Key events
Badosa 3-2 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)
Morale-boosting love to Badossa, who has to play doubles tomorrow.
*Badosa 2-2 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)
Badossa refuses to be intimidated by his good friend. A terrible rally ends with Sabalenka winning to 15 and leveling at 2-2.
Badosa 2-1 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server) Badossa, long fine earrings, blue dress with a racing back, almost as tall as Sabalenka. Sabalenka shoots into the corners of the court, but Badossa stays in the game with a kiss on the line. Fourth pair as they test the limits of the court and Badossa holds.
*Badosa 1-1 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)
Power and finesse from Sabalenka but Badosa refuses to be overwhelmed and pulls away after winning a testing rally. This will lead to a huge physical battle.
Badosa 0-1 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)
I lost the TV signal for a short time until I got it back, Sabalenka immediately broke Badossa’s serve.
Arina Sabalenka (2) and Paula Badosa are out warming up at Philippe-Chatrier where the roof is closed and the rain continues to fall outside. There are still not so many people who want to see Sabalenka.
Sabalenkao won four of their six meetings. Her best French Open Championship result, reaching the semi-finals last year. Badossa’s best result in Paris – 2021 quarter-finals
Next comes Philip-Chartier Women’s Heavyweight Match of the Day – Sabalenka vs. Badosa. But while we wait for that, let’s see what happens around the courts.
On Suzanne Lenglen, American and No. 15 seed Ben Shelton is down 3-0 against Canadian and No. 21 seed Felix Auger-Aliasime.
While on Court 14, it’s a game for eleventh seeds Alex de Miner and Jan-Lennard Struff, with play interrupted by rain.
Rybakina beat Mertens 6-4, 6-2
Rybakina 6-2, 6-4 Mertens
Mertens throws everything into his serve, but it’s not enough. Rybakina turns with a fantastic backhand in the corner. They shake hands and a pale-looking Rybakina waves to the crowd, victory sealed after an hour and seven minutes.
“I really want to play more and win Grand Slams,” she says.
Rybakina 5-2, 6-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
A a super rally won by Rybakina thanks to her long levers and speed. Mertens hits a return and now has to serve to stay in the match.
*Rybakina 4-2, 6-4 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Walls of effort from Mertens. A duff drop shot followed by an inaccurate return from Rybakina, then Mertens polished things off with a magnificent drop shot of her own to win her favorite serve. Still at it.
Rybakina 4-1, 6-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Rybakina moves through the gears and it’s a quick save as Mertens’ return ricochets off the post of the net. Mertens needs to find something special quickly to keep a claw in this match.
*Rybakina 3-1, 6-4 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Rybakina’s shooting is simply overwhelming in the way he parks players around the world. But another double fault for Mertens and suddenly Rybakina has two break points – and wins with a brilliant forehand in the corner,
Rybakina 2-1, 6-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
A beautifully refined service win to 15 by Rybakina. Meanwhile, on court Suzanne-Lenglen Gracheva defeated Begu 7-5, 6-3.
*Rybakina 1-1, 6-4 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Rallies on different courts, Rybakina suddenly plays with more confidence and flair. It’s damp and boring there, at least on TV, and Rybankina is wearing a vest. But the busy Mertens fought back to hold on.
Rybakina 1-0, 6-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Handles serve confidently.
Rybakina intervenes against Mertens
*Rybakina 6-4 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Rybakina senses a way to secure the set and is relentless in her comeback. Three set points for the world number four and she has it when a suddenly nervous Mertens hits the door.
Rybakina 5-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Rybakina a little itchy today, a few unprovoked errors at the net. Clay, commentators reasoned, takes away some of her power. Perfect shot from Mertens, clever and daring, but she misses with the shot and Rybakina holds.
*Rybakina 4-4 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Two consecutive double faults give Rybakina a way back, then Mertens hits long to allow Rybakina to level again with minimal effort.
Rybakina 3-4 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
A brilliant move by Mertens, who sends Rybakina all over the court and with a deft toss of the net, breaks serve for the second time in a row.
*Rybakina 3-3 Mertens (*denotes next server)
The modestly enthusiastic Rybakina immediately retorts.
Rybakina 2-3 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Rybakina lands a great rebound shot, but comes back with an Exocet in the corner after a Mertens rebound. Another mistake by Rybakina gives Mertens a game point – she returns it, but more unforced errors give the speedy Mertens a break.
*Rybakina 2-2 Mertens (*denotes next server)
Mertens in blue, parasol, large gold necklace and earrings. Missteps her opponent and easily holds her serve.
Rybakina 2-1 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Mertens had beaten Rybakina in their only previous meeting on clay, despite Rybakina being the higher ranked player. Goes up 30-0 on Rybakina’s serve, but then hits long to bring Rybakina back into the game. Several doubles, but Rybakina wins them with two huge serves. There are still not many people to watch this clash on a cool morning, probably everyone is doing their patriotic duty with Gracheva.
Rybakina 1-1 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Strong forehand, lucky net and Mertens also starts with a hold. love.
Rybakina 1-0 Mertens* (*denotes next server)
Straight into the flow, long arms and legs smoothly gathered in a serve, it begins with a victory for love.
We will stay Philippe-Chartrier, leaving Gracheva a set and a game over Suzanne-Lenglen.
Elena Rybakina, world number four warms up in light gold on Court Phillipe-Chartrier.
Gracheva faces Begu
*Gracheva 7-5 Begu (*denotes next server)
A more nervy game of the two, the tall Begu reduced a set point when she hit miles wide. She then loses the toss and double faults to lose the game and lose the set.
Gracheva 6-5 Begu* (*denotes next server)
Roland Garros is not warm, the crowd is in coats, although the players are in short sleeves. Unprovoked errors abound as Gracheva holds serve.
*Gracheva 5-5 Begu (*denotes next server)
Gracheva is pumped up, in her patriotic blue dress, bypassing Begu’s defense with quite a spirited game. The tricolor is waved in the crowd. But nerves get the better of her and she goes from 30- to down the game as Begu saves three set points.
Gracheva 5-4 Begu* (*denotes next server)
Begu went up 30-0 but missed a rebound to bring Gracheva back into the game. And Gracheva made the most of it with a brave shot. She taps the back of her heels to admonish herself. Begu wins a huge rally but they go to deuce, Gracheva with the crowd at her elbow and she fights out a break point to lead 5-4.
*Gracheva 4-4 Begu (*denotes next server)
Begu holds serve to draw level, beginning to hit her serve straps with improved accuracy.
Let’s take a Saturday morning ride on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, where the last remaining Frenchwoman, Varvara Gracheva, leads 4-3 against Irina-Camelia Begu.
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to our seventh day French Open Championship cover, the clay is still tile red, organizers are rushing to fit everything in after the rain in the first few days.
Lots to watch today, including Aryna Sabalenka playing ‘best friend’ Paula Badosa, court number two Philippe Chatrier, while Novak Djokovic takes on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who like Djokovic was left a set down in the night session. Alexander Zverev (whose domestic violence trial was postponed on Friday) and Daniil Medvedev are also playing.