Tennis

We’re down to two with Alexander Zverev one win away from ending his reign as the ‘best player never to win a Grand Slam’. He was dominant on serve yet again in his semi final win over Mensik and has now won at least 60% of 2nd serve points in all six matches played. It has translated to holding serve in 93% of games and creates a very difficult path to victory for Cobolli. The Italian was handed a free passage into his maiden major final after his countryman Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from the match due to illness. He will…

Five years ago at the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to make and subsequently win a Grand Slam final. Maja Chwalinska has the join her in a victory that would be even more unlikely. Prior to this tournament, Chwalinska has recorded just one match win at Grand Slam level and had in fact failed in the qualifying stages in 11 of her previous 13 attempts to make the main draw. She has never been ranked inside the top 100 and has spent the bulk of her career on the ITF circuit. In contrast, Andreeva was an…

The record for most 5 sets matches in a single year at the French Open is 33 back in 1992. Through the first four round there were 31 five set matches with the record in danger of being broken. The duo of Zverev and Mensik decided to buck the trend by winning their respective quarter final matches in straight sets. Jodar served for the opening set against Zverev but once the German broke back and took the opening set breaker he went on with the job in style. In the other match, Mensik never looked threatened – winning 83% of…

The career-best form of Kostyuk continued in the quarter finals where she won the battle of the Ukrainians against Svitolina. The nerves were present for both players in the deciding set as they trade 5 breaks of serve to begin the third set. Kostyuk was the first to steady the ship and closed it out 6-2. In contrast, Andreeva was fast out of the gate and never took her foot off the pedal in a crushing 6-3 6-0 win over Cirstea. It means that Andreeva is into the semi finals here for the second time in the last three years.…

There are two more semi finals spots up for grabs with Sabalenka the only player in the top half of the draw to have made it this far at a major. There is an enormous gap in experience between her and the other three women but she still needs to win three more matches to win her first Roland Garros title.   Aryna Sabalenka vs Diana Shnaider 10:10pm Wednesday | Philippe-Chatrier Sabalenka -5.5 ($1.95) The world number one emerged a straight sets winner over Osaka and deserves credit for producing her best tennis in the biggest moments. Converted 4 of 5 break opportunities, thundered down 12…

We’re into the quarter finals and with Kostyuk ousting four-time winner Iga Swiatek, we will have a first time French Open champion. Further to that, one of the four women remaining in the bottom half will be contesting a major final for the first time. Mirra Andreeva vs Sorana Cirstea 9:00pm Tuesday | Philippe-Chatrier Over 21.5 games ($1.83) The career of Andreeva has only just begun but despite still being a teenager (19), this is her 4th appearance in a Grand Slam quarter final. This is Cirstea’s 67th Grand Slam appearance but will mark only the third time she has…

Alexander Zverev moved one step closer to that elusive major title but a trio of youngsters remain in his way. He takes on teenage sensation Rafel Jodar in the quarter and if he can get through will then need to handle the brute horsepower of Fonseca or Mensik. Forget about age, experience, odds and history because any of the four players in action today can make the final. Rafael Jodar vs Alexander Zverev 11:20pm Tuesday | Philippe-Chatrier Under 14.5 aces ($1.80) Jodar has been staring defeat in the face in his last two matches but found a way to respond…

The carnage continued in the men’s draw with Djokovic, De Minaur and Khachanov the latest casualties. Jodar, De Jong, Fonseca and Ruud all needed five sets to get through and the results means that we will have a new Grand Slam champion. Alexander Zverev is now the clear favourite but will he be able to handle the pressure…  Jesper De Jong vs Alexander Zverev Sunday Zverev -7.5 ($1.80) For years the narrative has been that Zverev is the greatest player never to win a slam. The last 48 hours have been very kind to the German and left him with the best opportunity he has ever had…

In what can only be described as uncommon, all eight 3rd Round matches in the bottom half ended in straight sets with Cirstea posting a double bagel win over Sierra 6-0 6-0! Teichmann posted the upset of the day with a win over Muchova and Kostyuk continued her good form but Swiatek remains the one to beat. Maria Kostyuk vs Iga Swiatek Sunday Over 20.5 games ($1.82) Swiatek may have made it through in straight sets but her struggles on serve continued with Linette able to generate three breaks of serve. That’s a total of 8 breaks against Swiatek in…