-1.

Stephens saved a break point in the opening game of set two, and created a game point. However, Konta would have none of that, winning the final three points of the game to lead by a set and a break.

No one bothered the server at all for the next seven games. Konta delivered four successive love games from the line, while Stephens won 12 of 14 points from the three service games she donated.

When next called upon to serve, the seventh seed was down 3-5. This was soon 4-5, and Konta served for a semi final berth.

The 26th seed lost her first point on serve for the set, but still reached 40-15 and a pair of match points. The first of these was enough and Johanna Konta rejoiced in her comprehensive victory.

Roland Garros - Day 9 results

Day 9 of Roland Garros 2019 and round of sixteen matches comcluded.

Men’s Singles

Round of sixteen 

Novak Djokovic (1) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff. 6-3 6-2 6-2

Dominic Thiem (4) defeated Gaël Monfils (14) 6-4 6-4 6-2

Kei Nishikori (7) defeated Benoit Paire 6-2 6-7(8) 6-2 6-7(8) 7-5

Alexander Zverev (5) defeated Fabio Fognini (9) 3-6 6-2 6-2 7-6(5)

Karen Khachanov (10) defeated Juan Martin del Potro (8) 7-5 6-3 3-6 6-3

Quarter final match ups 

Novak Djokovic (1) v Alexander Zverev (5)

Dominic Thiem (4) v Karen Khachanov (10)

Stan Wawrinka (24) v Roger Federer (3)

Kei Nishikori (7) v Rafa Nadal (2)

Women’s Singles 

Round of sixteen 

Ashleigh Barty (8) defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3 3-6 6-0

Simona Halep (3) defeated Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-0

Madison Keys (14) defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-4

Amanda Anisimova defeated qualifier Aliona Bolsova 6-3 6-0

Quarter final match ups 

Madison Keys (14) v Ashleigh Barty (8)

Simona Halep (3) v Amanda Anisimova 

Sloane Stephens (7) v Johanna Konta (26)

Marketa Vondrousova v Petra Martic (31)

Roland Garros - Day 9 - Barty into quarters

Day 9 of Roland Garros 2019 and Ashleigh Barty (8) was in round of sixteen action against an American, but not the expected Serena Williams. Instead, the opposition came from Sofia Kenin who had dumped the great Serena in straight sets in the third round.

Neither Barty or Kenin had made it past the fourth round at Roland Garros previously; in fact this year was the first time Barty had won past the second round, and for Kenin this was only her second try at the clay court major, having lost her opening match in 2018.

Barty won both contests between the two before this one - in Charleston last year on clay, and earlier this year in Fed Cup on a US hard court.

Barty served first, and after losing the opening point, she produced two successive aces. A third ace sealed the game. Two forehand winners from the Australian highlighted a break of the Kenin serve, to love. Kenin hit a backhand winner to start game three, which saw her reach break point on the Barty serve, despite two more aces from the eighth seed. It was saved by a big serve, and Barty held for 3-0.

At 1-4, Kenin let slip a 30-0 lead, and dropped another serve to trail 1-5. 

Barty served for the set, and arrived at set point following a service winner. It was saved by a Kenin backhand return winner. A Barty backhand drifted long and she faced break point. A forehand error confirmed the break and Barty’s lead reduced to 5-2.

A,second time serving for the set, at 5-3, was more successful - quick to 40-0 with a winning forehand and efficient serving, Barty had set points. One saved through a brilliant backhand return winner. The set was over after Kenin found the net with a backhand. 6-3 to Barty.

Kenin rebounded, breaking the Barty serve in game two of the second set. No more break opportunities presented themselves, and only one deuce game occurred, as Kenin maintained her edge through to 5-3.

Serving to level the match, a Kenin double fault was untimely. A punishing forehand followed up some sound defence for the American, and a terrific drop shot brought her to 30-30. A poor Barty lob was easily picked off, producing set point, but a well crafted Australian drop shot drew an error, saving things temporarily. Another double fault and break point arrived. Barty netted a forehand return, and Kenin went on to hold serve and win the set 6-3, saving a second break point in the process.

Barty was keen to end the match, and began the deciding set in style, holding serve to love. It was followed up with a service break, and unfortunately for Kenin her scoreboard resistance was gone.

Ashleigh Barty won 6-3 3-6 6-0, becoming the only woman to make the quarter finals of both Grand Slam tournaments played so far in 2019.

Roland Garros - Day 8 - results

Day 8 of Roland Garros 2019 and round of sixteen matches commenced.

Men’s Singles

Round of sixteen 

Roger Federer (3) defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-2 6-3 6-3

Rafa Nadal (2) defeated Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2 6-3 6-3

Stan Wawrinka (24) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6

Women’s Singles 

Round of sixteen 

Petra Martic (31) defeated Kaia Kanepi 5-7 6-2 6-4

Sloane Stephens (7) defeated Garbiñe Muguruza 6-4 6-3

Marketa Vondrousova defeated Anastasija Sevastova (12) 6-2 6-0

Johanna Konta (26) defeated Donna Vekic (23) 6-2 6-4

Roland Garros - Day 7 - women’s 3rd round

Day 7 of Roland Garros 2019 and third round womens singles matches concluded.

Women’s Singles 

Third round 

Simona Halep (3) defeated Lesia Tsurenko (27) 6-2 6-1

Sofia Kenin defeated Serena Williams (10) 6-2 7-5

Katerina Siniakova defeated Naomi Osaka (1) 6-4 6-2

Ashleigh Barty (8) defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-3 6-1

Madison Keys (14) defeated qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4

Iga Swiatek defeated Monica Puig 0-6 6-3 6-3

Amanda Anisimova defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6(6) 6-4

Qualifier Aliona Bolsova defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2 7-5

Round of sixteen match ups 

Katerina Siniakova v Madison Keys (14)

Sofia Kenin v Ashleigh Barty (8)

Simona Halep (3) v Iga Swiatek 

Amanda Anisimova v qualifier Aliona Bolsova

Sloane Stephens (7) v Garbiñe Muguruza (19)

Donna Vekic (23) v Johanna Konta (26)

Marketa Vondrousova v Anastasija Sevastova (12)

Kaia Kanepi v Petra Martic (31)