16:20
Conclusion
Iga Świątek won the first semi-final at the French Open against Daria Kasatkina after just 64 minutes 6:2 and 6:1 and thus made it into the final. In the first set, the world number one gave up a service game after an early break, but then took more and more control and brought her game to the court with a great selection of shots. Kasatkina couldn’t really keep up, especially in the second set and was consequently able to win only one service game. Świątek celebrates her 34th win in a row and meets Trevisan or Gauff in the final. Thank you for reading and have a nice afternoon!
16:15
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 6-1
Świątek enters the final at Roland Garros with an ace!
16:14
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 5: 1
Kasatkina attacks again, but Świątek suddenly takes control again and secures her match points with a great cross.
16:13
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 5: 1
Świątek wants to do it quickly now. Świątek’s backhand longline is also perfect – 30:0.
16:12
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 5: 1
Pity! Kasatkina plays a good ball on the right line, but it is very delicate out of bounds.
16:12
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 5: 1
Świątek is currently playing in a different league here and gets the next break. She hammers a return longline into the left corner. The match can be over soon.
16:10
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 4: 1
Kasatkina can’t find her way back to her game. After a double fault, she is very sensitively encouraged by the audience. Can she come back again?
16:08
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 4: 1
Świątek sends her opponent far into the left corner again. Kasatkina still gets the ball, but crosses the net.
16:07
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6:2, 3:1
It is currently 50:28 points in the overall balance. This is reflected quite well in the score.
16:06
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6:2, 3:1
Kasatkina now appears too passive. Świątek plays a forehand against the running direction – no chance for the Russian.
16:05
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6:2, 3:1
Świątek has to sprint back to the left corner and doesn’t get the ball right there. The felt ball lands to the right of the field – 15:15.
16:04
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6:2, 3:1
Is that the preliminary decision? In the next rally, Kasatkina hits too far from the baseline from a central position. This is the break for Świątek.
16:03
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 2: 1
The Pole attacks her opponent’s second serve, but gets caught on the net.
16:03
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 2: 1
Very quickly it’s 0:40 because Świątek unpacks a strong backhand cross after the return…
16:02
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 2: 1
Świątek slips away a bit on a shot, but doesn’t let that bother him. The backhand sits in the open, left corner.
16:00
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6: 2, 2: 1
Świątek’s smash at the net isn’t good enough, but Kasatkina’s cross-shot converts the Pole into a quick point with a good stop.
15:59
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 1-1
Even if she seems a little more stable now: Kasatkina keeps arguing with herself.
15:57
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 1-1
Świątek has to kneel a lot with a shot. Kasatkina tries to win her game with a longline shot, but it goes just wide. After a mistake by Świątek on the following return, she can finally book the game.
15:56
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 1-0
Well! The two engage in a short slice duel and Kasatkina gets the point with a quick forehand in the left corner.
15:54
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 1-0
In between, Kasatkina’s game seems a bit too casual. From just before the T-line, she puts a slice into the net.
15:53
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 1-0
Kasatkina has plenty of time again with a ticked ball in the middle of the field but fails to put pressure on her opponent. Shortly thereafter, she makes the crucial mistake.
15:52
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 0-0
Świątek whips the forehand cross through the field after great footwork. Kasatkina can only counter with a high ball – it’s too long.
3:50 p.m
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 0-0
Kasatkina once again catches her forehand on the net. Świątek does not turn down such an invitation – the open left corner is a godsend.
15:49
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6-2, 0-0
The second set runs and Świątek serves.
15:47
sentence conclusion
Świątek secures the first set 6:2. The Pole grabbed an early break early in the game, but Kasatkina quickly recaptured it. The Russian got into the game better and had good moments, especially in longer rallies, but as the sets went on, Świątek’s class became more and more evident. After the second break of the Pole things went very quickly.
15:45
Świątek – Kasatkina: 6:2
Strong! Świątek hammered the return through her opponent’s court with a backhand cross.
15:45
Świątek – Kasatkina: 5:2
Kasatkina quickly gives up two more points and gives her opponent three set points.
15:44
Świątek – Kasatkina: 5:2
A forehand from Kasatkina quickly lands in the net. Twelve of the last 15 points went to Świątek.
15:43
Świątek – Kasatkina: 5:2
Kasatkina has to serve against the loss of the set. Świątek quickly lays down her opponent and finishes with the forehand.
15:42
Świątek – Kasatkina: 4:2
Great counter! Kasatkina places the forehand exactly on the right line. Świątek didn’t see that coming.
15:41
Świątek – Kasatkina: 4:2
Now it can go pretty fast. Świątek takes two direct points and is 30:0 ahead.
15:39
Świątek – Kasatkina: 4:2
Świątek takes advantage of that and grabs the break with a forehand longline.
15:39
Świątek – Kasatkina: 3:2
Oh no! Kasatkina has all the time in the world with a ball at the net, but smashes it clearly wide…
15:38
Świątek – Kasatkina: 3:2
Świątek twice breaks out of the Russian’s attacks very well and then benefits from Kasatkina’s punch going too far.
15:37
Świątek – Kasatkina: 3:2
When the score was 15:0, Świątek came onto the net early and converted a cross into the open corner.
15:35
Świątek – Kasatkina: 3:2
Kasatkina attacks in the rally, but is thrown off by a strong cross from her opponent. Świątek then easily converted a longline to win the game.
15:33
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:2
That’s just fine. From the middle, Świątek hammers the forehand cross out of reach into the corner. 40-0.
15:32
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:2
After losing two games in a row, Świątek need to regain some security. She does that with two very quick points, including a great inside-in.
15:31
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:2
She doesn’t like that! It’s a debut again, but Świątek misses the forehand longline. And the Pole doesn’t get the next serve over the net. Kasatkina takes the game!
15:29
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:1
Kasatkina plays the backhand longline to the line and thus gains the advantage in the debut.
15:28
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:1
The longest rally so far tightened the world number one with a great backhand cross. Kasatkina has to go far into the corner and Świątek can easily convert her shot back.
15:27
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:1
Świątek does not get a good position on a backhand cross and scoops it wide to the right of the field.
15:26
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:1
Kasatkina opens her service with an ace. She’s definitely arrived in the game.
15:24
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2:1
Played great! Kasatkina regains the break by playing an unexpected ball against Świątek’s path.
15:23
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2-0
After a double fault by the Pole, there are two break points for Kasatkina.
15:23
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2-0
Kasatkina tries to keep the ball long and now puts Świątek under pressure. This does not catch a ball properly and Kasatkina gets the interim lead – 15:30.
15:22
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2-0
After a good forehand inside-out, Świątek reacts with his backhand and puts it right on the line. Kasatkina’s counterattack goes wide.
15:20
Świątek – Kasatkina: 2-0
There’s the early break! In a longer rally, Kasatkina sends her opponent far to the right, but then hits the net from a half-left position…
15:19
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
But now she makes a double mistake. Can Świątek use the third break point? No! Kasatkina plays a great stop from the net.
15:18
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
Again, Świątek has the advantage, but Kasatkina counters with a serve served to the outside – ace!
15:17
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
Strong! Kasatkina evens out an advantage for the Pole because she plays a great forehand cross from the middle.
15:16
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
The rallies haven’t been very long and both players seem a bit nervous. After two shots in a row are just too long, it’s time for the debut.
15:15
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
When the score is 30:0, the Russian comes to the net, but shovels the ball far too much from there. Your shot goes well past the baseline.
15:14
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
Świątek throws in a stop just behind the net. It’s not good enough, so Kasatkina can just convert with the forehand.
15:13
Świątek – Kasatkina: 1-0
With an unattainable longline shot and an attack on the net, the world number one secures her first service game.
15:12
Świątek – Kasatkina: 0-0
We see her class for the first time! Świątek determines what happens in the rally and prepares her opponent. From the middle she plays the forehand cross with a good cut – no chance for the Russian.
15:11
Świątek – Kasatkina: 0-0
Świątek catches the net with a forehand, inviting Kasatkina to attack. She totally distorts the cross and puts the ball clearly out of bounds.
15:10
Świątek – Kasatkina: 0-0
The Pole opens the game with a double fault. 0:15.
15:09
Świątek – Kasatkina: 0-0
The match starts with Świątek serving.
15:04
Soon it will start!
The players are on the court warming up. With 24 degrees and sunshine we can start right away!
14:59
The voltage increases
In a few minutes, the two right-handers will enter the Court Philippe-Chatrier. Who will secure the first final ticket?
14:37
The previous duels of the two
This is the fourth meeting between the two players this year. Świątek won all three previous duels without losing a set – the closest with 6:3. In June 2021, Kasatkina celebrated a win against the Pole at the Eastbourne International.
14:35
What can the outsider do?
For Daria Kasatkina from Russia it is the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career. “I want to make it as difficult as possible for Iga this time,” she said before the game. The number 20 in the world has so far managed without losing a set at the tournament. Up until this year, her best result at Roland Garros was her quarter-final appearance in 2018, when she lost to eventual finalist Sloane Stephens.
14:31
The way of the favorite to the semifinals
The clear favorite in this game is the world number one Iga Świątek. The 21-year-old won the title in Paris two years ago and celebrated her 33rd win in a row in the quarter-finals. She only had to give up a set in the round of 16, otherwise she has kept a clean sheet at Roland Garros in the tournament so far.
14:26
Warm welcome
A sporty hello to the semi-finals at the French Open! From 3 p.m. Iga Świątek and Daria Kasatkina will compete against each other. Have fun reading along and raise the curtain for what we hope will be an exciting match!