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Key events
Flavio Cobolli (10) beats Zach Svajda 6-2 6-3 (3)6-7 7-6(5)
Brilliant work from Cobolli, scurrying about hoisting lobs and Svajda looks to finish the point, then when offered a forehand under less pressure, he rips a winner cross-court and will meet Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo next.
But instead he goes long, Svajda doing brilliantly to keep equilibrious … but he then nets a forehand, meaning he must defend match point for the second time, but on his serve.
Cobolli ups the gas on a forehand, and though Svajda sticks in the point, he loses control of it, betting a backhand; at 5-4, two holds and the Italian is into the last eight.
A double returns that mini-break immediately, but a terrific service-point means Svajda leads 3-2, quickly converted to 4-3 Cobolli, still on serve. On Lenglen, Keys and Shnaider have come out, but worry not – we’ll deal with kalinskaya’s interview once this breaker is over.
In comms, they reckon Cobolli has been going for too much – in mine, natural against an opponent you don’t fear. My guess is he felt impregnable, enjoying playing rather than competing, and now, he flaps a backhand long to cede the mini-break, Svajda leading 2-1.
It’s remarkable really. Svajda has given a decent account of himself, but Cobolli has always looked in control of things – until now. But the Italian holds to love, winning his first game in five and sealing it with a drop so good it almost bounces back over to his side of the net, and here comes a fourth-set breaker.
And Svajda holds for 6-5! He’s hit his best level over the second half of this set, and now Cobolli is under pressure.
Ach, Cobolli totally butchers a forehand, taking us to deuce … whereupon Svajda creams a backhand winner down the line, then nails a terrific return, doing well at the net as one of the fastest players on tour keeps chasing … until his opponent nets! Twice, Cobolli has served for the match and twice he’s been broken! We’r level at 5-5 in the fourth, a match that looked over still in the balance.
Svajda makes 15-30, but a monstrous forehand from Cobolli allows him to tidy, then a backhand that looks just wide – confirmed by umpire check – means he holds match point.
On Chatrier, a hold for Svajda means Cobolli is now serving for the match again at 2-1 5-4.
Anna Kalinskaya (22) beats Anastasia Potapova (28) 6-4 2-6 7-6(7)
Somehow, Kalinskaya – the slightly more dreadful player across the piece – secures the win, and will face Parry or Chwalinska next. Goodness knows how Coco Gauff feels, having surrendered her title to see Potapova play like that next match; it’ll take her a while to recover from serving for the biggest match of her life, twice, and being broken back, twice.
Or does it? Kalinskaya goes long, for 9-7…
A return hoofed long and Kalinskaya leads 7-5, but a comically poor forehand offers Potapova a chance to level on serve at 7-7 … then a weak second serve allows her opponent into the point … and again, the forehands do the trick. Seconds later, Kalinskaya leads 9-6, and this match looks set to be put out of its misery.
Ahahaha, Potapova restores a mini-break, Kalinskaya retrieves it … then Potapova, having hauled herself back into the next rally, jiggers a backhand, and for the first time, she trails in the breaker at 5-6.
You got to laugh. A wild forehand from Potapova returns one of the two mini-breaks, then one into the net takes us level at 4-4; Svajda holds, so Cobolli will shortly serve for the match at 2-1 5-2.
Excellent work from Potapova, her forehand the best shot on court and one thumped down the line, from shoulder-height, securing a second mini-break; at change of ends, she leads 4-2. Meantime, Svajda is now serving to stay in the match at 1-5 in the fourth.
On Chatrier, Cobolli has broken Svajda again and leads 4-1 in the fourth, while Potapova takes an immediate mini-break then consolidates for 3-0. But with 10 the target, there’s plenty of space for implosion and fury.
Potapova makes 30-15, but terrific hitting from Kalinskaya, who unloads a succession of heavy forehands, leads us to 30-all. And she’s quickly at net next point, nashing in to give a poorly executed drop the treatment. Potapova, though, flicks an airy forehand of her own down the line for a winner … only to net when sent to the corner, ceding advantage. I hate to say it, but I’m now expecting a double … averted only by a second serve so slow it almost moves backwards, and Kalinskaya duly takes control of the rally, a forehand winner meaning they’ll now suffer through a match tiebreak at 6-6 in the third.
Kalinskaya looks set to hold, up 40-15, but we wind up at deuce, and this is as low-quality a contest as could possibly be at this level and this stage. But the drama and tension are compelling, Potapova needing various opportunities to close out a point which takes her to advantage, eventually managing to land a stretch-volley … and the almost-inevitable double follows. She leads 6-5 in the third, and will shortly serve for the match – again.
Gosh, a forehand wafted long hands Kalinskaya 0-30, a forehand into the net and it’s 0-40, and you can see Potapova shrinking like Mario when he clips a goombah. The break-back is donated to love, and I’ve not a clue which of these will play slightly less miserably than the other when under pressure.
Cobolli consolidates his break, the impression that he’s able to raise his level to wherever it needs to be to beat Svajdal he leads 2-1 2-0 ... oh, and as I type, he snatches a double break for 3-0, the match surely over. And on Lenglen, Potapova breaks Kalinskaya again, so at 5-4 in the third, she’ll now serve for the match; can she hold it down? She’s never made the last eight of a major, making this the most important game of her life. I don’t massively fancy her…
Down 40-30, Kalinskaya stands so far in court to attack a second serve, she’s almost over the other side … collaring a return, and Potapova can only go long in response. But though she thinks she’s won the next point, an umpire check confirms that, prior to hitting a winner, she strayed wide then, chasing another second serve, she’s so far in she cramps her own self, and from there, Potapova secures a vital hold. We’re level at 4-4 in third while, on Chatrier, Cobolli has, unsurprisingly now he’s been forced to pay full attention again, broken Svajda to lead 2-1 1-0.
At 30-all, Kalinskaya thwacks long on the backhand, then Potapova nails one of her own down the line, a clean winner restoring parity at 3-4 in the decider. That’s the fourth break of the set, an eventuality so inevitable even we predicted it.
Potapova seals a hold with the first ace of the match, but down 2-4 in set three, she’s running out of opportunities. Svajda, on the other hand, is creating them, sending Cobolli scurrying along the baseline before finishing the point to seize a second mini-break, then securing the set when a body-serve incites a netted return. the Italian leads 6-2 6-4 6-7.
I thought Kalinskaya might struggle to consolidate, but Potapova is vexed and losing the run of herself once more, the lead now 4-1. Meantime on Chatrier, Svajda held to force a third-set breaker, and at 3-1, he might just’ve hit a seam, directing Cobolli about the court for the first time in the match.
Sure enough, Potapova shovels a backhand wide and carts a forehand long, then sends down consecutive doubles, broken to love after spurning a succession of breaking opportunities. Kalinskaya leads 3-1 in the third, and neither of these handle pressure well enough to win this thing.
Good.
Roland Garros and the French Tennis Federation on Monday hit Adolfo Daniel Vallejo with a $65,000 fine for his remarks about the woman who umpired his second-round defeat at the French Open.
After he lost to French 17-year-old Moise Kouame in a fifth-set tiebreak on Thursday, Vallejo, a Paraguayan, told tennis website Clay that Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho had not been strong enough in the face of fan support for the local player.
“A fine of 65,000 dollars has been imposed, roughly half of his prize money,” tournament director Amelie Mauresmo told a press briefing on Monday.
Players eliminated in the second round of the men’s singles receive 130,000 euros ($151,000).
“This is clearly something that is unacceptable to us, to the tournament, and to the Federation even beyond the tournament. This kind of language has no place here,” Mauresmo said.
And Kalinskaya does hold, securing a 2-1 lead in the third. If she can get some returns in – she needn’t go for winners, just make Potapova play – she’s in business. Meantime, Cobolli holds for 6-5, so Svajda must once again serve to stay in the match.
Under pressure, Svajda holds to 15 for 0-2 5-5, while on Lenglen we’re now at our eighth deuce, the game clocking in at over 10 minutes. If Potapova secures the break, I think she might accelerate away, but should Kalinskaya hold, the pressure on her ratchets up.
Sure enough, Potapova raises break point at advantage in the next game, Kalinskaya twice restoring deuce, but when she earns an opportunity to secure her hold, a booming forehand leaves her floundering. From there, she forces a third opportunity, but can’t respond to a flat backhand that only just clears the tape, and back to deuce we go, as Cobolli holds for 6-2 6-3 5-4; Svajda must now serve to stay in the match.
If you want more of Coach Calv’s expertise, you can find it here – during slams, every day. But don’t tell anyone that’s where all my insight comes from.
On which point, he and Svajda are level at 3-3 in the third, while Potapova has broken Kalinskaya, who’s barely done anything since being handed the first set – I think she might have hurt something, as she disappeared between sets and is stretching her arms off between points. But she makes 15-40, nails a decent return, and backs it up with a forehand that’s good enough to secure the game for 1-1 in the decider. As per the below, I doubt we’ve seen the last of the dropped serves in this set.
“Great for the game, great lad, great fun, very charismatic,” says Coach Calv of Cobolli. “Very, very, very fast, plenty of flair, great shotmaker.”
Probably one of various I’d reckoned wouldn’t quite get good enough to win a major, but he’s absolutely a threat her. I quite fancy him to win his bit of the draw – if I’m picking a top-half finalist, I’m going for his clay-court expertise over the superior serve of Berrettini and the power of Auger-Aliassime.
Potapova has dominated the second set as she did the first half of the first, breaking again then serving out, and at 4-6 6-2, she and Kalinskaya will shortly begin a decider.
I don’t imagine you’ll be surprised to learn that Cobolli has broken Svajda back immediately and, in the time it takes me to write the words which follow, he adds a hold; he knows he’s going to win this match. And, with Auger-Aliassime or Tabilo awaiting in the last eight, then one of Tiafoe, Arnaldi, Cerundolo Jr and Berrettini in the last four, he’s a very serious chance of reaching the final.
Svajda makes 0-30 then, offered a floaty ball on the forehand, he gives it the treatment, punishing a winner to raise three break points. And he only needs one, leaping out wide to batter a backhand return cross-court for a clean winner; great shot. Cobolli, who might’ve lost focus after sealing a two-set advantage, leads 6-2 6-3 0-1.
Cobolli holds for 6-2 5-3 then, while Kalinskaya forces Potapova through deuce for her hold at 6-4 2-3, he breaks to love, sealing the second set with a forehand winner down the line. He leads 6-2 6-3, while Potapova secures a crucial game, unloading from the back then saluting the crowd. She’s dominating now, but can she hold her nerve and close out?
Just as Svajda is asking question he finds himself two break-points down at 2-6 3-3 … and floats a tame forehand long. Cobolli leads by a set and a break, the difference between the two not just power but consistency.
Solidarity with Potapova:
She trails Kalinskaya 4-6 3-1, the better player again, and I’m guessing we’ll end up with a decider featuring various breaks of serve as both players feel the weight of the occasion.
Harri Heliovaara & Henry Patten (2) beat André Göransson & Evan King 6-3 6-4
Ominous stuff from Heliovaara/Patten, who’ll face Krawietz/Putz or Balaji/Demoliner in the last eight.
A glorious backhand from Svajda, oblique and cross-court, breaking the sideline, earns him break point, and though Cobolli then makes deuce, he soon forces another … confiscated by a forehand to the corner. But one that drops long immediately offers another opportunity, again eradicated, and from there, he secures his hold for 6-2 2-2, Potapova also holding to trail Kalinskaya 4-6 2-0. After a sudden deterioration that cost her the first set, she’s back playing well now – but that fading under pressure won’t have been forgotten by either player.
Potapova, having lost five games in a row, makes advantage on the Kalinskaya serve, a pair of backhands, one cross then another down the line, seizing the break to trail 4-6 1-0. Neither player is really at it here, meaning the match is there for whichever of them can stay composed.
On Chatrier, Svajda is improving, surviving to break points for lead 2-1 in set two, having lost the first 6-2. If he can attack Cobolli’s second serve and backhand, he might yet make an impression in this match.
A succession of oversights from both players take us to deuce, before a really poor forehand from Potapova, wiping wide with plenty at which to aim, means advantage and set point for Kalinskaya .. quickly converted when her chuntering opponent nets a backhand. I can’t say she had to do all that much other than keep the ball in court, but she leads 6-4.
Kaalinskaya holds for 5-4, so Potapova, who’s now lost four games on the bounce and with them a double break, must gather herself – not necessarily easy for a player who doesn’t love pressure. Sure enough, she’s soon down 0-30, her diminishing confidence a more active factor than Kalinskaya’s improvement.
Kalinskaya has settled, breaking Potapova to love having hinted she was ready to take control for the previous 10 minutes. The first set is now level at 4-4 while, on Chatrier, Cobolli serves out for a 6-2 set against Svajda.
Cobolli gets his second break for 5-2 and, let’s be real, Svajda doesn’t have anything for him. I fear his height – he can’t be much more than 5”9 – might hinder him at the very top level, denying him the free points on serve and coverage at the net that support the games of the best, but he’s a terrific all-round talent with a forehand good enough to define points, repeatedly.
Potapova, meanwhile, leads Kalinskaya 4-2, and on Mathieu, it’s been a good morning – so far – for Coach Calv, the brains of this blog. Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, Calv’s charge and no 2 seeds in the men’s doubles, lead Goransson & King 6-3 1-0 with a break. They’re in fearsomely good nick.
Cobolli is all over Svajda, up 4-2 and threatening a second break, his forehand dominating and his speed about the court matching his opponent’s biggest strength.
We’ve had an early break in both early matches, Cobolli up 3-2 on Svajda and Potapova leading Kalinskaya 2-1.
Salut à tous et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2026 – neuvième jour!
And devinez quoi? It’s another banger absolu!
We begin with an intriguing match on Chatrier, Flavio Cobolli beginning to establish himself as a second-week staple. His all-round game, when on, is perfect for the clay on which he was raised, a mix of vicious attack and tenacious defence, and in Zach Svajda, he faces an opponent he knows he should beat, but also one in terrific form.
Opening on Lenglen, meanwhile, we’ll enjoy Anastasia Potapova, perhaps starting to make good on her potential – to get here, she dismissed Coco Gauff, the defending champion – against Anna Kalinskaya, looking to go deep in a slam for the first time. This is the biggest match of both of their lives.
All the more so given waiting for them in the last eight is either Diane Parry or Maja Chwalinska, second on Lenglen and also enjoying their best-ever major performance. And, as we move into the afternoon, Madison Keys – the 2025 Australian Open winner, words it never gets boring to type – takes on Diana Shnaider, with Naomi Osaka or Aryna Sabalenka awaiting the winner.
After which, the men take centre stage, all of them seeking to profit from the opportunity of a lifetime given a draw now missing Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Chances are, Matteo Berrettini, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe have all spent time processing and reconciling the likelihood that they were unlikely to realise dreams of winning a biggun that, in their youth, seemed not only realistic but likely.
Except here they are, taking on Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi respectively, the freedom of opportunity struggling against the weight of pressure as they seek to make themselves immortal.
Chouette! On y va!
