RG - Nadal wins semi - Zverev injured

Semi final day in Paris. 

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4

Semi final 1:

Rafael Nadal (5) (Spain) v Alexander Zverev (3) (Germany)

Nadal won the first five battles between the pair - all in the 2016-2018 period.

Zverev won the next three, from 2019-2021, while Nadal won the most recent contest - a quarter final in last years Rome Masters.

Nadal delivered first, and although he won the opening two points, Zverev soon used his forehand to good effect and broke the Spanish serve.

Zverev consolidated emphatically to lead 2-0.

Forehand and backhand winners from Zverev were insufficient to prevent Nadal from registering on the scoreboard in game three.

Zverev still ahead 2-1 with a break.

Serving at 4-3, Zverev double faulted to give Nadal a break chance. This was saved. A second break chance was created when Zverev mucked up an easy forehand at the net. The break back came when the third seed hit a backhand wide, 4-4.

Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Zverev twice double faulted when having game point, saved three set points, and eventually held after a 7 deuce game for 5-5.

Nadal saved two break points in the eleventh game before holding serve, and Zverev also held to force a tie break.

Nadal led 2-1 with two serves to come, but Zverev won the next five points to have four set points.

Nadal saved all four and proceeded to win the tie break and set 7-6(8).

An obviously disappointed Zverev wasn’t any happier when broken to love in the opening game of set two.

From 40-15, Nadal lost the next four points, and Zverev broke back for 1-1.

Zverev saved one break point in game three but not a second, and Nadal led 2-1. Three serves dropped in a row.

Incredibly, Nadal was broken to 15 and it was 2-2.

Zverev saved a break point and survived three deuces in the way to holding serve. He led 3-2.

Nadal was broken with the second break chance Zverev had in the sixth game, and the third seed was ahead 4-2.

Zverev, from 30-15, was broken, and games were back on serve.

Zverev broke Nadal again and was serving for the set at 5-3.

Once more Zverev threw away a 30-15 advantage, double faulting twice to the ad court, the second time on break point.

Nadal held for 5-5.

Nadal was serving at 5-6:and 40-30 when Zverev fell, after hitting a forehand, badly rolling his right ankle. Nadal won the game and the score was 6-6. A tie break would be required if the match continued.

Zverev was taken from the court to assess his injury. 

He returned on crutches to retire hurt.

Nadal won 7-6(8) 6-6 (retired)

RG - Gauff wins 2nd semi final

Semi final day in Paris.

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Barbora Krejcikova who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Semi final 2:

Martina Trevisan (Italy) v CoCo Gauff (18) (USA)

This would be the first semi at Grand Slam level for both players.

They met once previously, Trevisan winning in three sets at Roland Garros in 2020, second round.

Gauff made the quarter finals at Roland Garros last year, while Trevisan made the quarters here in 2020.

Trevisan served first, and in a game mostly of errors, saved a break point and held.

More mistakes from both as Gauff levelled. 

A loose game from Trevisan, including two double faults, gave Gauff the first break of serve, and the American led 2-1.

Gauff looked solid at 30-0, but a mishit and distraction over a line call, left her facing a break point. A big serve saved it.

A winning volley from Trevisan created a second break chance. A double fault and games were level at 2-2.

A third successive service break arrived on the back of smart tennis from Gauff forcing errors from Trevisan.

Serving at 3-2, Gauff wasted a 40-15 lead, and had to save a break point with a backhand winner. 

Trevisan’s forehand winner created another chance, and Gauff surrendered with a forehand mistake. 3–3.

After Gauff broke (the fifth successive break) she consolidated to lead 5-3.

Serving to stay in the set, Trevisan hit a forehand long, then netted a backhand. A long backhand gave Gauff two set points.

Another loose Italian backhand and the set was over. Gauff ahead 6-3.

The first three games of set two went with serve.

Trevisan served at 1-2, and in a game of seven deuces, she saved three break points, but also wasted four game points.

Gauff converted a fourth break point with a backhand down the line winner to lead 3-1.

A love game increased the Gauff advantage to 4-1, and another service break for the 18th seed pushed Trevisan to the brink.

Serving at 5-1 to win the match Gauff was at 40-0 after a winning lob and a winning drop shot.

A forehand winner produced three match points.

Trevisan hit a forehand long and the battle was over.

CoCo Gauff had made the final, defeating Martina Trevisan 6-3 6-1.

Final will be between:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v CoCo Gauff (18) (USA)

RG - Swiatek wins 1st semi final

Semi final day in Paris.

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Barbora Krejcikova who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Semi final 1:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v Daria Kasatkina (20)

Swiatek was Roland Garros champion in 2020, and made the quarters last year.

Before the final she had extended her match winning streak to 33.

Kasatkina’s previous best performances at a major were two quarter finals in 2018 - Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

She’d only been beyond the third round one other time - in the 2017 US Open.

Swiatek served first, and began with a double fault. She soon used her forehand to good effect, three winners helping her to a service hold.

Kasatkina started by successfully running down a drop shot and hitting a winner. Four loose shots then enabled Swiatek to grab a break chance, but a forehand winner from Kasatkina saved it.

An ace saved a second break point. A double fault gave Swiatek a third break opportunity - saved. A fourth break point was converted once Kasatkina netted a backhand. 2-0 Swiatek.

A double fault and some sloppy play from Swiatek presented Kasatkina with two break back points, and a forehand winner on the first of them confirmed the break.

Kasatkina saved a break point on the way to levelling at 2-2.

Errors from Kasatkina and winners from Swiatek saw a break of the Russian serve in game six and a 4-2 advantage for the top seed.

The break was easily consolidated in the following game.

Kasatkina was quickly down 0-40 when serving at 2-5 to stay in the set. With the first set point Swiatek hit a backhand return winner off a second serve to take the set 6-2.

Swiatek served first in set two, and held confidently. Kasatkina broke the stretch of five losing games and tied it at 1-1.

Swiatek broke Kasatkina in the fourth game, two backhand winners the highlight. 3-1.

Serving at 1-4, Kasatkina hit a forehand wide then donated a double fault. Backhand and forehand winners from Swiatek finished a love game and another break of the Kasatkina serve. 

Swiatek served at 5-1 for the match. After an unforced error from Kasatkina, Swiatek hit a backhand then a forehand winner to create three match points.

An ace ended the demolition. Iga Swiatek was into the final after winning 6-2 6-1.

RG - Men’s Singles quarter finals (2)

Quarter final day (2) in Paris. 

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4

Quarter final results:

Casper Ruud (8) defeated Holger Rune 6-1 4-6 7-6(2) 6-3

Marin Cilic (20) defeated Andrey Rublev (7) 5-7 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6(10-2)

Semi final match ups:

Rafael Nadal (5) v Alexander Zverev (3) 

Casper Ruud (8) v Marin Cilic (20)

RG - Women’s Singles quarter finals (2)

Quarter final day (2) in Paris.

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Barbora Krejcikova who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Quarter final results:

Iga Swiatek (1) defeated Jessica Pegula (11) 6-3 6-2

Daria Kasatkina (20) defeated Veronika Kudermetova (29) 6-4 7-6(5)

Semi final match ups:

Iga Swiatek (1) v Daria Kasatkina (20)

Martina Trevisan  v CoCo Gauff (18)

RG - Men’s Singles quarter finals (1)

Quarter final day (1) in Paris. 

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4

Quarter final results:

Rafael Nadal (5) defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4)

Alexander Zverev (3) defeated Carlos Alcaraz (6) 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6(7)

RG - Women’s Singles quarter finals (1)

Quarter final day (1) in Paris.

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Barbora Krejcikova who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Quarter final results:

Martina Trevisan  defeated Leylah Fernandez (17) 6-2 6-7(3) 6-3

CoCo Gauff (18) defeated Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-2