Key events
We’re also on serve on Lenglen, Chwalinska leading Parry 4-3 in an absorbingly tight contest. But then Parry drags a forehand wide at 30-all, looking to invent an angle against an opponent way behind the baseline … then she does, breaking the sideline at the service box to make deuce.
So far, Shnaider has shown no signs of nerves. She’s never been beyond round four of a slam before, but at 22, has been learning her game – one not that dissimilar to Keys’ in a way, full of big flourishes and mental vulnerabilities. But she lacks Keys’ stature, meaning balls can get big on her, and her second serve is not as solid as necessary. Still, though, she leads 6-3 2-2.
On which point, those two meet in tonight’s match, reminding us that, if there’s a will, the women’s game can be showcased in that way. I’m now trying to work out the domestic engineering that allows me to watch without antagonising members of my household less obsessed with this thing of ours. Keys holds to trail 3-6 2-1.
Again, Keys takes Shnaider to deuce, and again, she holds nevertheless for 6-3 1-1. I do, though, think Oor Maddy is improving, a forehand winner down the line underlining the point. Real talk, but: I can’t see either of these beating Sabalenka or Osaka in the next round.
I’ve seen much less of Chwalinska, ranked 114 in the world – both players will consider a fourth-round contest against the other as an incredible opportunity – but she’s got that nasty lefty angle, decent speed and a good tennis brain. If Parry plays really well, I don’t think she can win, but most likely, the match is settled by whichever of them handles the pressure better.
We’re on serve on Chatrier, Chwalinska up 3-2 on Parry – who is transitioning from a single to a double-handed backhand. The local favourite has lots of talent, an old skool tenniser looking to hit winners – and, at 23, she’s got enough time to improve way beyond her ranking of 92.
Keys holds, then forces Shnaider to deuce as she tries to serve out the set, but from there she sends a return long, then offers a mid-court moon-ball, easily dispatched, and that’s a 6-3 set complete. Work to do for the American.
Righto, time to cease reflecting and predicting – we’ve matches in progress, and Shnaider now leads Keys 4-2. It’s classic Maddy really, frustration growing as her best tennis eludes her in a match she should win, but her opponent has yet to drop a set in this competition and another holds takes to a game away from securing the first set at 5-2.
Cobolli is now in his second grand slam quarter-final – he reached the same stage at Wimbledon last year, losing to Djokovic in four. But clay is his favourite surface, his combination of ridiculous speed and forehand power a pretty good mix. I fancy him as more likely to bring his best tennis than Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo.
Back on Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have swapped breaks once more, so we’re level at 2-2 in set one.
Next on Chatrier: Maja Chwalinska v Diane Parry.
“I can’t imagine that any of you were offended by his colourful use of English in a second language,” says our commentator, “but just in case.” Now that is progress.
Cobolli tells Caroline Garcia that the only thing he learnt today “Is that the match is never done and I almost shit on my pants”; as Coach Calv says, no shortage of charisma there. He’s happy but he’s still nervous and has to recover a bit.
This is his favourite slam, he loves clay and playing in France, so thanks the crowd and his team; “I think also some of them shit on the pants, but we are really happy with the honour to play another match here.”
He then thanks the Italian federation, saying he was really nervous today, and wants to wish Matteo and Matteo the best of luck. Told the Champions League trophy is coming to Roland Garros today, he says he’s the biggest football fan on the tour, congratulating PSG for winning it, but warning them AS Roma will be in the competition next season. He’s a lot of fun, and I’m excited to see how he does in the next round.
Talking of Shnaider:
We’re just under way again, Keys breaking and Shnaider breaking back for 1-1.
Back to Kalinskaya, she says she’s shocked, unable to believe the match is over – you and me both, old mate, it felt like neither player would hold it together long enough to win a match point.
“Unbelievable fight from both of us,” she says, saying this match was special and “super-challenging”.
“I don’t have any nerves anymore,” she says. She was hoping to stay focused but things didn’t work, so she thought whatever and focused on her breathing trying to get her rhythm. Mentally, she’s trying to enjoy more and not put much pressure on herself to play well on clay because she never did, then, finally, she thanks the crowd.
Big credit to Svajda, not just for today but for his tournament. He’ll move fro 85 in the world into the top 60 for the first time in his career, but more than that, he’s set a standard of performance to which he must now live up. He may lack power and definitive weapons, but he has speed, tenacity and intensity with, at 23, plenty of scope to improve. I’m not sure he’s a top-10 player, but he can definitely be top-30, perhaps better.
Flavio Cobolli (10) beats Zach Svajda 6-2 6-3 (3)6-7 7-6(5)
Brilliant work from Cobolli, scurrying about hoisting lobs and Svajda looks to finish the point, then when offered a forehand under less pressure, he rips a winner cross-court and will meet Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo next.
But instead he goes long, Svajda doing brilliantly to keep equilibrious … but he then nets a forehand, meaning he must defend match point for the second time, but on his serve.
Cobolli ups the gas on a forehand, and though Svajda sticks in the point, he loses control of it, betting a backhand; at 5-4, two holds and the Italian is into the last eight.
A double returns that mini-break immediately, but a terrific service-point means Svajda leads 3-2, quickly converted to 4-3 Cobolli, still on serve. On Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have come out, but worry not – we’ll deal with kalinskaya’s interview once this breaker is over.
In comms, they reckon Cobolli has been going for too much – in mine, natural against an opponent you don’t fear. My guess is he felt impregnable, enjoying playing rather than competing, and now, he flaps a backhand long to cede the mini-break, Svajda leading 2-1.
It’s remarkable really. Svajda has given a decent account of himself, but Cobolli has always looked in control of things – until now. But the Italian holds to love, winning his first game in five and sealing it with a drop so good it almost bounces back over to his side of the net, and here comes a fourth-set breaker.
And Svajda holds for 6-5! He’s hit his best level over the second half of this set, and now Cobolli is under pressure.
Ach, Cobolli totally butchers a forehand, taking us to deuce … whereupon Svajda creams a backhand winner down the line, then nails a terrific return, doing well at the net as one of the fastest players on tour keeps chasing … until his opponent nets! Twice, Cobolli has served for the match and twice he’s been broken! We’r level at 5-5 in the fourth, a match that looked over still in the balance.
Svajda makes 15-30, but a monstrous forehand from Cobolli allows him to tidy, then a backhand that looks just wide – confirmed by umpire check – means he holds match point.
On Chatrier, a hold for Svajda means Cobolli is now serving for the match again at 2-1 5-4.
Anna Kalinskaya (22) beats Anastasia Potapova (28) 6-4 2-6 7-6(7)
Somehow, Kalinskaya – the slightly more dreadful player across the piece – secures the win, and will face Parry or Chwalinska next. Goodness knows how Coco Gauff feels, having surrendered her title to see Potapova play like that next match; it’ll take her a while to recover from serving for the biggest match of her life, twice, and being broken back, twice.
Or does it? Kalinskaya goes long, for 9-7…
A return hoofed long and Kalinskaya leads 7-5, but a comically poor forehand offers Potapova a chance to level on serve at 7-7 … then a weak second serve allows her opponent into the point … and again, the forehands do the trick. Seconds later, Kalinskaya leads 9-6, and this match looks set to be put out of its misery.
Ahahaha, Potapova restores a mini-break, Kalinskaya retrieves it … then Potapova, having hauled herself back into the next rally, jiggers a backhand, and for the first time, she trails in the breaker at 5-6.
You got to laugh. A wild forehand from Potapova returns one of the two mini-breaks, then one into the net takes us level at 4-4; Svajda holds, so Cobolli will shortly serve for the match at 2-1 5-2.
Excellent work from Potapova, her forehand the best shot on court and one thumped down the line, from shoulder-height, securing a second mini-break; at change of ends, she leads 4-2. Meantime, Svajda is now serving to stay in the match at 1-5 in the fourth.
On Chatrier, Cobolli has broken Svajda again and leads 4-1 in the fourth, while Potapova takes an immediate mini-break then consolidates for 3-0. But with 10 the target, there’s plenty of space for implosion and fury.
Potapova makes 30-15, but terrific hitting from Kalinskaya, who unloads a succession of heavy forehands, leads us to 30-all. And she’s quickly at net next point, nashing in to give a poorly executed drop the treatment. Potapova, though, flicks an airy forehand of her own down the line for a winner … only to net when sent to the corner, ceding advantage. I hate to say it, but I’m now expecting a double … averted only by a second serve so slow it almost moves backwards, and Kalinskaya duly takes control of the rally, a forehand winner meaning they’ll now suffer through a match tiebreak at 6-6 in the third.
Kalinskaya looks set to hold, up 40-15, but we wind up at deuce, and this is as low-quality a contest as could possibly be at this level and this stage. But the drama and tension are compelling, Potapova needing various opportunities to close out a point which takes her to advantage, eventually managing to land a stretch-volley … and the almost-inevitable double follows. She leads 6-5 in the third, and will shortly serve for the match – again.
Gosh, a forehand wafted long hands Kalinskaya 0-30, a forehand into the net and it’s 0-40, and you can see Potapova shrinking like Mario when he clips a goombah. The break-back is donated to love, and I’ve not a clue which of these will play slightly less miserably than the other when under pressure.
Cobolli consolidates his break, the impression that he’s able to raise his level to wherever it needs to be to beat Svajdal he leads 2-1 2-0 … oh, and as I type, he snatches a double break for 3-0, the match surely over. And on Lenglen, Potapova breaks Kalinskaya again, so at 5-4 in the third, she’ll now serve for the match; can she hold it down? She’s never made the last eight of a major, making this the most important game of her life. I don’t massively fancy her…
