Roland Garros Day 7 Preview: Five Must-See Matches - UBITENNIS
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Roland Garros Day 7 Preview: Five Must-See Matches

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Petra Kvitova is quietly advancing through the draw, and has not dropped a set through two rounds (rolandgarros.com)

On Saturday in Paris, the first week of the fortnight concludes, with third round singles action to be completed.

The women’s lineup features Major champions Petra Kvitova, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, and Sofia Kenin.  But in a women’s draw where only nine of 32 seeds remain, Saturday’s best WTA matchup may be the only one between two seeded players.  On the men’s side, we are fortunate to have two clashes today between top 20 seeds.  And Novak Djokovic looks to build on his 33-1 record in 2020, with his only loss being his US Open default.

Roberto Bautista Agut (10) vs. Pablo Carreno Busta (17)

That default of course came against Carreno Busta, who pushed Djokovic to the breaking point with his fight back in the first set of their fourth round match.  Pablo would go on to defeat Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals, and was only one set away from reaching the championship match of the US Open.  Bautista Agut also pushed Djokovic in New York, taking Novak all the way to a final set tiebreak in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open.  While both of these Spaniards have achieved their best Major results on hard courts or grass, they’re not bad on the clay either.  Carreno Busta was a quarterfinalist here three years ago, and has reached the final of four clay court events.  Bautista Agut’s clay resume is a bit more modest: he’s never been beyond the fourth round of Roland Garros, and only one of his nine career finals came on this surface.  They’ve split their four previous tour level matches, with Bautista Agut claiming their only match on clay (Rome, 2017) as well as their only match at a Major (US Open, 2015).  All four of their battles have gone the distance, which displays just how similar their styles are.  There’s no reason to believe this won’t be another extended, compelling encounter, between two of the sport’s most underrated competitors. 

Karen Khachanov (15) vs. Cristian Garin (20)

This will be the first career meeting between these two 24-year-olds who were born just nine days apart.  And their records this season are as close as their birthdays: Khachanov is 16-10, while Garin is 17-10.  The Russian has been the one to achieve more success at big events.  Khachanov’s career highlights have both come in this city: he was a French Open quarterfinalist a year ago, and the champion of the Paris Indoors Masters 1,000 event six months prior.  While the Chilean’s triumphs have come at smaller events, he’s been the one to collect more trophies.  Garin has won four clay court titles, all within the last 18 months.  But this is the first time Cristian has reached the third round of a Major.  So what will prevail on this day: the big match experience of the heavier-hitting Khachanov, or the clay court prowess of Garin?  Confidence may be the difference today, and that would be to Cristian’s advantage.  Garin has won five of his last six matches, while Khachanov is yet to win three consecutive matches since the tour restart.

Aryna Sabalenka (8) vs Ons Jabeur (30)

In another first-ever meeting, Sabalenka faces one of the WTA’s most eclectic players for the second consecutive round.  Two days ago, she was tested in the first set by Daria Kasatkina, but dominated the second set 6-0 after taking a first set tiebreak.  Since making her breakthrough in mid-2018, she’s won six singles titles.  And in doubles with partner Elise Mertens, she’s reached the quarterfinals or better at the last five Majors.  However, the 22-year-old is yet to reach a Slam quarterfinal in singles.  Ons Jabeur did just that earlier this year in Melbourne.  The 26-year-old is having the best year of her career.  Jabeur has accumulated 24 match wins in this shortened season.  Neither woman would refer to clay as their best surface, though the slower conditions would seem to favor the guile of Jabeur over the power of Sabalenka.  But judging by Aryna’s impressive performance over a similar player on Thursday, she may be the favorite to advance again today.

Garbine Muguruza (11) vs. Danielle Collins

The winner of this match will face either Sabalenka or Jabeur in the round of 16.  And like Sabalenka, these two love to blast the ball.  Muguruza has been one of 2020’s best players, as reuniting with Conchita Martinez has brought her back to the top of the game.  She was the runner-up in Melbourne, and has reached the quarterfinals or better in all but one event played.  Collins was a surprise semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open, as the American had previously never won a match at a Major.  The 26-year-old is hard to beat when she’s on, but her go-for-all mentality can often lead to large amounts of errors.  They’ve met once before, last year on clay in Rome, where Muguruza prevailed in three.  The 2016 champion should be able to repeat that result today.

Petra Kvitova (7) vs Leylah Fernandez

Kvitova was a semifinalist here eight years ago, but is just 12-6 in Paris since that time.  But these cooler conditions must please the two-time Wimbledon champion, with her struggles in warmer temperatures well documented.  She may be one of the players who prefers this tournament taking place in autumn.  But she may be tested today by a fast-rising Canadian teenager, who was the junior champion here a year ago.  18-year-old Fernandez started this season outside the top 200, but is now ranked inside the top 100.  Leylah has successfully come through qualifying at four events this year, including in Acapulco where she eventually advanced to the final.  Fernandez has a ton of potential, but Kvitova has consistently played well this year, and can control her destiny today with her lefty serve and forehand.

Other Notable Matches on Day 7:

17-time Major champion Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Daniel Elahi Galan (LL), a 24-year-old from Columbia ranked 153rd in the world.

Recent Hamburg champion Andrey Rublev (13) vs. Kevin Anderson, who outlasted Dusan Lajovic in a five-setter on Thursday evening.

Hamburg runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) vs. Aljaz Bedene, a 31-year-old Slovenian who has never advanced farther than the third round at a Major.

2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko vs. Paula Badosa, a 22-year-old Spaniard who has never before advanced this far at a Slam.  Ostapenko defeated Karolina Pliskova on Thursday, while Badosa took out Sloane Stephens.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin (4) vs. Irina Bara (Q), a 25-year-old Romanian who had never played a main draw match at a Major prior to this week.

Saturday’s full schedule is here.

Grand Slam

Australian Open Considering Switching Women’s Final To Sunday In Future

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The Australian Open could become the first Grand Slam to break away from the tradition of women playing their singles final first. 

According to a report from the Australian Associated Press, tournament chief Craig Tiley is open to making such a move which wouldn’t require any approval from either the WTA or ATP. However, they would likely need to consult with players first and no changes are set to be made in 2025. 

The reasoning for making such a change is due to the women’s final usually being shorter than the men’s best with it being a best-of-three set match. Compared to the men who play the best-of-five. Their thinking is that due to the length of men’s matches increasing in recent years, staging it on a Saturday would enable more people to watch the entire match compred to a Sunday when many are consious about staying up late due to the working week starting on Monday. 

This year’s Australian Open saw Jannik Sinner bounce back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in a epic encounter that lasted three hours and 46 minuites. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka required an hour and 17 mnuites to beat China’s Qinwen Zheng and capture the title. 

Should such a switch take place, it is estimated that the Sunday finale would end at around 10:30pm local time instead of after midnight, which would make it more appealing to fans. Furthermore, it could throw the women’s final more into the spotlight. 

However, there will be obstacles that need to be addressed. The most significant for the Australian Open will be trying to ensure that their 48-hour recovery period between best-of-five-set men’s matches will still be followed. 

This year was the first time in history that the Melbourne major took place over 15 days with play starting on a Sunday. Organisers claimed that the move was done in order to prevent the number of late-night finishes. However, it has little effect on any matches that took place after the first round. 

It is throught that now the event is held over 15 days, it gives more room for organisers to schedule the men’s final for a Saturday. The proposal was discussed during this year’s Australian Open’s official debrief. 

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Grand Slam

It Wasn’t The Same Old Story On Sunday Down Under

Jannik Sinner won his first Grand Slam title on Sunday.

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(@janniksin - Twitter)

It’s been the same old story at the Australian Open for a long time in the men’s game.

One of the greats almost always would take the top prize Down Under. Either Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer or even Stan Wawrinka always prevailed since 2006 at Melbourne.

And then came Jannik Sinner in 2024.

None of the other superstars were still around for Sunday’s final.

A DIFFERENT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Yes, this time it was a different Australian Open.

But actually Sinner may have written his own story when he upended Djokovic in the semifinals. Without that experience, the slender Italian may not have been able to handle the pressure that Daniil Medvedev sent his way in the final.

Sinner was ready for the finish line after shocking Djokovic in the semifinals. It just took time to get there.

Sinner played within himself most of the last three sets of the final. A first-time Grand Slam finalist, Sinner played as if he belonged there in those three sets.

But, oh, those first two sets when Medvedev dominated play with his backhand from the middle of the court. Backhands usually are reserved for the backhand side of the court, but not with the tall Russian on the court.

SINNER DIDN’T PLAY HIS GAME AT FIRST

In a similar manner as women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, Sinner followed up a big semifinal win with his own Australian Open title. Only, Sinner had to fight for five sets to accomplish his dream Down Under with a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Medvedev.

Sinner appeared to play far differently from his victory over Djokovic when he controlled the court with his aggressive play and power.

This time, Sinner started things conservatively with few aggressive winners, repeatedly leaving the corners wide open for Medvedev’s crafty, but hard hit strokes. Medvedev made Sinner  pay a price with a style of play that was just the opposite.

Medvedev played close to the baseline and aggressively hopped on balls with his backhand in whip-lash fashion. He hardly had to move as he conserved energy.

THE STRATEGY ALMOST WORKED TO PERFECTION

Medvedev’s strategy worked like a charm until Sinner served the ninth game of the third set as Medvedev once needed only six points for a possible Grand Slam title. Sinner managed to overcome a deuce score to win that game.

Medvedev fell behind 30-0 serving the 10th game of the set and then Sinner got his first set point. Sinner made it stand up and it was a new game after that.

Sinner didn’t appear to be ready for Medvedev’s game the first two sets, but the Italian then came alive. He became prepared for Medvedev, even after losing the first two sets.

Of course, Sabalenka got her boost from a surprising, but solid win over talented Coco Graff in the women’s semifinals. Sabalenka then was never really challenged by Qinwen Zheng in the final.

Sinner’s final was much different.  He was somewhat lucky to escape with  a win.

Medvedev almost wrapped up the title in the ninth game, but it didn’t happen. As a result, Sinner may have started his own success story in Grand Slam finals.

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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Focus

Australian Open Daily Preview: Daniil Medvedev Plays Jannik Sinner for the Men’s Singles Championship

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Daniil Medvedev during Friday’s semifinals (twitter.com/AustralianOpen)

The men’s singles and women’s doubles championship matches are on Sunday in Melbourne.

Across the last 10 hard court Majors, Daniil Medvedev has now advanced to six championship matches, half of which have come in Melbourne.  In those finals, Medvedev is a meek 1-4.  However, this is the first time Medvedev is looking across the net at a man not named Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, the two winningest male singles players of all-time at Grand Slam events.

And Medvedev can thank Jannik Sinner for that, who for the third time in their last four meetings, defeated Djokovic in Friday’s semifinals to reach his first Major final.  Since adding Darren Cahill to his team 18 months ago, one of tennis’s best coaches of all-time, Sinner’s game has continually and significantly improved, most evident in his three victories over Djokovic since November.  On Sunday, the most dominant male player of this fortnight looks to break more new ground in his young career.

Earlier on Sunday, in the women’s doubles championship match, it’s Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko (11) vs. Su-Wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens (2).  This is a first Major final for Kichenok, and a first in doubles for Ostapenko.  Su-Wei has won seven Majors in doubles, including her first mixed title earlier this week, and is 7-1 at this stage of Majors.  Mertens has won three Majors in women’s doubles, including Wimbledon in 2021 alongside Su-Wei.


Jannik Sinner (4) vs. Daniil Medvedev (3) – Not Before 7:30pm on Rod Laver Arena

Through six rounds, Sinner has dropped just one of 19 sets, which came against Djokovic in the semis.  But even that match was a rather comfortable win for the Italian, who lost only six games in the three sets he claimed.  Jannik has not just been the best ATP player this fortnight: he’s been the best ATP player since the last Major, with a record of 26-2.  The 22-year-old is 10-4 in ATP finals, with this of course being by far the biggest of his career to date.

Medvedev endured a much more complicated path to this final, completing 25 out of a possible 30 sets, which included three five-setters.  Two of those came in the last two rounds, against Hubert Hurkacz and Sascha Zverev.  Daniil has spent six more hours on court than Jannik, and has played for over 11 hours during the second week alone.  He is 20-16 in ATP Finals, with all 20 titles coming at different events.  But Medvedev can be rather streaky in finals: after losing five in a row, he won seven of eight, yet has now lost his last three.

And those last two losses came at the hands of Sinner, who beat him in both Beijing and Vienna.  Jannik also defeated Daniil in the semifinals of the ATP Finals in November, though all three of those recent matches were tight.  Prior to that, Medvedev had dominated their head-to-head 6-0, which includes two finals earlier in 2023.  All ten of their meetings have taken place on hard courts, and this is their first at a Major.

Based on their recent history, as well as their individual form this fortnight, I favor Sinner to win his first Major on Sunday.  While he’ll surely be nervous in the biggest match of his life, and could experience an emotional letdown coming off ending Novak’s undefeated record of 20-0 in Australian Open semis and finals, Jannik will be the much fresher player on this day.  Plus, he will feel confident after those three recent wins over Daniil, who has a lot of scar tissue to overcome in Major finals.  And after facing Medvedev so much within the past year, Sinner is well-versed on how to take advantage of Daniil’s deep return position.


Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.

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