French Open quarter-finals: Andreeva v Sabalenka, Paolini beats Rybakina – live | French Open 2024

Tie-break: *Andreeva 2-3 Sabalenka

Andreeva and Sabalenka are now tied on five apiece in the double fault stakes. And Sabalenka, surprisingly, has landed only one ace. Andreeva gets the mini-break back at the first opportunity with a winner down the line – but then nets a disappointing return…

Tie-break: Andreeva 1-2 Sabalenka*

Sabalenka makes up for that mess of a smash with a dismissive overhead on the opening point. Andreeva concedes the first mini-break with a double fault on the third point…

Andreeva 6-6 Sabalenka*

Andreeva starts as she means to go on with a darting backhand down the line. But a fourth double fault and it’s 15-all. Sabalenka, roaring now as she hits the ball, takes charge of the third point but Andreeva, on the back foot, slices a forehand cross-court winner! 30-15. 40-15, after another well-worked point from Andreeva. The way she constructs the points belies her tender age; it’s hard to believe she’s only 17. 40-30. The ball sits up invitingly for Sabalenka to whack it away … but perhaps she has too long to think about it because she flaps it into the tramlines! This is going to a tie-break…

Andreeva* 5-6 Sabalenka

This has been a weird and messy and erratic set – but it’s hard to take your eyes off it. Who knows what will happen next. Perhaps the tablets have worked for Sabalenka, because she’s looking slightly more commanding here – well during the points at least, she still seems pretty unhappy between them. She soon gets to 30-0. But a great return from Andreeva and it’s 30-15. Sabalenka sighs. And sends down a serve out wide that Andreeva can’t back into play. 40-15. Game, with a delightful drop shot from Sabalenka, her second of the game. Andreeva, after serving for the set, must now hold serve to stay in it!

Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 5-5 Sabalenka*

Andreeva lets an ailing Sabalenka back in here with two cheap points 0-30. It’s no surprise that the 17-year-old is feeling the pressure of serving out this set. A longer exchange ensues on the third point, and now Sabalenka throws in the error. 15-30. But suddenly there’s a bit more life in Sabalenka’s legs and it’s 15-40, two break points. Andreeva hands the break back with a backhand error!

Andreeva* 5-4 Sabalenka

Sabalenka’s only hope here must be to go for the first strike. She shows great resolve to charge to 40-0, but is pegged back when a double fault makes it 40-30. A one-two punch on the next point is then finished off on the third punch with a smash. After a run of four consecutive games for Andreeva, Sabalenka has something to cling on to, but Andreeva will serve for the set.

Andreeva 5-3 Sabalenka*

This doesn’t look good for Sabalenka. The play resumes but it looks as if the world No 2 is considering retiring. Andreeva quickly gets to 30-0, but Sabalenka does steady herself to 30-15. Andreeva’s tactic here must be to move Sabalenka around and draw her in as much as possible. Right on cue, Conchita Martinez encourages her charge to “keep on moving her”. Andreeva holds to 15 and Sabalenka looks all at sea. Sabalenka must somehow rally to hold serve and stay in this set.

Oh the trainer is on. Sabalenka asks for some tablets from the trainer but doesn’t take a timeout. It’s not clear if it’s injury or illness. But her average first-serve speed has dropped today: it’s 94mph, down from 107mph.

Andreeva breaks: Andreeva* 4-3 Sabalenka

This has been messy from Sabalenka so far. The way she plays the game, there’s little margin for error, so when it’s not working it can look pretty ugly. At 15-30, Andreeva displays her craft and guile as she draws Sabalenka in and then anticipates that Sabalenka will hit deep to her forehand … and the teenager scoops out a winning passing shot on the run! This can’t go the same way as the first quarter-final. Can it?

Andreeva 3-3 Sabalenka*

A third double fault from Andreeva makes their combined tally seven. 0-15. But Sabalenka doesn’t take advantage as she completely miscues on the next point. 15-all. Andreeva dinks over a drop shot for 30-15. Sabalenka then marches to the net – is she going to have a word with the umpire? No, she’s changing her racket. But it doesn’t change her fortunes as Andreeva pulls off another winning drop shot. Sabalenka appeals the line call but it’s in vain. 40-15. 40-30. And Andreeva seals her first hold.

Andreeva breaks back: *Andreeva 2-3 Sabalenka

At 15-all, Andreeva hits an unorthodox mix between a drop shot and a sliced backhand, and it flummoxes Sabalenka. 15-30. Sabalenka sprints forward to put away the short ball, 30-all. Sabalenka comes forward again on the next point but her footwork is too slow and she nets the volley. 30-40. A chance for a fourth consecutive break of serve. Sabalenka saves it in some style, taking her backhand early and bashing it cross-court for a winner. Deuce. But Sabalenka then makes a total hash of the smash! Advantage Andreeva, break point No 2. Sabalenka misses with her first serve, lands the second, but snatches at her backhand which goes long! They’re back on serve. But let’s see if Andreeva can hold hers for the first time in the next game.

Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 1-3 Sabalenka*

Sabalenka strides to 0-30. And now it’s Andreeva’s turn to get in on the double fault act – it’s clearly catching. 0-40. Three break points. And Sabalenka gets a slice of luck from the net. Game. Both are looking a little edgy here, for different reasons: for Andreeva this is a first grand slam quarter-final, for Sabalenka, the second favourite for the title, behind Iga Swiatek, the pressure is on in a match that she’s expected to win.

Andreeva breaks back: Andreeva* 1-2 Sabalenka

But while Sabalenka’s groundstrokes are already firing, her serve is not. That’s a third double fault. 15-30. And Andreeva soaks up Sabalenka’s power on the next point. 15-40. Two break-back points! The camera zooms in on Conchita Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion who is Andreeva’s coach. And Sabalenka double faults for the fourth time to concede the break! Sabalenka sends some choice words in the direction of her box, but she only has herself to blame here.

Sabalenka breaks: Andreeva 0-2 Sabalenka*

Chris Evert on the Eurosport commentary says the 17-year-old Andreeva reminds her of Martina Hingis, because of her high tennis IQ, soft hands and the way she hits the ball early. Andreeva then demonstrates this perfectly with some clever play to bring up game point at 40-30. But for all of Andreeva’s intelligence, she’s up against it today against Sabalenka’s power. Sabalenka is already walloping the ball and whacks her way to deuce. A biting return down the line then sets her up for a winning backhand down the other line. Advantage Sabalenka, break point. Another huge return … and there’s no way Andreeva is getting that back. Sabalenka stamps her authority on his quarter-final early with the break!

Andreeva* 0-1 Sabalenka

So Sabalenka is serving first in this Belarus v Russia quarter-final. Or rather Belarus v neutral flag quarter-final, given that Andreeva is not allowed to have Russia by her name. An inauspicious start for Sabalanka as she opens with a double fault. And then throws in another. But no bother, she still holds to 30.

The stats don’t make good reading for Andreeva in her first grand slam quarter-final. Sabalenka, the world No 2, has made at least the semi-finals at the past six grand slam tournaments, the Australian Open champion is unbeaten at majors this year and hasn’t dropped a set in any of those matches – and she’s conceded only 18 games in four rounds in Paris, leaving a trail of outclassed opponents in her wake – including Andreeva’s sister Erika in the first round.

Oh and Sabalenka won both her previous matches against Andreeva in straight sets, including in the Madrid quarter-finals last month. But at least Andreeva does have the fearlessness of youth on her side. And maybe Paolini’s giantkilling will give Andreeva a boost too.

No messing about here. The players are out already. Gah! Roland Garros waits for no one, not even this live blog.

Phew. Aryna Sabalenka v Mirra Andreeva is up next. I’m just going to grab a quick sandwich. Back soon …

More good news for Paolini: the victory means that the 28-year-old is guaranteed a place in the world’s top 10 for the first time next week.

Paolini, with a smile as wide as the Philippe Chatrier court, says:

It was a great match. I was a bit too emotional in the second set. But I just tried to fight and hit every ball. It worked, I’m here, I won. I just tried to stay in every point and forget what happened in the second set. Thank you guys, thank you very much for cheering for me. Merci beaucoup. It’s my first time playing on this beautiful court. It’s a pleasure, it’s a privilege. It’s one of the best courts in tennis for sure.

She then makes a heart shape with her hands and soaks in more applause from the crowd. What a win.

Paolini wins 6-2, 4-6, 6-4!

Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 5-4 Rybakina

So after two straightforward holds Rybakina decides to rip up the script by slumping to 15-40 without so much as a fight. Two break points! And Rybakina, her radar totally off, goes long! Paolini is fist pumping and charging to her chair; she’s a game away from her first grand slam semi-final!

Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 4-4 Rybakina*

Anything you can do … Paolini decides to get in on the stress-free serving act too, charging to 40-0. Rybakina’s coach urges her to be aggressive. But it’s Paolini who does just that when, with her back against the wall in the rally, she chases down the drop shot and fires straight at Rybakina’s racket from close range. Rybakina can’t react in time. Paolini also holds to love.

Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 3-4 Rybakina

Predicting how this fluctuating match will end is a perilous business. Paolini has shown so much fight today, but I’d give Rybakina the slight advantage because of her experience. Plus she has the advantage of serving first in this set. And there’s a business-like hold to love from Rybakina, which she rounds off with a serve-volley.

Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 3-3 Rybakina*

At 15-all, Paolini hits deep enough to prevent a Rybakina attack, and Rybakina is left looking as if she has feet of clay. 30-15. 40-15 after a lengthy rally. Paolini does well to retrieve a drive volley but can’t then get the smash back. 40-30. And from 30-15 it becomes deuce.

Paolini, always wearing her heart on her sleeve, shows her disappointment. But she’s screaming “allez” after getting to her advantage. Rybakina reels Paolini in with the drop shot – a rarity from the Kazakh’s racket today – Paolini gets to it, but Rybakina reads which way the ball is going and buries the ball into the open court. Deuce. Advantage Paolini. Jeu Paolini. That hold could prove to be vital.

Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 2-3 Rybakina

Does anyone want to hold in this set? Yes Rybakina does, as she sprints to 40-15 on serve. Paolini has been so positive for most of this match but has some choice words for herself. And an ace from Rybakina gives her the hold after the flurry of breaks. The world No 4 leads the world No 15 for the first time in this match.

Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 2-2 Rybakina*

Paolini, if you’ve just joined us, is having the season of her life at the age of 28. She says she’s been riding the waves of Jannik Sinner’s success, having been inspired by her fellow Italian’s win at the Australian Open. Reaching the semi-finals here would be an astonishing achievement – which she’ll do if she holds serve for the rest of this match.

But Rybakina has a break point at 30-40 in this game – courtesy of a delicate cross-court response to Paolini’s drop shot. Paolini saves the break point. Deuce. Paolini gets to advantage but can’t put Rybakina away. Rybakina then has a second break point and can’t capitalise. But it’s third time lucky for Rybakina, as she slams away a winner down the line. And that’s now five breaks on the spin and nine in the last 12 games!

Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 2-1 Rybakina

A big chance for Paolini at 0-30 on Rybakina’s serve … surely it will become 0-40, but the Italian loses the ascendancy in the point and Rybakina survives. 15-30. Rybakina then shows her skills at the net, getting down low to put away a measured forehand volley. She is a former Wimbledon champion, after all. 30-all. 30-40, break point. And a horrible miss from Rybakina makes it a fourth break in a row!

Rybakina breaks back: Paolini 6-2, 4-6, 1-1 Rybakina*

At 15-30, Paolini could do with an easy point, but she doesn’t get it. It’s long and Rybakina then finishes it off with winner. 15-40, two break points. Which very swiftly becomes game. The crowd barely celebrate. It’s clear who they want to win.

Paolini breaks: Paolini* 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 Rybakina

You’d think Rybakina would be feeling pretty happy with herself, the way she snatched that second set having been two games from defeat. But she throws in some ugly errors in the first game of the decider and Paolini has two break points at 15-40. Then it’s Paolini’s turn to do the same. 30-40. The two go cross-court at each other and then Rybakina decides to mix things up with a forehand down the line … but it’s too flat and hits the tape. Jeu et break Paolini!

Rybakina wins the second set 6-4!