Key events<\/p>\n
Righto, that\u2019s it from me; do check back for Tumaini\u2019s match report, but otherwise, join us again tomorrow for the remaining quarter-finals. Peace out.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Wins for Andreeva and Kostyuk, who meet in women’s semis, while Zverev moves into men’s<\/p>\n Mirra Andreeva played superbly in destroying Sorana Cirstea 6-0 6-3, then Marta Kostyuk won the Ukrainian derby, her supreme athleticism and extra power to good for Elina Svitolina, who gamely fought back after losing the first set, only to be blown away 6-2 in the decider.<\/p>\n Then, in the men\u2019s competition, the 19-year-old Rafael Jodar started commandingly against Alexander Zverev but, serving for the first set, he was broken back, and it was one-way traffic thereafter. Zverev, the no 2 seed and now tournament favourite, took the eventuating tiebreaker 7-3, then raced through the rest of the match 6-1 6-3, setting up a semi-final with either Jakub Mensik or Jo\u00e3o Fonseca, who meet this evening.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So too, though, will Mensik, who beat Navone 13-11 in the fifth, then lost the first set to De Minaur 6-0 before breezing through the rest of the match 2, 2 and 3 and doing Rublev in five; those are some proper performances, and I can\u2019t wait to see how things pan out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Looking forward to tonight\u2019s match, Jim Courier reckons Fonseca has an advantage playing at night because it\u2019ll slow down Mensik\u2019s serve and he can stand far enough back to buy extra time, whereas once they\u2019re in the rally, no one can do anything about the heat the Brazilian brings at close range. I think he\u2019s a much more complete player than his opponent tonight and, having come down from 2-0 down twice in this competition, he\u2019ll be feeling himself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Konta makes the sound point that the rest of the tour will soon work out how to play Jodar, which\u2019ll be when we really see the holes in his game; she\u2019s also happy to see that he and Fonseca are 19-year-olds who look 19, but still play with power despite having growing to do. Fonseca, I think, is closer to the finished article than the other kids, or maybe he\u2019s still got levels to find, he\u2019s just the best of them. His forehand is a brute so too his line backhand, but what I\u2019m really liking about him this tournament is that sense of timing you see from the best at anything: no Alcaraz or Sinner means there\u2019s a gap to fill and, over the last 10 days, he\u2019s taken colossal strides because the situation demands that of him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Is it just me, or does Jo Konta tend to look like she\u2019s fronting a 70s gardening show? On TNT, they\u2019re talking about Zverev\u2019s tendency to soak up pace rather than disburse it, but his backhand was hit harder than usual and he\u2019s trying to put a bit more on his forehand; the question is how all that works against men who\u2019ve grown into their bodies. Jodar grew late, whereas Fonseca, though the same age, is much stockier, and I\u2019d love to see those two meet in the semis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Wow, it\u2019s absolutely caning down in Paris in the the spring; actually, it\u2019s hailing. tomorrow it\u2019ll be a bit better, then rain again on Thursday before improving for the weekend.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev bristles when he thinks he\u2019s told this is his first Roland Garros semi, but he misheard \u2013 it\u2019s the fifth and, as no one points out, in a row. Asked if he\u2019s proud of the achievement, he says \u201cNot really, I don\u2019t really care.\u201d he wants to stay in the tournament, today was a tough challenge against a tough player and he\u2019s happy to be in the last four, but that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n Jodar had perfect rhythm in the first set, he says, whereas his balls were short and he was very defensive. Conditions were completely indoors to when it was hotter and the roof was off, string tension was different and the ball was reacting differently off the ground, not bouncing as high. So heavy top-spin wasn\u2019t really beneficial and he had to hit flatter \u2013 though Jodar was also playing great, but he got nervous serving out the set and from there, Zverev played well.<\/p>\n He\u2019ll watch Fonseca v Mensik in his room, perhaps with a nice drink in his hand, but he\u2019s got two days off, it\u2019s important to keep the rhythm and keep practising, but he just wants to keep going.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.23 EDT<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev (20 beats Rafael Jodar (27) 7-6(3) 6-1 6-3<\/p>\n A devastating forehand down the line, around the net post I think, seals a hugely impressive win for Zverev, who looks fresh and, once he\u2019d taken the first set, confident. More thorough examinations are to come \u2013 next for him it\u2019s Fonseca or Mensik \u2013 but he\u2019s favourite for a reason, and it\u2019ll take a serious performance to stop him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I guess it\u2019s at this point we must rhapsodise Jodar\u2019s brilliant tournament and clay-court season; nothing we\u2019ve seen today makes me think he\u2019s just on a hot streak; he\u2019s here to stay. As he grows, he\u2019ll get more power in legs that, let\u2019s be real, are a bit chickeny, his second serve needs work, and his court-craft, though good isn\u2019t yet outstanding. as a package, though, physicality, mentality and technique, he\u2019s very special, but i\u2019m going to cease banging on because at 30-40, Zverev has match point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At this point, 30-all is a chance, and when Zverev misjudges a forehand, pretty much missing the ball, that\u2019s what we get \u2026 and when he then goes long, Jodar has break point. Naturally, it\u2019s saved with a gigantic ace down the T, one out wide follows, then another huge delivery has a huge forehand behind it, and at 7-6 6-1 5-3, Zverev is a game away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At 15-all, Jodar goes long but, ahead in the rally, Zverev nets; he leads the unforced error count 32-25. And though, at 40-30, Jodar swipes a backhand wide, he then holds through deuce for 3-4 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I said earlier, I thought Zverev played pretty well against De Jong, even if he was patchy against Halys, and this is an improvement on that. But, with this match looking almost did, it\u2019s hard not to think about those to come, my sense is that of all those left, Fonseca is most likely to beat him; I don\u2019t trust Auger-Aliassime, Cobolli I don\u2019t think is good enough, nor Arnaldi or Mensik, and asking Berrettini\u2019s body to stick with him forthree more matches feels like a lot. Fonseca, though, has the power, athleticism confidence and all-round game to test him; he holds comfortably again for 4-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev has played really well since winning the first set, his forehand looking pretty solid \u2013 though I\u2019d be doing him a disservice if I didn\u2019t mention Jodar\u2019s legs leaving him. He does, though, hold again, to 30 – but is running out time to break back at 2-3 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Down 30-0, Jodar lanks in to chwhip a forehand winner cross-court \u2026 for all the good it does him, Zverev holding to 15 for 2-0 3-1<\/p>\n Meantime, Paul Moody messages from the glorious north-east of Brazil, praising Christian Harrison\u2019s 5 live commentary and, though I\u2019m not listening to it, he\u2019ll be delighted to learn I agree. Harrison \u2013 and Todd Woodbridge \u2013 added an entirely fresh dimension to BBC\u2019s Wimbledon coverage last year, their analysis of tactics and strategy the first time I\u2019ve seen tennis given the treatment we now see accorded other sports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThink this tournament will go down as a defining point in Zverev\u2019s career,\u201d writes Richard Caulfield. \u201cIf he can win, and finally lift that weight off his shoulders, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he goes on to win another few slams in his career. If he loses, and especially if he loses today to Jodar (19) or in a semi against Mensik (20) or Fonseca (19), not only will he see it as a golden opportunity missed, he\u2019ll also see that the next generation have already caught him up. He\u2019ll surely not have a better chance than this to break his duck.\u201d<\/p>\n Agree with the last bit, not so sure about the first \u2013 a win here may give him the confidence and conviction that\u2019s been lacking in some of his bigger matches, but the guys in front are moving away while those behind are catching up. I could see him beating one of Sincaraz at a major, but chances are he\u2019ll always have to beat both, and that feels unlikely \u2013 partly because of his mentality, but also because his forehand and volleying remain unreliable.<\/p>\n Anhyow, Jodar wins his first game in seven to trail 6-7 1-6 1-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It seems a long time ago that Jodar was serving for the first set, killing himself with consecutive forehand errors. Real talk, even if he\u2019d pulled it off, I don\u2019t think we\u2019d be seeing a different match \u2013 Zverev is a better, fresher player \u2013 but it wouldn\u2019t be the procession we\u2019re seeing now. The no 2 seed holds to 15, leads 2-0 2-0, and this is exactly the kind of confidence boost he needs \u2013 but a semi against Fonseca or Mensik, both of whom are through the stage he\u2019s now at, will present a very different challenge.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I nip for a comfort break but neither player has the good manners to do the same \u2013 won\u2019t someone please think of the livebloggers \u2013 returning to see Jodar serving at 30-40. He nets a backhand, Zverev has the break, and at 2-0 1-0, this is over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Alexander Zverev takes the second set 6-1 to lead Rafael Jodar 2-0<\/p>\n A really good return down the line and to the corner earns Jodar 30-all, but then a serve sends him way out of court \u2026 except rather than hit into the space, Zverev lazily drops \u2026 out. Oh, and then he catches Zverev at the net, lobs, the German can\u2019t reach the ball with his overhead \u2026 and it falls long. From there, Zverev makes advantage, set point \u2026 and a high-kicking serve out wide is more than good enough.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jodar looks weary, mentally as well as physically, and Zverev, who improved as soon as he stopped being so reactive, really should get him on the bike. At 15-30, the umpire comes down to check whether a drop was in, and it wasn\u2019t, so that\u2019s two points for the double-break, and though the first is saved, Zverev dominates the next rally, a drop too much for Jodar\u2019s tired legs; he trails 6-7 1-5, and if he can\u2019t find something soon, he\u2019ll be going home soon after.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A serve out wide and a clean-up forehand towards the other corner; Zverev makes 30-15 and does Jodar look a little dejected walking back to his mark, head bowed? I think so, because we see it again he can\u2019t dig a forehand out of the corner, and seconds later, Zverev leads 7-6 4-1. It\u2019s one -way traffic, I\u2019m afraid.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I fear Jodar has shot his shot, Zverev dictating as he frantically chases about and making 0-30. Oh but have a look, a glorious backhand down the line halving the arrears, but then he nets for 30-40 \u2026 and Zverev goes long, bringing us to deuce. So Jodar unfurls a leaping forehand winner down the line \u2026 only to net again, and he\u2019s struggling to string good points together now, shovelling a forehand wide then sending another into the tape, and Zverev leads 7-6 3-1. It\u2019s a long way back from here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now a straightforward hold for Jodar, to love for 6-7 1-1. I wonder, though, how he\u2019ll manage as the match continues, having played two five-setters to get here; for now, he looks fresh, but Zverev is playing well now, hitting with easier power than before. But at 40-30, an ace is retracted when the umpire checks the mark; Jodar, though, can\u2019t capitalise, returning the second serve into the net and Zverev leads 7-6 2-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jodar makes 0-30; Zverev wins four points in a row, securing 7-6 1-0 with a huge forehand down the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.03 EDT<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev wins the first set against Rafael Jodar 7-6(3)<\/p>\n Jodar broke early and is playing well, but Zverev grew into the set and dominated the breaker.<\/p>\n Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action. Photograph: St\u00e9phane Mah\u00e9\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.12 EDT<\/p>\n Oh, but then Jodar overhits a forehand, after which he\u2019s caught too far forward, a ball at his feet forcing a a rushed drop which is given the treatment down the line. Three set points to Zverev..<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Solidity on serve to begin with, but then Jodar, with loads of space to whack a forehand down the line, somehow strays wide, as we learn Zverev is 25-2 for Roland Garros tiebreakers. Jodar, though, isn\u2019t arsed, a backhand return and flat forehand retrieving the min-break immediately and at change of ends, it\u2019s 3-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Down 15-40, Jodar hurtles in after a drop, flicking a tremendous riposte across the face of the net. But he then dumps a forehand so, at 6-6, we\u2019ve a first-set tiebreaker to enjoy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From 40-0, Zverev recovers to deuce; testing times for Jodar, who then doesn\u2019t do enough with a backhand, so the ball flashes back past him and he\u2019s again down break point. This time, though, Zverev goes long, then an ace raises advantage and a butchered drop, telegraphed then carved into the tape, means Jodar holds for 6-5 in the first. This is really, really enjoyable stuff, with several levels yet to hit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A love hold for Zverev and, at 5-5, he might just be acclimatised to the new opponent and indoor arena.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jodar announced himself to the world in the clay-court swing that\u2019s just finishing, beating Borges, Arnaldi and Tien in Rome before losing to Darderi in the last eight; De Jong, De Minaur and Fonseca in Madrid, losing to Sinner at the same stage; and Norrie in Barcelona, before losing to Fils in the semi. But three forehand errors present three break-back points, Zverev seizing the first of them with a big backhand backed up by a forehand of similar proportions; think Sam Allardyce, but in groundstroke form. Jodar leads 5-4, but we\u2019re back on serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that, against Carreno Busta, Jodar won the first set then disappeared for two. I say that partly so we don\u2019t expect him to sustain the level he\u2019s at now, but also because even if he loses, the ability to play like this against an opponent of such pedigree, not landing miracle winners all the time but constructing points that play to his strengths, tells us he\u2019s not on a good run, he\u2019s here for good. Zverev holds for 5-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.40 EDT<\/p>\n Jodar is attacking this match with far greater intensity than Zverev, who\u2019s still working out how to handle this new opponent and, in the meantime, is playing tentatively \u2013 as he too often does when under pressure. The youngster quickly makes 40-0, a forehand lasered down the line highlight, and he consolidates to 15 for 5-2, radiating the serenity of a man doing exactly what he\u2019s meant to be doing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In comms, they reckon Zverev hasn\u2019t looked good since Sinner went out, the pressure on him telling. I\u2019m not sure about that \u2013 I didn\u2019t see him against Halys, but thought he was decent against De Jong, who played well \u2013 but he\u2019s down 0-30 after two fine points from Jodar allow him two winners, then goes wide to offer a pair of breaking opportunities. A big serve takes care of the first, then a backhand down the line opens the court for Zverev, and Jodar panels a forehand into the space to lead 4-2. He\u2019s absolutely loving life, the extent of it infectious.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Talking of Fonseca, he was meant to play for the University of Virginia when Jodar was there, but made a late call to turn pro. Sham, that would\u2019ve been a useful team \u2013 it reminds me of the stories I was told about Mark Hughes and Norman Whiteside, two early developers, playing age-group football, and kicking seven shades, physically and technically, out of the children they faced. Anyroad up, back on court, a hold apiece \u2013 Jodar\u2019s to love \u2013 means he leads 3-2 in the first, having adapted to this new level, at a level he\u2019s never played before, in a tournament he\u2019s never played before, against an opponent he\u2019s never faced before, like it\u2019s nothing. It is not nothing; he is a freak of nature.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A much quicker hold for Jodar, who is now remotely intimidated by a situation he\u2019s never even been close to before. It\u2019s incredible, really, that just a few months ago, we were wondering when would be the next time a slam was won by someone other than Alcaraz or Sinner, and I don\u2019t just mean that this one will have a first-time champion; Jodar, Fonseca, Mensik and Cobolli are improving quickly, and I\u2019m absolutely certain the first two, at least, will reach grand slam finals when the big two return.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev is forced to save two break points at 15-40, the match having the feel of an epic already. He holds after various deuces, the first two games taking 17 minutes, and we\u2019re level at 1-1 in the first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019ve just been told a story about Zverev. Earlier in the tournament, a coach of a different player \u2013 not Calv \u2013 was sat on a sofa in the locker room and Zverev\u2019s dad comes over, dead apologetic, saying any chance you\u2019d mind moving, Sascha likes to sit on that particular seat. The coach says sure, whatevz, then Zverev\u2019s dad lays a towel on it, sets out his running shoes, tennis shoes and flip-flops, along with a bottle of water. Two hours later, Zverev shows up and totally ignores his dad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Down 30-40, Jodar skids in to meet a drop, flicking a winner down the line, then concussive hitting from the back, with a few softer balls interspersed, makes advantage. And from there, it takes him a while to close out, but after eight minutes of thwacking, the 19-year-old leads 1-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So how will this match go? \u201cIt\u2019s not a great match up for Zverev stylistically,\u201d says Coach Calv. \u201cHe rolls a lot of balls central and Jodar will crush those. \u201cZverev probably has the nous to beat him but Jodar has the firepower. Zverev\u2019s first serve % probably decides it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On TNT, they\u2019re interviewing Jodar\u2019s mates, and I don\u2019t know how on earth they can handle watching him on court. In the club in Ibiza last summer, I got chatting to a Swiss lad who was best mates with Fabian Schar, and he said he was at Wembley when Newcastle beat Liverpool to win the League Cup and totally lost his mind crying.<\/p>\n Anyway, Jodar\u2019s mates do him proud, noting that he\u2019s a great tenniser and \u201can even better person\u201d. They\u2019ve had dinner with him the last few nights and don\u2019t really talk about tennis, but life and stuff that\u2019s going on back at home in Madrid.<\/p>\n Jodar himself comes across as a lovely bloke, in total control of himself with a winner\u2019s mentality already ensconced in his grey matter. I can\u2019t wait to see how he handles this situation \u2013 and I don\u2019t have to because he\u2019s about to serve in game one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Righto, much as I\u2019d love to keep talking about Oor Marta \u2013 I don\u2019t think she\u2019s related to Oor Maddy \u2013 Zverev and Jodar have emerged on Chatrier, so it\u2019s time to engage with what could be a classic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That match was a lot of fun, and every timer I hear Kostyuk speak, I\u2019m glad we\u2019ve instituted her as a favourite of this blog. The way she plays, with risk, joy, resilience and aggression, is spectacular, attacking with freedom and defending with conviction. A year or two ago, she\u2019d have retreated after losing the second set, or wildly tried to hit her way out of the tension, but now, she can evaluate a match-state, work out what it\u2019s demanding of her, and commit to her strategy with confidence. She is flowering, and it\u2019s beautiful to behold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Taking some time to compose herself, Marion comforts her, then she tells us about the historic match she and Svitolina have just played, following another difficult night in Kyiv with many people dying. \u201cI want to give this match to the Ukrainian people and their resilience,\u201d she says, the moment of her life necessarily tainted by tragedy.<\/p>\n A long round of applause follows and Kostyuk, clearly moved, extols Svitolina\u2019s impact on Ukrainian tennis, on her and on everyone watching. She\u2019s really happy to be in the semis, but wants to thanks her opponent for a great match.<\/p>\n Asked about the match, she says she missed one point at the start of the third set, looked up at Sandra Zaniewska, her coach, and \u201csaw that she was really, really pissed\u201d, not something that happens often, and realised what she needed to do. It was really difficult in the first two sets, she wasn\u2019t aggressive enough, but then she found her rhythm and she\u2019s very happy she committed to it. \u201cI was thinking, \u2018How do I wanna play if I wanna win the tournament here, and this was the answer and it worked.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Told that there\u2019ll be a new winner of this tournament this year, she says she still thinks it\u2019s very far and she still has two matches to play, but you can tell she believes she can do it and she\u2019s excited for Thursday.<\/p>\n Finally, she\u2019s asked whether she\u2019s practised her backflip \u2013 she performed one in Madrid when she won \u2013 saying she doesn\u2019t need to as she did it a month ago so knows she still can, but will only go once more, if and when she wins a slam.<\/p>\n Oh, and before she goes, she tells us that she and Svitolina have foundations to support tennis in Ukraine, so hopes people can support them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gosh, what it\u2019s taken Kostyuk to get to this moment. Delighted, she celebrates then covers her eyes \u2013 remember that after her first-round match, she told us she\u2019d spent the morning crying after a bomb landed near her family home in Kyiv, and there\u2019s more to this than just tennis. Her people have been under attack for years now, there\u2019s no sign of that stopping, and the weight of the duty she feels to deliver hope and joy must be overwhelming. Here she is\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Marta Kostyuk (15) beats Elina Svitolina (7) 6-2 2-6 6-2<\/p>\n A wonderful performance from Kostyuk, who rode Svitolina\u2019s comeback then assaulted her with power and touch, making her first grand slam semi, Ukraine\u2019s first French Open<\/a> semi, and looking a serious threat to lift the trophy. She\u2019s now won 17 matches in a row, and faces Mirra Andreeva in the last four.<\/p>\n Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts after victory over Elina Svitolina. Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.55 EDT<\/p>\n Er, no. Sahe\u2019s hit a seam and you can tell by the way she\u2019s playing and carrying herself, she feel invincible. She makes 3-0, then smokes down and ace, and holds three match points!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kostyuk makes 15-30 and she\u2019s feeling herself something fierce, chopping a drop to raise two points for the double break. We\u2019ve said all along, her bigger game means that, if she plays well, there\u2019s not much Svitolina can do to stop her and, amazingly, she\u2019s found the very best of it when pressure is at its most intense.Another pair of nails forehands are just too much for her under-powered opponent, and at 5-2, she\u2019s running away with this now, proving to us but most of all to herself that not only does she belong at this level, she can dominate. But will she get tight serving for the match?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.19 EDT<\/p>\n Whatever happens from here, Kostyuk is, I think, this year\u2019s Anisimova, overcoming her negative aspect to platform her attacking inclination and cementing herself among the elite. She\u2019s nervous, of course she is \u2013 how couldn\u2019t she be, who wouldn\u2019t be \u2013 but she\u2019s also thinking clearly, adjusting her game in this set to mix things up a little more, supporting her power with more and better net-play. This time, she consolidates to love, and at 4-2 is two games away from the semis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oh man! At 15-all, they slug it out from the back, then Kostyuk illustrates the difference between the two, hurling the entirety of her corporeal and spiritual being into a forehand cross that\u2019s far too good. And, while Svitolina is facing away, retrieving a ball to the corner, she sneaks in to volley a drop that raises two more break points, dominating the next rally, but when she cant finish it, she\u2019s out of position, and is passed; 30-40. Again, though, she\u2019s offered a second serve, collars it but doesn\u2019t do quite enough, so bangs a forehand to the corner, forcing the hail Mary riposte down the line; it catches the net cord \u2026 and somehow, she reacts quickly enough to divert a volley into court! Kostyuk salutes the crowd and righty so, that was a terrific game and rally she just played, upping her power but also her level, and that\u2019s five games, five breaks and 3-2 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Svitoina makes 0-15 then lands a ball on the line that shoots away as Kostyuk chases it down; 0-15. A forehand winner, though, halves the deficit, and a return zips out by inches \u2026 only for Kostyuk to hit the tape with an inside-out forehand. Then, on break point, she plays a decent rally, opts to come in \u2026 and directs her forehand volley wide. Four games, four breaks, 2-2 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A backhand winner makes Kostyuk 0-15, but the pressure to hit the winners that\u2019ll win her the match might just be telling on her; it\u2019s hard to be precise when you\u2019re nervous. Ahahaha, of course no sooner have I said that than she slams a return down the line and into the corner for 30-all and though she doesn\u2019t do quite enough when offered a second serve, Svitolina nets a routine forehand then, just as I\u2019m about to bet she goes for a bit more after sending down a fault, she dumps her second delivery, and that\u2019s three games, three breaks, Kostyuk up 2-1 in the third. A hold here, and the semi will feel both very close and still a long way away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.04 EDT<\/p>\n In the first set, it was easy for Kostyuk, but now, she\u2019s being asked constant questions and, at 30-all, as they go cross to cross, Svitolina changes directions with a backhand down the line, a clean winner. and break-back point is quickly converted, a netted backhand causing Kostyuk to show the first sign of frustration; she\u2019s getting tight, cognisant that she\u2019s living the moments of her life, right now. We\u2019re 1-1 in the third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I wonder if Kostyuk was a little one-note in that second set, looking to do the same thing against an opponent doing different things; she might want to vary angle, spin and trajectory a little more; she can\u2019t just hit through the ball, I don\u2019t think. But successive errors from Svitolina give her 0-30 without demanding she make a change, then an inside-out backhand on to the line raises three break points, the first two saved quickly but the third offering her a second serve, so she steps right into court. And this time, the ball arrives into the slot, a backhand monstered down the line for 1-0; can she endorse to take command of this decider?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Elina Svitolina takes the second set against Marta Kostyuk 6-2<\/p>\n Now Kostyuk is the one sent skittering about the court, netting a forehand for 15-all then, at 40-30, Svitolina hits lines, a backhand volley slice on to the side too good and raising deuce; she\u2019s two points away from the set. But a lovely half-volley, Kostyuk adjusting by putting two hands on the racket for more control, gives her advantage \u2026 then Svitolina collars a backhand, swatting flat and cross to restore parity in the game. Then, when Kostyuk makes advantage, her wrong-footing backhand hits the net, after which she goes long on fore, donating set point \u2026 burned via dumped return. Again, though, Kostyuk errs \u2013 she\u2019s being rushed, I think, thanks to Svito hitting earlier and harder \u2013 and another mistake means we\u2019re going to a decider. Good!<\/p>\n