Elina Svitolina takes on Aryna Sabalenka in a potentially tense French Open quarter-final played out against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.
Svitolina has won hearts and minds at Roland Garros after a storming run into the second week, only eight months after giving birth to her first child, daughter Skai, and only two months back on tour. The Ukrainian has also taken a stand by refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents due to the invasion. “Can you imagine the guy or girl in the front line looking at me and I am acting like nothing is happening?” she explained.
Having beaten Russia’s Anna Blinkova and Daria Kasatkina, Svitolina now faces the No 2 seed Sabalenka, who has previously voiced support for Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and refused to answer a journalist’s questions when confronted on her views in Paris last week.
Elsewhere, men’s favourite Novak Djokovic takes on Russia’s Karen Khachanov before Carlos Alcaraz plays Stefanos Tsitsipas. Follow live scores and updates from the French Open quarter-finals below.
French Open 2023 – live
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Aryna Sabalenka strikes first in highly anticipated quarter-final against Elina Svitolina
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Karolina Muchova through to semi-finals after commanding win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
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French Open Day 10 order of play
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22-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic takes on Karen Khachanov in last eight
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US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz meets former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas
Elina Svitolina 4-6, 2-3 Aryna Sabalenka
13:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Belarusian is given two goes at securing back-to-back breaks, but makes a hash of consecutive returns to let Svitolina extricate herself from a bit of a predicament.
A third also goes awry but not the fourth, with Sabalenka beginning to find her power hitting range and really put her opponent consistently on the back foot. Three holds and a last four place will be hers.
Elina Svitolina 4-6, 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka
13:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A few signs of that frustration are evident in Sabalenka’s service game, particularly after a sloppy double fault at 40-30, but they don’t prove fatal. Back on serve.
Elina Svitolina 4-6, 2-1 Aryna Sabalenka
13:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That’s a missed chance for Aryna Sabalenka at 30-40, moving up into a forehand but skimming it too flat, crying in frustration after an unfriendly collision with the top of the net.
Here’s another chance, though, the down-the-line backhand setting up a mirrored forehand winner. Ah, another exasperated howl at the floor, Sabalenka over-aggressive and punching her attempted game-sealer long.
But there is the break back! A double fault from Svitolina, the second of the game, and Sabalenka this time takes her chance.
Elina Svitolina 4-6, 2-0 Aryna Sabalenka
13:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Hello! A break for Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian finds her returning flow, sitting back and crunching into a couple of Sabalenka serves. The crowd like that.
Elina Svitolina 4-6, 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka
12:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
What answers can Elina Svitolina find at the start of the second set? She can’t match her opponent with pure might, but I am a little surprised she hasn’t yet utilised the variety of her play more to try and force Sabalenka into more awkward positions.
Sabalenka fights back to deuce in the opening game of the set with winners 12 and 13 of the match; Svitolina has three, by comparison. The 14th earns her advantage as the Belarusian reacts well to a slice forehand, dispatching it up the line, but Svitolina beats her with a cross-court backhand to save it. Sabalenka gives an approving pat of her racquet face in recognition of a fine shot.
Svitolina clings on to hold to start the second.
Aryna Sabalenka secures opening set against Elina Svitolina
12:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A solid enough first set from Elina Svitolina but eventually Aryna Sabalenka’s power game told. 6-4, and the second seed takes the lead.
Elina Svitolina 4-5 Aryna Sabalenka
12:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Aryna Sabalenka breaks! The Australian Open winner sets herself for a short second serve and sends it back with a venomous swipe, kissing the clay a yard and a half from the baseline to Svitolina’s right.
She’ll serve for the set.
Elina Svitolina 4-4 Aryna Sabalenka
12:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Across on Court Simonne-Mathieu, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are cruising towards the first set of their doubles last eight encounter against Anna Bondar and Greetje Minnen, with the all-American pairing, last year’s runners-up, at 5-3.
Back to level pegging on Chatrier. The brass band are in, by the way, and their tooting is rather welcome with the stands still looking slightly empty.
Elina Svitolina 4-3 Aryna Sabalenka
12:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
All of the early heavy hitting has proved too much for Aryna Sabalenka’s string, the Belarusian nipping into her bag and retrieving an alternative instrument to continue providing those heavy baseline bass lines.
But Elina Svitolina has some power chords of her own, reacting to a punchy Sabalenka riposte to a slightly vulnerable serve by thumping an unreturnable blow to the Belarusian’s backhand. All on serve so far but both players kicking up a gear.
Elina Svitolina 3-2 Aryna Sabalenka
12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It still feels like we are in the feeling out process here, the pattern set with Svitolina meeting Sabalenka’s booming ground strokes with canny working of the angles. Neither player has yet chanced a drop shot.
That’ll please the Ukrainian, securing a third hold with a forceful serve that slightly wrong-foots Sabalenka, leaving her only able to block a backhand short of the net.
Elina Svitolina 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka
12:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Svitolina holds to love.
More signs of Sabalenka’s willingness to get up court towards the net and curtail rallies in her service game, the Belarusian cruising in to put away a hip-height volley on her backhand side. Svitolina lifts the crowd by fighting back to deuce, but the second seed has limited trouble in eventually putting the game to bed.
Elina Svitolina 1-1 Aryna Sabalenka
12:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Svitolina will have to duck and weave a bit this afternoon, standing dep to try and deal with the might of Sabalenka’s first serve. That’s intriguing, though, the Belarusian moving up eagerly on game point, but leaving herself exposed to a zippy backhand passing shot and unable to scoop a low volley over the net.
A hold nonetheless. One apiece.
Elina Svitolina 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka
12:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s a first sign of Aryna Sabalenka’s power, blasting a backhand to leave a beaten Svitolina lunging to her right having been caught out by the force and depth of an unlikely winner.
But, as you suspect will become a theme, Svitolina shows off her defensive acumen to survive a couple more haymakers and secure an opening hold.
Elina Svitolina 0-0 Aryna Sabalenka
12:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Philippe-Chatrier isn’t perhaps quite as full as one might have suspected for an encounter that promises so much. Elina Svitolina, with a fair bit of strapping on her right ankle, will serve first.
Next up…Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka
12:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Back to Philippe-Chatrier, and this should be tasty. Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, two players with proven grand slam credentials meeting in a brilliant clash of styles set against the geopolitical back canvas. This is Svitolina’s first grand slam quarter-finals since having her child last year – she was very good against Daria Kasatkina despite an off day on serve, and she’ll fancy her chances against the second seed, who hasn’t always found clay to her liking.
New mother Elina Svitolina hails ‘special’ French Open quarter-final spot
Men’s and women’s doubles semi-finalists confirmed
11:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The first matches of the day have also concluded on both Court Suzanne-Lenglen and Court Simonne-Mathieu, with a pair of straight sets victories giving us doubles semi-finalists in both the men’s and women’s draws.
On Suzanne-Lenglen, the Ellen Perez and Nicole Melichar-Martinez combination seems to be developing nicely, with the sixth seeds surviving their encounter with Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzková.
And it always looked a tough quarter-final for the top seeds – out go Britain’s Neal Skupski and his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof, beaten 6-3, 7-6 (4) by Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
Karolina Muchova reacts to quarter-final win
11:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
“I don’t know what to say. It’s been an incredible two weeks and I’m just glad I’m still in the competition.
“The first set was very important. I didn’t serve it out so I’m glad I was able to break her. It was a little bit windy and I played with the wind. I’m glad it happened that way.”
Karolina Muchova through to semi-finals after commanding win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
No grand celebration from Karolina Muchova, a warm salute to the swelling Philippe-Chatrier crowd and then back to her bench with a broad smile, knowing there may yet be more to come. Either Elina Svitolina or Aryna Sabalenka will be up next for the 26-year-old as she seeks a first ever grand slam singles final berth.
Karolina Muchova through to semi-finals after commanding win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A year after leaving the tournament in tears after injury, Karolina Muchova is a French Open semi-finalist for the first time. The match never quite enlivened as it might have after an engaging first set, but the Czech had the better of most of it, pouncing on errors of increasing regularity from a fatiguing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to advance to the last four. 7-5, 6-2.
Karolina Muchova 7-5, 5-2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’ll be interesting to see where Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova goes from here. She’s said she doesn’t fancy the grass court season, but the Russian clearly has plenty more to give in top level tennis after such a tough 2022, and while she’s not found her best touch today, she could well be a threat later in the season as she continues to build up her fitness and time on court.
A solid hold ensures that she makes Muchova serve out the match.
Karolina Muchova 7-5, 5-1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
All of the accuracy and energy has gone out of Pavlyuchenkova’s game, body wearied by the tournament and mind frazzling as she stares down a last eight exit. She tries her best to throw a couple of late punches, swinging a couple of big left backhand hooks, but there’s nothing doing. A hold to love for Muchova, and you’d say that’s match over.
Karolina Muchova 7-5, 4-1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Muchova just takes a moment to compose herself before her next serve after slicing a volleyed winner at the net rather haphazardly like a stifled office worker swatting at a buzzing fly. She does so appropriately, sealing the hold with too much undue bother.
And a game later it’s Pavlyuchenkova riled, shouting in frustration, half at herself and half at her support team in the stands after failing to get her shoulder through a simple enough baseline backhand. Karolina Muchova moves two games away from a semi-final place.
Andy Murray begins road to Wimbledon with opening win at Surbiton Trophy
11:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Andy Murray got his Wimbledon preparations up and running with a straight-sets win over Chung Hyeon in the opening round of the Surbiton Trophy.
Returning to grass for the first time since last year’s second-round defeat to John Isner at the All England Club, Murray encountered few problems as he saw off the challenge of the 27-year-old South Korean – who was playing just his third match since September 2020 due to a back injury.
Murray took the decision to skip the French Open in order to concentrate on his build-up to Wimbledon and the 36-year-old served impressively in his opening match of the grass-court season, which provided a solid base for a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win in 69 minutes.
Andy Murray begins road to Wimbledon with opening win at Surbiton Trophy
Karolina Muchova 7-5, 2-1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A gritty hold from Pavlyuchenkova to keep herself in the match, following another of those delicate backhand drop shots with a powerful ace up the centre.
Karolina Muchova 7-5, 1-0 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just as in set one, Karolina Muchova is first and fastest into her work, breaking immediately. She misjudges a decision to come in to the net with a slightly weak approach shot, but Pavlyuchenkova takes a club to many and lands her lob long.
Karolina Muchova 7-5 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle
While our focus will very much be on the singles last eight ties today, it’s a big day of doubles, too. Top seeds Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof aren’t off to the best of starts in the men’s doubles quarters, dropping the first set to Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers. It’s a mild surprise that the Spanish-speaking pair don’t already have at least one grand slam title together – they are two of the best respected doubles players in the game and things are looking good for another deep tournament run.
On serve in the second in that one on Court Simonne-Mathieu. On Suzanne-Lenglen, Ellen Perez and Nicole Melichar-Martinez are a set up on Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova, who you may remember benefitted from the controversial defaulting of Miyu Kato and her partner on Sunday.
Karolina Muchova takes first set of quarter-final against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And the first set is hers, taken superbly after an impeccable forehand up the line is followed by a skewed return from Anastastia Pavlyuchenkova. 7-5 – the Czech strikes first in our first singles quarter-final of Roland Garros 2023.
Karolina Muchova 6-5 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
11:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This ding-dong battle continues. Muchova is back ahead after a loose service game from the Russian is capped by an ugly double fault.
The Czech will have another chance to serve out the set.
Karolina Muchova 5-5 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This match is brewing and bubbling away rather nicely, with the two players reasonably evenly matched so far. Pavlyuchenkova breaks back – we’re going to extra games with 49 minutes played.
Karolina Muchova 5-4 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Muchova breaks again! The Czech will serve for the set as she shows her offensive game, moving forward to biff a cross-court backhand by her opponent and then celebrating with a low-key pump of the fist as a Pavlyuchenkova error seals the break.
Karolina Muchova 4-4 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Pavlyuchenkova holds and then gets to work on a second break, attacking a second serve at 0-15 but tugging her forehand a yard wide with an exasperated cry. There’s a clear emphasis from the Russian on getting after that second serve, but Muchova responds well, producing a stinging slice backhand that cuts beyond a charging Pavlyuchenkova to level things up once more.
Karolina Muchova 3-3 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
You feel like Pavlyuchenkova is going to have to attack slightly more to power her way into this match. Muchova’s first serve has been rock solid so far but the Russian is able to force her on the defensive with a trio of meaty returns, including a typically forceful backhand.
And there’s a break! A kick serve sits up invitingly for Pavlyuchenkova to bring the sledgehammer down and level the match with a backhand return winner.
Karolina Muchova 3-2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Muchova covers the court like a fitted sheet, pouncing on any slight error from her opponent and earning two more break points with a push up the line that Pavlyuchenkova can’t hook back into play.
The Russian saves both and then a serve, driving a forehand volley to draw a rare flap of a backhand out of Muchova.
A couple more chances to extend her first set lead pass the Czech by as the game stretches through a series of deuces. The seventh of them eventually brings the breakthrough fo Pavlyuchenko, falling back into her chair with a thud and a relieved exhale after a hard-fought hold.
Karolina Muchova 3-1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That will do Pavlyuchenkova some good, though, matching Muchova with a faultless hold with a deliciously deft backhand drop shot that leaves the Czech player stranded on the baseline.
But there are no signs of weakness from Muchova on serve. A sliding backhand volley and her margin is restored.
Karolina Muchova 2-0 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lovely variety from Karolina Muchova, holding to love in her first service game. She looks mighty comfortable as she acquaints herself with Philippe-Chatrier for the first time in match play.
Karolina Muchova 1-0 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A slightly sloppy start from the Russian, giving Muchova a second serve to attack and then limply conceding the first point with a groundstroke that sails a foot or two long. A punchier forehand also drifts too far.
Muchova is next to err but soon earns two break points with a crisp winner up the line after opening up room on her forehands side. A backhand into the net and the 26-year-old is up and amongst things with a relatively comfortable opening break.
Karolina Muchova 0-0 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A modest early crowd welcomes the two players to court with polite applause. Pavlyuchenkova will serve first, wiping hair away from beneath her visor, with Muchova crouched and ready to return.
Karolina Muchova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
10:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This is Karolina Muchova’s first time on Philippe-Chatrier – a big day for the Czech, who has been uber impressive so far this year, dropping only a single set on her way to the quarter finals. Can she use her varied strokeplay to challenge the Russian?
There is the possibility of a few showers sweeping through Paris later today but it is a pleasant morning at Roland-Garros, with the temperature beginning to climb up towards the twenties.
French Open quarter finals begin
10:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yes, we’ve reached quarter-final day one at Roland-Garros, with the focus more fully on Court Philippe-Chatrier for four intriguing last eight ties. The big two men’s favourites come later but the morning action sees the women take centre stage, with that potentially spicy match between Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka whetting the appetite.
But up first today is an equally fascinating encounter – Karolina Muchova is a French Open quarter-finalist for the first time but faces a tough test against a rejuvenated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with the 2021 runner-up back to her best after a long injury lay-off last year.
French Open order of play and schedule on Day 10 as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in action
09:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We’ve reached the quarter-final stage at the French Open, with the first semi-finalists set to be revealed on Tuesday at Roland Garros.
The dream semi-final of Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz is now just one victory away for each man but their quarter-final opponents won’t roll over without a fight. Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal’s all-time record by reaching his 17th French Open quarter-final but now faces talented 11th seed Karen Khachanov, while Alcaraz has looked like a champion in waiting with his performances so far but dangerous fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will likely give the Spaniard all he can handle in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Meanwhile, the women’s quarter-finals feature perhaps the most interesting and impactful match of the entire tournament. In the biggest sporting clash between a Ukrainian and a Belarusian since Russia – with the backing of Belarus –invaded Ukraine over a year ago, Elina Svitolina takes on Aryna Sabalenka.
French Open order of play – Tuesday 6 June
all times BST
Court Philippe Chatrier
From 10:00
Karolina Muchova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka
Novak Djokovic vs Karen Khachanov
Not before 19:15
Carlos Alcaraz vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
For the full order of play, click here
French Open order of play and schedule on Day 10 as Djokovic and Alcaraz in action
French Open
09:45 , Lawrence Ostlere
Follow live scores and updates from the French Open quarter-finals.