Key events
Now or never for Alexandrova to take a break opportunity, at 40-15 up in the eighth game of the set – and this time she does get it done with a big cross-court forehand. And what’s this? Seconds later, Kasatkina plays a similar winner to break Andreeva and level up the second set at 3-3. Games on!
Andreeva holds serve and is just three games from victory at 6-3, 3-1 ahead. Gauff pounces to set up three break points, but Alexandrova shows tremendous grit to prevail in two long rallies and get back to deuce. But it’s all for nothing as Gauff drills a backhand down the line, then seals the break via a helpful net-cord bounce.
Alexandrova must wish she could have settled quicker; after burning the first set, she’s been much better in the second and is making each service game difficult for Gauff. The American digs her way to another hold, though, and it’s 3-3 in the second set.
Andreeva’s best run at a slam to date came here last year, when she beat Aryna Sablenka on her way to the semis. She’ll be looking to go that far again at least this year and has Kasatkina on the rack here – although her opponent saves a third straight break by digging out a service hold.
From absolutely dominating the first five games, Gauff has been drawn into a bit of a scrap – but her opponent simply can’t convert a break point. More chances go begging here as Gauff holds for 2-2; Alexandrova is now 0-7 on break points.
Magical stuff from Andreeva here, somehow chasing down a Kasatkina drop shot and sending a perfect lob beyond her opponent. That’s earned her a break in the opening game of the second set, and she’s threatening to run away with this now.
On Chatrier, Alexandrova is making a better go of things in the second set, getting on the board with her first service holds. She leads 2-1, still on serve.
Andreeva breaks in the eighth game of the opening set, and is now trying to serve it out against Kasatkina. An angled forehand clips the line on set point, and she takes it 6-3.
On Lenglen, Andreeva also sees off break points to lead Kastakina 4-3, the first set still on serve. An intriguing clash of styles in that match already.
Broken again and 5-0 down, Alexandrova begins to get something together as Gauff serves for the set – but five break points come and go, and the American eventually seals the bagel despite some first-serve issues.
Gauff has made an ominous start here, taking 16 of the first 20 points and breaking twice to open up a 4-0 lead. Andreeva and Kasatkina are on serve at 2-2 in the first set.
It’s been a nervy start from Alexandrova, losing her serve cheaply in the opening game, and Gauff backs up the break to lead 2-0. On Suzanne-Lenglen, a potential corker between rising star Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina – born in Russia, now representing Australia – is getting under way.
First up on Chatrier, it’s Coco Gauff against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The American has a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head record. Gauff reached the final in 2022, losing to Swiatek, who also eliminated her in the last two years. As for Alexandrova, she is yet to reach a slam quarter-final but is capable of causing an upset on her day.
If you missed it yesterday, Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round win over Elena Rybakina was an all-timer. The defending champion lost eight of the first nine games and was on course for an embarrassing end to her long winning run here. But Swiatek dug in, levelled up and inched her way ahead in a marathon third set, winning it 7-5 in a match that would have been an excellent final. Or who knows, maybe even Sunday’s night match.
Preamble
Bienvenue. The fourth round continues today at Roland-Garros, and if Sunday’s action is any kind of guide, we could be in for a humdinger of a day. Here’s the order of play:
Court Philippe-Chatrier (from 10am BST)
(20) Ekaterina Alexandrova v Coco Gauff (2)
Lois Boisson v Jessica Pegula (3)
Cameron Norrie v Novak Djokovic (6)
Night game: (1) Jannik Sinner v Andrey Rublev (17)
Court Suzanne-Lenglen (from 10am BST)
(6) Mirra Andreeva v Daria Kasatkina (17)
(3) Alexander Zverev v Tallon Griekspoor
(7) Madison Keys v Hailey Baptiste
Alexander Bublik v Jack Draper (5)
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