Key events
A decent return from Gauff makes 30-15 but Jabeur is finding first serves, and though she’s soon drawn into a net exchange, a tasty volley is good enough. The pot is boiling.
Another terrific hold from Gauff who makes 40-0 then picks a drop, skidding in to flip a backhand pick-up cross-court for a clean winner. Things will change as the match progresses, but at the moment it looks like it’ll turn on a point her or there. Gauff 3-2 Jabeur
I like the way Ons has started here: she’s not waiting to be asked, but she’s not hitting wildly either, targeting Gauff’s forehand with her own superior iteration. But up 40-15, she swipes a backhand wide having opened plenty of space for it – she’s trying to end points as quickly as she can – and further thrashing from the back makes 2-2. So far, it’s Jabeur stepping in and looking to dominate.
Jabeur gets after a second serve to make 30-15 – that’ll be a plan I’m sure – so Gauff makes sure she doesn’t get a look at another, successive aces securing the game. She looks extremely serious out there: having had a taste of victory, she’s desperate for more, whereas Jabeur is just guessing.
Now then. Jabeur powers through a love hold, finishing it off with an ace, and it looks, for now, like the step-up in competition has incited a step-up in her level. Gauff 1-1 Jabeur
It’s a funny thing, really: I don’t actually think Gauff’s forehand is loads better than before, it’s more that she plays with so much more confidence and poise now that she’s better at hiding it. She does, though, find a forehand winner for 40-1 only for Jabeur to deploy her own to make deuce … then again to regain deuce. The difference between the two shots is stark, but after ceding advantage, Gauff holds it down well, securing her hold, and already this looks a fascinating match,
Oor Ons did, though, play a bit better in the last round against Clara Tauson. If she can get her forehand going, especially cross-court, she’ll be in business. But it’s Gauff to serve and off we go!
I don’t enjoy saying this, but I wonder if the principal difference between these two is of mentality: Gauff has found a way to play well enough at the most important moments, such tht she now trusts herself and expects to win, whereas Jabeur has not so does not.
Our players are ready to come out. Chatrier is nowhere near as full as it should be, and this feels early for this level of sport. But once we get going, none of that will matter.
Preamble
Salut tout le monde et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2024 – jour dix!
One of the brilliant things about these competitions is the stratospheric height of their bottom levels: however relatively bad they might be, two weeks of brilliant tennisers letting it all hang out is better than almost everything else that exists in the world.
However, a classic tournament requires classic matches, and we’re at that point now where our best players need to deliver. We’ve already enjoyed the first-week bonus of Iga Swiatek v Naomi Osaka, but today comes one potential jazzer followed by another.
We begin with Coco Gauff, who has everything – everything being a single, solitary Grand Slam title – that Ons Jabeur wants. On the face of things, the American’s form and newly-found equilibrium should be enough to hide her iffy forehand, but if her opponent hits a groove – and there’ve been hints – it’s far tricker to call.
Next up, we can expect Iga Swiatek, double defending champ, to find a way past Markta Vondrousova. But the Wimbledon champ is canny, unique, and improving through the rounds, so don’t be surprised if this closer than expected.
And we’ll end our coverage with Jannik Sinner – another who’s hit a new level – against Griggzy Dimitrov. Baby Fed, as he was once known, hasn’t hit the heights expected of him, but at 33 he’s still improving – and will be well aware that chances like this one don’t come along often.
On y va!
Play: 11am local, 10am BST
