Roland Garros - Day 13 - Vondrousova, Barty win semis

Day 13 of Roland Garros 2019 and the semi finals.

Womens Singles

Semi finals 

Ashleigh Barty (8) v Amanda Anisimova 

Fought on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, it was Barty, highest ranked player remaining, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead, leaving the 17 year old American teenager unsettled and seemingly about to lose her first set of the tournament at the worst loss possible stage.

Barty led 40-15 in the sixth game before entering an unprecedented dive out of two set points territory and into a losing streak of six games. Anisimova could do no wrong, and Barty must have felt as though she’d arrived in a parallel universe when the teenager was at the line serving at 6-5 to take the set.

Nevertheless, the Aussie broke back on her fourth attempt, forcing a tie break, where she edged ahead 4-2, with a mini break in hand. For the second time, a Barty lead was dissolved and a streak enjoyed by Anisimova, who took the last five points in the tie break, and the set 7-6(4).

The roll continued into set two, with three successive love games extending to 17 the number of points won by the American in a row. Trailing 6-7(4) 0-3, Barty dug into her reserves to discover whether she had the means to call a halt to the steam roller which was currently ruining her French fun.

It was a successful discovery, translated into six straight games and a levelling of the match 6-7(4) 6-3.

In the decider, Barty survived a break point in the opening game, and finally held using her fourth game point.

Anisimova achieved the first break of serve in the third game, but surrendered that advantage in the very next game, where Barty had 0-40. Anisimova saved all three of those break points, but couldn’t save a fourth.

Barty won the next three games to lead 5-2, including a second break.

Serving to stay in the contest, Anisimova trailed 0-40, but pulled out some tremendous shots to save match points and ultimately hold for 3-5.

Barty raced to 40-0, and Anisimova saved two more match points, before a deft backhand down the line forced Anisimova into error and Ashleigh Barty had booked her spot in the 2019 Roland Garros Women’s Singles final 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3.

Marketa Vondrousova defeated Johanna Konta (26) 7-5 7-6(5), after trailing down a break in both sets. Vondrousova still has not dropped a set in the tournament, in reaching the final where she will play Ashleigh Barty for the title.