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Wang holds so, at 7-5 4-6 5-2, Raducanu will serve for the match. Every time I even think of her I find it impossible to believe she won a major even in the wildest era any sport has even experienced, not because she isn’t good, she is, but because it usually takes a fair bit more than that, and while lot more suffering.
On Mathieu, Fritz and Altmaier have just started; Alcaraz has just broken Zeppieri to lead 6-3 5-3; Raducanu leads Wang 5-1 in the third; Tsitsipas and Etcheverry have just started; and Korda has beaten Darderi 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-2, so meets Brooksby next.
If Swiatek improves through the rounds, she’ll be difficult to stop. But because she’s seeded fifth – when was the last time that was so of a three-time defending champ?! – her route to the final won’t be easy. She may well have to beat Rybakina, Paolini, Sabalenka and Gauff; good luck with that, old mate, we can’t wait to see you try.
Swiatek credits her opponent’s performance, especially her forehands down the line which were “pretty amazing”. That being the case, she’s pleased with her own performance and use of her own weapons.
She loves Paris and the courts, so is pleased she arrived early, and asked about yesterday’s Nadal ceremony, she tried her best not to cry, but seeing Nadal at it, she couldn’t help herself, and even though he’s not playing anymore, he inspires her.
Maybe one day, she’ll have her own footprint on Chatrier forever more.
Next on Chatrier: Naomi Osaka v Paulo Badosa (10). Bada bing!
Iga Swiatek (5) beats Rebecca Sramkova 6-3 6-3
Swiatek needed that. Sramkova gave her a proper test but ultimately couldn’t play well enough for long enough and lost the biggest points. Next for the three-time champ: Wang or Raducanu.
Gosh, up 40-30 and eager to get off court, Swiatek hammers a backhand into the net-post; a body-serve earns her advantage and another match point…
Aaaach, having fought back to advantage, Sramkova tries a drop to finish a long rally … and it’s too short. From there, Swiatek seizes the break, and at 6-3 5-3 will now serve for the match. This has been a really good workout for her – winning a toughie will do more for her confidence than spanking someone.
Seb Korda, someone I thought would be better than he is by now, is almost home: he leads Smurf Darderi 6-2 4-6 6-3 5-1. Back on Chatrier, Sramkova is in trouble, down 6-3 4-3 0-40, while Raducanu has two points for a double-break … and she takes the second. That’s six games out of seven, and she leads 3-0 in the third.
Next on Mathieu: Daniel Altmaier v Taylor Fritz (4).
Raducanu holds for 2-0 in the third and I’d not be surprised if she breaks again; Wang, you feel, must hold to have a chance.
Casper Ruud (7) beats Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Q) 6-3 6-4 6-2
A good win and performance from the twice-beaten finalist; next for him, it’s Nuno Borges, and that could be a really good match.
Oh dear. All that effort and Wang is broken to love in the opening game of the decider, Raducanu collaring a second serve with a forehand return down the line. On Lenglen, meantime, Alcaraz serves out for a 6-3 lead against Zeppieri and Swiatek breaks Sramkov aback for 6-3 3-3.
What is it with these hooped Nike tops? Alcaraz looks like he forgot his kit so had to take whatever was left in lost property. From the company that gave you Agassi, it’s an inexplicable misstep.
All that effort and Raducanu can’t secure the hold for 5-5; instead, Wang vaporises a forehand, taking the second set 6-4, and we’ll soon have a decider. Raducanu looks the better, more versatile player, but can she play well enough for long enough to see it out?
Alcaraz leads Zeppieri 4-2 and it doesn’t look like the young(ish) Italian has much for him. Otherwise, Ruud leads Ramos-Vinolas by two sets and a break with Altmaier v Fritz next up; Swiatek is on the board in set two, now leading Sramkova 6-3 1-2; and Nishioka has retired, so Popyrin, up 7-5 6-4 1-2, moves into round two where he’ll face Tabilo or Cazaux, one of our picks to go long, and currently the Chilean leads 5-7 6-3 2-1 with a break.
Talking of Raducanu, she’s broken Wang again so we’re back on serve in set two at 7-5 4-5, and Sramkova is also at it, breaking Swiatek for 3-6 1-0. This match is intensifying.
Elena Rybakina (12) beats Julia Riera 6-1 4-6 6-4
The 2023 Wimbledon champ gets it done. Her ability to deliver the best and the worst, often one after the other, makes her dangerous but vulnerable, but she found a way here and will be the better for it having not had much time to acclimatise. next for her is Jovic, but there are loads of potential pitfalls in a quarter of the draw that also includes Raducanu, Ostapenko, Minnen and Swiatek.
Meantime, Raducanu holds for 3-5 in the second, forcing Wang to try and serve out the set a second time; Swiatek holds to secure a fun and competitive first set against Sramkova, 6-3.
Oh, Rybakina makes 15-40, Riera goes long, and for the third time in this final set, she breaks; after a sit-down, she’ll serve for the match at 5-4 in the first.
Swiatek sticks away a volley that gives her her consolidation and a 5-3 first-set lead; Rybakina and Riera are now 4-4 in the deicer; Alcaraz leads Zeppieri 2-1 on serve; Ruud leads Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 6-4 1-1; and Popyriun leads Nishioka 7-5 6-4 0-1.
What an unusual athlete Emma Raducanu is, one of the least predictable players in the least predictable sport. I’ve never had the slightest clue what to expect from her, from point to point never mind from match to match and, as I type, she retrieves one break having looked devoid of energy the previous 20 minutes; she leads 7-5 2-5.
The crowd chant “Elena” as Rybakina remonstrates with herself after Riera holds for 4-3; Swiatek breaks Sramkova for 4-3 and this is a really high-level match, both players absolutely clouting it; Wang breaks Raducanu again for 5-7 5-1.
Right, Riera has broken Rybakina back in set three – they’re at 3-3 – so I’ve switched from Alcaraz–Zeppieri to that.
Wang breaks Raducanu for 5-7 1-3 then finds herself down 15-40; a big backhand and that’s soon 30-40. Raducanu, though, fires a decent return … but Wang is there to deflect it into space. And from there, she closes out for 4-1 and is two games away from forcing a decider.
I’ve moved Alcaraz to my phone, in order to get a better look at Sramkova 3-2 Swiatek. It’s a funny thing, really – I’m not that surprised the champ is struggling. Of course she’s a top player, but she never seemed quite as good as the titles she was winning – she ought really to have lost to Osaka in last year’s second round and my sense has always been that her game isn’t quite big enough. I’m not saying she’s been found out, but I do think she can be hit through.
Alcaraz and Zeppieri are out on Lenglen; Srankova and Swiatek are 2-2; Rybakina has a break in the decider against Rier, leading 2-1; Raducanu leads Wang 7-5 1-2; and Darderi has levelled at one set apiece against Korda.
Next on Lenglen: Giulio Zeppieri v Carlos Alcaraz (2).
Well, something worked: Raducanu serves out to love and leads Wang 7-5. Meantime, Riera has forced a decider against Rybakina and I wish I had another screen to watch that; I’ve swapped out Ruud 6-3 2-2 Ramos-Vinolas for Sramkova 1-0 Swiatek.
Bouzas Maneiro is happy with how she played and handled the pressure. Last year was tough for her so she wanted to bring her best, and she did.
She thinks anything is possible, tries to play her best every time she competes, and though she didn’t expect this score, she’s happy.
Her team asked her to win in two as she’s been playing a lot of threes recently, so is chuffed to get in and out inside an hour.
Before seeking to serve out, Raducanu calls the trainer for treatment on her left knee and quad; there’s ice involved.
On Chateirer, Sramkova and Swiatek are leathering at each other from the back – already, this looks like it could be a decent contest.
Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro beats Emma Navarro (9) 6-0 6-1
An absolute devastation. Bouzas Maneiro’s forehand dominated this match, too powerful and deep for Navarro to handle and, in particular, she victimised her opponent’s second serve. Next for her, Parry or Montgomery.
Er yeah, Bouzas Maneiro soon makes 30-40 but strays wide on match point and we move to 6-0 5-1 deuce; Raducanu breaks Wang a third time for 6-5 but can she finally hold on to serve out the first set? Meantime, Swiatek and Sramkova are out on Chatrier, while Riera has broken Rybakina back to trail 1-6 5-4.
Down 30-40, Bouzas Maneiro serves a double so Navarro, now on the board, salutes the crowd in self-mockery – this has been a chastening morning – and Wang does indeed break Raducanu back for 5-5 in the first.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Raducanu finds herself down 0-30, but plays the next rally really well … only to thwack a backhand into the net with the court open. A fine backhand down the line and into the corner retrieves the first break-back point, though, while, on Lenglen, Bouzas Maneiro is serving for the double-bagel at 6-0 5-0, on which point the aforementioned focaccia is not ready. Terrible parenting.
Ah, Ruud serves out for a 6-3 set. Ramos-Vinolas pushed him hard there, so he’ll be pleased with the way he played – he’s hitting it well and handled the important points with composure. Ruud, of course, made the final in 2022 and 2023 – and the final in New York that first year – but is one of those players you assume will, in every Slam, eventually play someone able to reach a level he cannot.
Raducanu holds for 5-3 and, though Wang isn’t making it easy for herm she has the measure of the contest now. Otherwise, Ruud is serving for the set against Ramos-Vinolas, up 5-3; Rybakina leads Riera 6-1 3-2 with a break; Blanchey leads Gaston 6-2 0-2; Popyrin leads Nishioka 7-5; Cazaux has broken Tabilo back to trail 4-; and Korda leads Darderi 6-2 2-3 with a break.
Poor Emma Navarro. No longer is she trying to make round two, she’s trying to avoid the double bagel – bagelayim as the Hebrew should but doesn’t call it. She’s broken yet again, the power and accuracy of Bouzas Maneiro’s hitting way too much; at 0-6 0-3, she’s running out of time to avoid the ultimate embarrassment.
Raducanu is getting nowt for nowt, forced to 30-all as she seeks her endorsement. From there, though, she does well to close out for 4-2, while Bouzas Maneiro breaks Navarra at the start of srt two for 6-0 1-0. This is an absolute tousing … so far.
Inside-out backhand to the corner … and Wang can’t control her response. Raducanu breaks again, for 3-2, and can she hold on to it this time?
Back on Lenglen, Bouzas Maneiro completes her bagel, which reminds me my 11-year-old is downstairs making focaccia. It doesn’t yet smell like my intervention is required, but I guess I should remind her that I’m hungry.
Bouzas Maneiro is all over Navarro – when I began typing it was 4-0, now it’s 5-0. It’s not exactly a clay-court thing either; rather, she’s clouting the fuzz off it.
Elsewhere, Ruud leads Ramos-Vinolas 4-1; Rybakina leads Riera 6-1; Nishioka leads Popyrin 4-3 on serve; Tabilo leads Cazaux 4-1 in a match that could go long; Korda leads Darderi 6-2 1-0; and Raducanu, 2-2 with Wang, has two break points.
I’m not sure if everyone’s trying to camouflage with the clay, but there are a lot of clay-coloured rigs on show this morning. More news as I get it.
A well-directed serve saves Raducanu a break point. But on deuce she goes long with a moon ball, then a double, the second part of which was one of the worst serves you’ll ever see, and Wang is on the board at 1-1. Meantime, Bouzas Maneiro breaks Navarro a second time to lead 3-0 and on 7, Blanchet, a qualifier, leads Gaston 4-0.
Elsewhere, Rybakina leads Riera 3-0 and Korda leads Darderi 3-1. I think there’s a fair chance it’s just me who calls him Smurf, dardas being smurf in Hebrew.
A backhand winner down the line raises two break points for Bouzas Maneiro … both saved by Navarro. So to deuce we go and they’re absolutely zetzing it now, Bouzas Maneiro converting her second advantage for 1-0. Already, this looks like a belting tussle while, on Court 8, Wang is serving having come back from 0-30 down to deuce. As I type, though, Raducanu punishes a return then a swing-volley for advantage, Wang then swipes wide, and that’s a break too.
Emma Navarro knows herself. This last year, she’s gone deeper in all four Slams than ever before – the last eight at the Aussie Open and Wimbledon, round four in Paris and the semis in New York – as well as her highest ranking, eight. I’m not certain she’s the weapons to beat the best on the biggest occasions, but she’s at one with her game and a seriously dangerous match-player.
Bouzas Maneiro, though, knows how to play on clay and is also settled into herself – last year, she binned Marketa Vondrousova, the defending champion, at Wimbledon – and this should be a fun tussle.
So where do we start? Good question. But fear not, I’ll now stop responding to myself and say I’ll be watching Raducanu v Wang, Bouzas Maneiro v Navarro and Ruud v Ramos-Vinolas. To begin with…
Preamble
Salut et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2025 – deuxième jour!
An absolutely indecent quantity of stupendous tennis awaits us today – so much so that it’s hard to know where to start, but we’ll do our best!
The match of the day comes second on Chatrier, where Naomi Osaka takes on Paula Badosa – I’d not want to be a ball in that one. Before that, though, we’ll see Iga Świątek, going for an unprecedented fourth title in a row but horribly out of confidence, along with Emma Navarro, seeded nine, against the canny Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Then, later in the day, Katie Boulter begins her campaign against the qualifier, Carole Monnet; Madison Keys, the US Open champion – and what a thrill it is to type those words – takes on Daria Saville; while Elena Rybakina, Daria Kasatkina and Barbora Krejcikova are also in action.
And goodness me, that isn’t it – in fact that’s so far from it, it’s barely possible to process. Because coming right up are Jelena Ostapenko, Emma Raducanu v Wang Xiyu and Danielle Collins v Jodie Burrage – before we even take a look at the men’s competition.
Which of course is popping too. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion gets back involved; Taylor Fritz, seeded four, faces a nasty opener against Daniel Altmaier; Holger Rune, seeded 10, meets Roberto Bautista Agut; Jacob Fearnley encounters Stan Wawrinka; with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Arthur Fils, Seb Korda and Casper Ruud all drawn against tricky opponents.
On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST; Chatrier 12pm local, 11am BST.
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