French Open 2024 quarter-finals: Coco Gauff v Ons Jabeur goes to final set – live | French Open 2024

Ons errors mean we reach 30-all, but an errant return – on a short second serve – raises game point. Gauff finds a decent backhand though, with Brad Gilbert calling out to her to get Jabeur to play as many balls as possible and her failure to respond means we’re at deuce, then two errors give Gauff set point! And when she hits a decent forehand return down the middle but close to the line, Jabeur hits her return and it’s a set! The American looks a more solid player now, more confident that her game will take care of her in the big moments. Gauff 4-6 6-2 Jaber

My God! Gauff makes it 15-0, pthen baats away from the backhand, Jabeur slides into a backhand corner shot, then slides to the forehand to hook a frankly ridiculous winner almost over her shoulder for 15-all! She salutes the crowd but still earns just one point for her troubles and at 40-15 the game looks Gauff’s. However, doubling up makes things tense…sentiment quickly eases when the net return warrants the consolidation. My feeling now is that Jabeur needs to play her best to win and her opponent doesn’t; she would soon serve to stay in the second set. Gauff 4-6 5-2 Jaber

Now then! Jabeur plays a terrible game, is broken to love and Gauff leads 4-2 in the second set! I dare say she’s paying close attention to securing her grip this time.

It’s a deciding game and at 15-all, Gauff doubles, then hits first serve. Jabeur intervenes, returns to the sideline and, after dominating the rally, eventually ends it to pick up two break points. A forehand sent the first Burns wide, but Gauff, suddenly hitting moon balls, putted overhead and Ons didn’t need to ask twice. She fires back and it looks like a big missed opportunity for #3.

Another a drop from Jabeur drags Gauff, and despite her speed and anticipation, she can’t make it in time. But trailing 30-0, she finds a sensational forehand return, cutting the corner to get to the ball early and into a court winner, sending a message. And at 30-40, a backhand winner down the line – Jabeur hitting the wrong corner – raises deuce, and when the lob drops long, Gauff has a break point! And LOOK! Second serve sent in, the American takes control of the rally, landing a pair of big forehands, then a deep backhand and that’s the break! Jabeur has been dominating up until this point, but she’s naturally cooled down a bit and the two are so well matched that even a small difference can make all the difference! Jabeur leads 6-4 1-3.

In reports, Chris Evert still likes Gauff, but another forehand winner from Jabeur soon had her laughing at herself. And when Gauff continues away from the forehand, Jaber having previously found a lovely angle on the volley, we’re at deuce again; danger for the US Open champion. But she nearly weaves her way through it, a moonshot prompting Jabeur to hit a Del Potro-style forehand that doesn’t quite work out. Gauff 4-6 2-1 Jaber

A better drop reaction from Gauff, a lift down the line at the end of the longest rally of the match so far, means at 40-30 it’s a sniff. And she also gets a second serve to attack, a backhand cross that sets up a forehand eventual winner to make it deuce, then another second serve nailed to recover the advantage. Jabeur isn’t playing so well now, even if the aces down the T raise two more game points; Gauff saves the first, but a superb wrong-footed backhand, inside out and towards the line, means Jabbour clenches his fist again as he holds the hold. However, the momentum may just change.

Down 30-0, Jabeur lands a great lob and we’re up 40-30, but this time she flicks a drop into the net and Gauff secures a crucial hold. But how to find rest? Jabeur doesn’t have an obvious weakness to attack, but if she can extend points and put her under pressure, things can change quickly; it is unlikely that she will remain as hot as she was during the first set during the match. Gauff 4-6 1-0 Jaber

What I liked about this set was how measured Ons was. Naturally, she looked to attack Gauff’s backhand, but she was really smart about keeping things varied, especially with her lengths – her drop shot game was on point – and hitting without overshooting.

Up 15-0, Ons onses, a double that keeps things interesting. But a pair of big forehands made it 30-15, then Gauff found herself headed down the baseline and it went up two set points. A FROG ONLY NEEDS ONE! An ace down the T ends a great set (in tennis), the No. 8 seed finds her unique combination of power, spin and angles to break one of the players in the game. Wonderful, wonderful things; checking you out coco! Gauff 4-6 Jabeur

Jabeur gets after Gauff’s second serve – break point, the American felt obliged to go for more, lands it and still loses the point – and two in a row here make it 30-0 to 30-all. They aren’t even bad efforts, it’s just that Jabeur feels and sees it big. Another return, short but with a low bounce, drives Gauff to the net and at 30-40 it’s set point; a large first delivery is good enough to save it. But again, a second dig comes back hard and when the answer is a missed backhand, we know Gauff is feeling the pressure; this time she saves set point as Jabeur returns, which should really take the rally. It’s a minor detail, but she may regret missing that chance because Gauff served from there, inviting Jabert to serve for the set at 5-4.

Yes, Jabeur is in charge here. She consolidates easily enough for 5-3 and Gauff has to think; she barely threw a punch when she came back.

Lovely from Jabeur, backs away slightly to punish an inside-out forehand and crosscourt for 15-all. Gauff, however, responds with a barrage of backhands… only to drop a retriever after offering a chance with a weak second serve. Suddenly this has the feel of a big game, and at 40-30, Jabeur leaps into a backhand, both feet off the ground, to send a glorious winner down the line. She greets the crowd and seizes control of the next point with a drop that climbs over the net and dies…only to be knocked back! What a miss that could turn out to be! Or not! Jabeur halts a rally of shots on the baseline as Gauff drops long – the referee passes, then eyes down for a break point! – but again, Ons can’t close out a rally he controls, flipping a forehand cross court to bring us back to deuce. It’s getting tight now and another good drop from Jabeur wins her advantage, Gauff can only set up her volley and this time a long forehand means Ons takes control of the set to break at 4-3! I haven’t seen her play like this in a long time and how great to see her on such a big occasion! Gauff 3-4 Jabeur

A decent return from Gauff makes it 30-15, but Jabeur finds first serves, and although she is soon involved in a network exchange, one tasty volley is enough. The pot is boiling.

Another great hold from Gauff who makes it 40-0, then picks up a drop, sliding in to turn cross court with a backhand pickup for a clean winner. Things will change as the match progresses, but right now it looks like it will come down to a point this way or there. Gauff 3-2 Gill

I like the way Ons started here: she doesn’t wait to be asked, but she also doesn’t hit wildly, targeting Gauff’s forehand with her own superb iteration. But at 40-15, she swings a backhand wide, having opened up plenty of room for it – she’s trying to finish points as quickly as possible – and a further backhand break makes it 2-2. For now, Jabeur steps in and wants to dominate.

Jabeur receives after second serve to make it 30-15 – I’m sure that will be the plan – so Gauff makes sure she doesn’t see any more back-to-back aces that secure the game. She looks extremely serious on the outside: having tasted victory, she desperately needs more, while Jabeur only guesses.

Now then. Jabeur goes through a love hold, ending it with an ace, and so far it seems that the increase in competition has prompted a rise in her level. Gauff 1-1 Jaber

It’s funny stuff, really: I don’t actually think that Gauff’s forehand is much better than before, it’s more that she plays with a lot more confidence and poise now that she can hide it better. However, she finds a forehand winner for 40-1 only for Jabeur to unfurl hers to make deuce… then again to get deuce back. The difference between the two shots is huge, but after giving up the advantage, Gauff holds it well, securing her hold and this already looks like a fascinating match,

However, Oor Ons did, played a little better in the final round against Clara Tauson. If she can get her forehand going, especially on crosscourt, she’ll be in business. But Gauff has to serve and off we go!

I hate to say it, but I wonder if the main difference between these two is mentality: Gauff has found a way to play well enough in the most important moments, so now she believes in herself and expects to win, while Jabeur does not.

Our players are ready to go. Chatrier is nowhere near as complete as he should be, and it shows early for this level of sport. But once we get going, none of that will matter.

Preamble