03/06/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | JUNE 3, 2025

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Swiatek survives scare to reach Roland Garros quarterfinals IGA SWIATEK said her battling win against Elena Rybakina in the French Open last 16 yesterday felt like a “confirmation” she has put her poor form behind her as she seeks a record-equalling fourth consecutive Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. The triple-defending champion reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, fighting back from a set and a break down to eventually defeat former Wimbledon winner Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 29 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. But she has not managed to reach a final since lifting the trophy in Paris last June. “It means a lot. I think I needed that kind of win to like feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure,” said Swiatek. “And even if it’s not going the right way, you know, still turn the match around to win it. For sure it’s a great confirmation for me. Yeah, I for sure wanted to have a match like that.”

SHORTS ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Tiafoe FRANCES TIAFOE believes the “sky’s the limit” for him after reaching the French Open quarterfinals for the first time yesterday. The American downed German world No. 66 Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the last 16 to set up a match with Lorenzo Musetti for a semifinal place. It will be Tiafoe’s first ATP quarterfinal since finishing runner-up at a low-key event in Houston in March. “It’s been horrible. I’ve been travelling around, and it hasn’t been fun at all,” he said. “Kind of faced it. After that it gave me space to just play. You know, when I can play, I can play. This is not really something that’s like a shock. “When I’m playing well, I’m there and present and having fun, I think the sky’s the limit for me.” The 27-year-old, who has reached at least the quarters at the last three US Opens, is yet to drop a set in Paris and is confident he can go even further. “I’ve been the super dark horse. I don’t think anyone is really thinking that I was going to even be in this position,” added Tiafoe. “Now that I’m here, I’m like, ‘Let’s win’.” Musetti swings past Rune LORENZO MUSETTI’S impressive claycourt season rolled on in style yesterday when the Italian craftsman downed the talented yet erratic Holger Rune 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the first time. World No. 7 Musetti, who will take on American 15th seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the last four, adjusted to the Dane’s shift to a swashbuckling approach to keep his title hopes alive in a year that has seen him steady his game. “Last night I was dreaming of this match against Holger and I was playing at that level. I need to be very good, and I am really proud of myself tonight,” said Musetti. Musetti, who said he has put some order in his game, arrived in Paris having reached at least the semifinals in all three Masters events this season on clay. He did not disappoint on the Philippe Chatrier court, delighting the crowd with a handful of exquisite shots, notably from his impressive single handed backhand. “I complain less now, I’m more steady,” he said. Addressing his army of fans in Italian, he said: “To all the Italians who are here in Paris, obviously you’ve stayed deep into the night, your support was fundamental, it helped me push my limits.”

Opens this season, Swiatek appeared to be headed for a similarly disappointing result at the tournament she has dominated since her first title in 2020. “Well it was tough you know, first set I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner,” said Swiatek on court. “I needed to do something to get back in the game, but with her playing like that I didn’t feel like I had much hope. “As I said, it’s a great confirmation for me that I can handle the pressure and everything,” she insisted. “But honestly, I wasn’t expecting to have an easy score against Elena. I also had an easy score against her, but losing, you know, because she’s a great player.” – AFP

After winning Roland Garros last year to complete a remarkable treble of clay-court victories in Madrid, Rome and Paris, the Pole’s turbulent 2025 looked set to hit a new nadir as she found herself 6-1, 2-0 down against the 12th seeded Kazakh. Following early exits at the Madrid and Italian

Swiatek will next face Elina Svitolina for a spot in the semifinal, after the Ukrainian earlier saved three match points to eliminate last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini. The 24-year-old is seeking to become the first woman to win four straight French Open titles

Alcaraz grinds past Shelton Spaniard reaches French Open last eight after hard-fought win R EIGNING champion Carlos Alcaraz won a war of attrition with American 13th seed Ben Shelton to reach the French Open quarterfinals yesterday. again Alcaraz failed to see out a straight-sets victory as Shelton produced two breaks of serve to edge the most open of the four frames. learn from the mistakes I made today. I’m not going to make the same against Tommy, but I think for the people it’s going to be a really interesting match to watch.”

The 22-year-old nonetheless bounced back to gain the advantage in the fourth set, before serving out as dusk descended over centre court. Another American awaits Alcaraz in the last eight after 12th seed Tommy Paul earlier defeated Alexei Popyrin in straight sets.

Alcaraz leads his series with Paul 4-2, and most recently defeated the 28-year-old in straight sets on the red dirt of Roland Garros at the quarterfinal stage of the 2024 Olympic Games. Shelton, 22, pushed the world No. 2 and though the Spaniard proved to be too good on the day, there were still plenty of positive takeaways. “For me, this is the closest that I’ve felt in a match against him, and the most pressure that I thought that I’ve applied, the most comfortable that I felt in the baseline exchanges, the best I’ve hit my open-stance backhand when he’s put pressure there,” he told a press conference. “There are a lot of positives to take because I feel like my game is improving a lot,” he said. “I don’t want to be disrespectful and just be ‘I’m right there’ but I feel like I am close to starting to win some matches like that, give guys a run for their money more often, and have these deeper runs more consistently.” – AFP/Reuters

The Spaniard emerged victorious 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after over three hours of blistering serves, power-hitting and drop-shots on Court Philippe Chatrier. “I think we both have huge respect to each other, we entertained the people well,” Alcaraz said on court. “He’s a really powerful player –

“I remember that every match that I’ve played against him he was really tough. He was really difficult,” said Alcaraz of Paul. “In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000, and all the tournaments I’ve played against him it wasn’t easy at all. “I lost a lot, a few matches against him as well. He is in the quarterfinals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now.

he can make any shot… I appreciate the moment that I’ve shared with him today.” The four-time Grand Slam winner edged a tight first set, which produced only one unconverted break point, at the end of a lengthy tie-break that saw both players have chances to clinch the opener. When Alcaraz finally forced a break against the big-serving Shelton in the second set, it was enough for him to move into a two-set lead. But once

“I’ll try to keep going, trying to be better. I’ll try to

Carlos Alcaraz plays a backhand return to Ben Shelton during their men’s singles match. – AFPPIC

No more outside courts, Sabalenka wants Philippe Chatrier

WORLD NO. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is done playing on the outside courts in Paris and wants only the centre court from now on as she chases her first French Open crown. The top seed has played two of her four matches so far on the Suzanne Lenglen court – the second court with a capacity of 10,000 – including yesterday’s straight sets win over American Amanda Anisimova. The Belarusian three-time Grand Slam champion, however, now wants her quarterfinal against China’s Zheng Qinwen to be scheduled on the Philippe Chatrier court, which fits 5,000

quarterfinals in 10 consecutive Grand Slams since Serena Williams between 2014-17. “I am super hungry for this tournament. I want to stay until the very last day,” she said. Zheng beat Sabalenka for the first time in their seven meetings in the Italian Open quarterfinals in the build-up to Roland Garros. “She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle, and I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals, and I want to get my revenge,“ said Sabalenka. “I want to get this win after Rome, so I’m happy to face her in the quarters.” – AFP/Reuters

bigger audience. “When you play on the biggest courts, they show those matches on the TV, so more people are watching and you can show yourself to more people,” Sabalenka said. “Also, the court is so beautiful, and it’s much bigger. The moment you step on the Chatrier, you feel like, okay, this is a big stage, and this is where I’m meant to be.” “This is where I want to compete, and I want to fight, and I want to bring my best tennis. So I think it’s all about the energy of the stadium. Sabalenka is now the first player to reach the

more fans than the Lenglen. “If you ask me what I prefer, I prefer to play on Philippe Chatrier,” Sabalenka told a press conference. “Why the decision was to put me on that court for the second time, I don’t know. Hopefully from now I’m going to be playing only on Philippe Chatrier. I think I should be, right?,“ she said. Sabalenka said while playing on the smaller court gave fans without tickets to the showcase court the opportunity to watch her play, the Philippe Chatrier had a different aura and a