Big program for the start of the 8th finals. The women’s tournament (finally) has the right to the honors of the night session, with the match between Sloane Stephens and world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka scheduled for the evening, on the Philippe-Chatrier. Novak Djokovic will appear in the 2nd rotation on the Philippe-Chatrier court against Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas before the highly anticipated clash of the new generation between Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti. Outsider of choice, Stefanos Tsitsipas will evolve in the last rotation on the Lenglen against the qualified Sebastian Ofner. Also to follow, the Ukrainian Elena Svitolina will challenge another Russian, Daria Kasatkina, seeded number 9.
Court Philippe Chatrier
(from 11 a.m.)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – Elise Mertens (BEL/ 28)
Novak Djokovic (SER/ 3) – Juan Pablo Varillas (PER)
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/1) – Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/17)
Pas avant 20h15 Sloane Stephens (E-U) – Aryna Sabalenka (Bie/2)
Court Suzanne Lenglen
(from 11 a.m.)
Karen Khachanov (RUS/11) – Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
Karolina Muchova (RTC) – Elina Avanesyan (RUS)
Elina Svitolina (UKR) – Daria Kasatkina (RUS/ 9)
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) – Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/ 5)
Lorenzo Musetti impressed in the third round by outclassing Cameron Norrie (6-1, 6-2, 6-4). The Italian with the elegant backhand returns to the round of 16, barely two years after losing to Novak Djokovic in five sets, at the age of 19. It’s another big arm that stands up to him this Sunday in the person of the phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard had suffered the law of the Italian during their only confrontation. Which makes him say: “He beat me in Hamburg last year, he’s playing well, he’s really got a lot of talent. It’s a match that I really wanted to play. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy playing this match, it’s going to be a fun match, with good rallies, nice shots between us” The Chatrier public is salivating in advance.
By beating the qualified Clara Tauson in the 3rd round, Elina Avanesyan became the fourth lucky loser to climb into the second week of Roland-Garros. A performance that had not been achieved since the Dutch Nicole Jagerman in 1988.
On June 5, 1988, Steffi Graf won her second consecutive Porte d’Auteuil title and humiliated the Soviet Natasha Zvereva in the final – in thirty-four minutes… It is still the shortest final in the history of singles ladies.
“Going to the net in socks”. Which means an awkward climb to the ineffective net. The player performing a “climb in socks” exposes himself to a fatal passing-shot.
