Key events<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve seen much less of Chwalinska, ranked 114 in the world \u2013 both players will consider a fourth-round contest against the other as an incredible opportunity \u2013 but she\u2019s got that nasty lefty angle, decent speed and a good tennis brain. If Parry plays really well, I don\u2019t think she can win, but most likely, the match is settled by whichever of them handles the pressure better.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re on serve on Chatrier, Chwalinska up 3-2 on Parry \u2013 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 \u2013 and, at 23, she\u2019s got enough time to improve way beyond her ranking of 92.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s a 6-3 set complete. Work to do for the American.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Righto, time to cease reflecting and predicting \u2013 we\u2019ve matches in progress, and Shnaider now leads Keys 4-2. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cobolli is now in his second grand slam quarter-final \u2013 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back on Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have swapped breaks once more, so we\u2019re level at 2-2 in set one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Chatrier: Maja Chwalinska v Diane Parry.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine that any of you were offended by his colourful use of English in a second language,\u201d says our commentator, \u201cbut just in case.\u201d Now that is progress.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cobolli tells Caroline Garcia that the only thing he learnt today \u201cIs that the match is never done and I almost shit on my pants\u201d; as Coach Calv says, no shortage of charisma there. He\u2019s happy but he\u2019s still nervous and has to recover a bit.<\/p>\n This is his favourite slam, he loves clay and playing in France, so thanks the crowd and his team; \u201cI think also some of them shit on the pants, but we are really happy with the honour to play another match here.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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\u2019s a lot of fun, and I\u2019m excited to see how he does in the next round.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Talking of Shnaider:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re just under way again, Keys breaking and Shnaider breaking back for 1-1.<\/p>\n Madison Keys and Diana Shnaider exchange breaks at the beginning of the set. Photograph: Thibault Camus\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.14 EDT<\/p>\n Back to Kalinskaya, she says she\u2019s shocked, unable to believe the match is over \u2013 you and me both, old mate, it felt like neither player would hold it together long enough to win a match point.<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelievable fight from both of us,\u201d she says, saying this match was special and \u201csuper-challenging\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have any nerves anymore,\u201d she says. She was hoping to stay focused but things didn\u2019t work, so she thought whatever and focused on her breathing trying to get her rhythm. Mentally, she\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Big credit to Svajda, not just for today but for his tournament. He\u2019ll move fro 85 in the world into the top 60 for the first time in his career, but more than that, he\u2019s 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\u2019m not sure he\u2019s a top-10 player, but he can definitely be top-30, perhaps better.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Flavio Cobolli (10) beats Zach Svajda 6-2 6-3 (3)6-7 7-6(5)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n But instead he goes long, Svajda doing brilliantly to keep equilibrious \u2026 but he then nets a forehand, meaning he must defend match point for the second time, but on his serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2013 we\u2019ll deal with kalinskaya\u2019s interview once this breaker is over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In comms, they reckon Cobolli has been going for too much \u2013 in mine, natural against an opponent you don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s remarkable really. Svajda has given a decent account of himself, but Cobolli has always looked in control of things \u2013 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And Svajda holds for 6-5! He\u2019s hit his best level over the second half of this set, and now Cobolli is under pressure.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ach, Cobolli totally butchers a forehand, taking us to deuce \u2026 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 \u2026 until his opponent nets! Twice, Cobolli has served for the match and twice he\u2019s been broken! We\u2019r level at 5-5 in the fourth, a match that looked over still in the balance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Svajda makes 15-30, but a monstrous forehand from Cobolli allows him to tidy, then a backhand that looks just wide \u2013 confirmed by umpire check \u2013 means he holds match point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Chatrier, a hold for Svajda means Cobolli is now serving for the match again at 2-1 5-4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Anna Kalinskaya (22) beats Anastasia Potapova (28) 6-4 2-6 7-6(7)<\/p>\n Somehow, Kalinskaya \u2013 the slightly more dreadful player across the piece \u2013 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\u2019ll take her a while to recover from serving for the biggest match of her life, twice, and being broken back, twice.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Or does it? Kalinskaya goes long, for 9-7\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2026 then a weak second serve allows her opponent into the point \u2026 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ahahaha, Potapova restores a mini-break, Kalinskaya retrieves it \u2026 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s plenty of space for implosion and fury.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Potapova makes 30-15, but terrific hitting from Kalinskaya, who unloads a succession of heavy forehands, leads us to 30-all. And she\u2019s 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 \u2026 only to net when sent to the corner, ceding advantage. I hate to say it, but I\u2019m now expecting a double \u2026 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\u2019ll now suffer through a match tiebreak at 6-6 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2026 and the almost-inevitable double follows. She leads 6-5 in the third, and will shortly serve for the match \u2013 again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gosh, a forehand wafted long hands Kalinskaya 0-30, a forehand into the net and it\u2019s 0-40, and you can see Potapova shrinking like Mario when he clips a goombah. The break-back is donated to love, and I\u2019ve not a clue which of these will play slightly less miserably than the other when under pressure.<\/p>\n