Key events
*De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes server) Medvedev takes a 40-15 lead after a very patient rally with 30 shots (!) after the Australian misses a forehand crosscourt. The crowd starts to get excited and the world No 5 takes the game after his opponent again misses a forehand, it going wide at the baseline.
De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-0 Medvedev* (*denotes server) Break! The Russian is back on the court but he hits two long serves and one long forehand to lose the first game.
De Minaur has dropped just three games since the second set.
De Minaur takes the third set 6-1 against Medvedev
Medvedev hands his opponent the set after a looping forehand that goes well out. The 11th seed is so calm and composed. He is surely thinking that he can win this now.
This is already his best result on the clay. His best result at a grand slam was at the US Open in 2020, where he made the quarter-finals. Will he match that today?
Before the fourth set, Medvedev leaves the court to compose himself and maybe get some more treatment.
De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 5-1 Medvedev* (*denotes server) Break! De Minaur’s forehand is so effective. He takes that game with ease, again. Medvedev’s team is urging him on but he is struggling to move on the court.
*De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 4-1 Medvedev (*denotes server) Wow! Massive forehand down the line from the Australian to go 15-0 up in the fifth game of the third set. That’s a nice weapon in his game that he has added to his game recently. He then hits a powerful volley to make it 30-15.
Medvedev isn’t down and out yet though. A nice forehand crosscourt from him is hit just wide by De Minaur and it is all of a sudden 30-30. But De Minaur is so comfortable on the baseline and he sees out the game.
De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 3-1 Medvedev* (*denotes server) Better from Medvedev. He looks as if he is in a lot of pain but he goes up 40-15 and De Minaur nets a backhand slice to get the Russian on the board.
*De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 3-0 Medvedev (*denotes server) Medvedev earns the first point of the first game after a nice forehand but he is still really struggling. He is constantly looking at his bench for advice and he goes 40-15 down rather quickly before De Minaur forces him into a few mistakes.
Hello all! Let’s get straight into this third set.
De Minaur takes the first game after he holds. In the second, Medvedev hits a drop shot to get on the board first but two winners on the return give the Australian a 30-15 lead. He then nets after a short rally to even it up again. A good chance for Medvedev to take advantage … and he nets an easy forehand. He can’t seem to move comfortably on the court and he falls short in the second game after a long forehand.
And that’s six games in the row for the 11th seed. Medvedev has not won a game since his medical time out.
De Minaur 4-6, 6-2, 2-0 Medvedev* (*denotes server)
Right I’m off for some lunch, so I’ll hand you over to Yara El-Shaboury for the next hour…
De Minaur wins the second set 6-2
“Let’s go Alex, let’s go, let’s go Alex, let’s go,” sing the Aussie supporters on Suzanne Lenglen. It works as De Minaur takes the first point of the game. But Medvedev comes back at him for 40-30. De Minaur forces deuce, and then slices and dices his way to set point when Medvedev doesn’t get the drop shot back into play. The Russian really should have done better. Medvedev then throws in another wayward forehand and that’s the set. They’re all square.
De Minaur 4-6, 5-2 Medvedev*
But no sooner has De Minaur broken than he is in danger of being broken back. 15-40. He saves both break points – the second with a lovely touch at the net – and it’s deuce. De Minaur pounces on a short ball for advantage. And then the longest rally of match plays out, 28 shots, with neither willing to pull the trigger. Eventually De Minaur nets. Deuce. Advantage De Minaur. Game De Minaur, when Medvedev’s shot clips the tape and bounces back on to his side of the court. De Minaur backs up the break.
De Minaur* 4-6, 4-2 Medvedev
Play restarts, but Medvedev is slow to find his (blistered) feet: 0-30. De Minaur has two chances to claim his first break when that becomes 15-40. Medvedev sends De Minaur here, there and everywhere, De Minaur gets to the drop shot, but Medvedev is able to whack away the winner. 30-40. But De Minaur, after all his pushing and probing in this match, finally gets his reward when Medvedev – perhaps trying to shorten the points because of his blister – makes the error. Game on!
De Minaur 4-6, 3-2 Medvedev*
The lobs and drop shots keep on coming as De Minaur holds. Then Medvedev takes off his shoes at the changeover and calls for the trainer. It looks like he’s got a blister. The umpire announces there’ll be a medical timeout. Probably a good chance for both players – and the spectators – to catch their breath.
De Minaur* 4-6, 2-2 Medvedev
Medvedev has absolutely no right to win the first point on his serve at 1-2 in the second set, but somehow pulls off a lob which De Minaur decides to leave – before turning round to see it land in. De Minaur gets in on the lobbing act with an improvised effort for 30-all. This is a real game of cat and mouse – so fun to watch. And tiring. The pair slug it out in a 16-shot rally and De Minaur brings up break point. He hasn’t broken yet. And he can’t again, as his backhand hits the tape. Medvedev goes on to hold – despite another eye-catching lob from De Minaur.
Speaking of Djokovic, his match against Francisco Cerundolo is the next one due on Philippe Chatrier, but that won’t begin until 4pm Paris time/3pm BST. At least the organisers have done him a small favour with the delayed start after his late-night ordeal in the third round:
De Minaur, by the way, is the first Australian to reach the men’s singles last 16 at the French Open since 2007. As for Medvedev, he’s got an erratic record at Roland Garros, with five first-round exits to his name but also a quarter-final appearance in 2021. In the past he was keen to downplay his chances on clay but seems to be finding his groove on the red dirt. He’s lost in the past two grand slam finals – to Djokovic at the US Open and then to Sinner at the Australian Open – but it would take the performance of his career to reach the final at his least favourite slam.
Medvedev wins the first set 6-4
De Minaur is serving to stay in the first set on Suzanne Lenglen at 5-3 down. The Australian holds. Several attritional rallies play out in the next game, and at 30-all De Minaur pulls off a forehand winner out of nowhere after another draining duel. 30-40, break point. De Minaur’s returns zips long. Deuce. Advantage Medvedev with an ace, set point. And De Minaur disappointingly dumps into the net and that’s the set after 51 minutes.
Aryna Sabalenka avenges her Indian Wells defeat to Emma Navarro with a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Her seventh consecutive major quarterfinal (and she’s gone on to reach SFs or better every time).
All four reigning major champions are in the last eight at Roland Garros.
📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/3zKnEnjW7q
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 3, 2024
That was quite some statement of intent from Sabalenka, who, along with Rybakina and Iga Swiatek, is looking in great touch. Gone are the days of the men’s Big Three – but there’s a Big Three developing in the women’s game, with Coco Gauff not far behind them.
Varvara Gracheva and Mirra Andreeva will play for the last quarter-final spot later – here’s how the women’s draw is looking:
Swiatek (1) v Vondrousova (5)
Gauff (3) v Jabeur (8)
Paolini v Rybakina (4)
Gracheva or Andreeva v Sabalenka (2)
All smiles from Sabalenka, who says:
I was ready to fight for every point, I was ready for long rallies. I was super happy with the level I played today. Definitely with the sun you feel more positive, it’s been tough with the rain, but now the roof is open with beautiful conditions. It was a little windy, but I was myself and tried to do my best.
Sabalenka beats Navarro 6-2, 6-3!
Another hold from Sabalenka for 6-2, 5-3 leaves Navarro serving to stay in the match. The American does, at least, have new balls to help her, though. A deep strike from Navarro on the first point has Sabalenka off balance and the Belarusian nets. But a 20th winner flies off Sabalenka’s racket and it’s 15-all. Then 15-30. A gutsy ace out wide makes it 30-all. But Sabalenka brings up match point with a well-disguised sliced volley. Sabalenka settles matters – somewhat appropriately – with a brutal forehand winner.
De Minaur 1-2 Medvedev*
16 minutes, just three games played on Suzanne Lenglen. Perhaps Medvedev and De Minaur will still be playing come 3.07am tomorrow morning. The Russian does have the early break though.
Navarro 2-6, 3-4 Sabalenka*
Meanwhile a hold apiece from Navarro and Sabalenka – you have to give Navarro credit for not waving the white flag against this barrage from the world No2. But there is such a difference in power, and some brutal strikes get Sabalenka to 15-40, two break points. Again Navarro shows her grit to fend both of them off, before holding. She survives another service game but is having to work so, so hard.
The opening game of De Minaur v Medvedev may be a sign of things to come. It’s already been going for six minutes. De Minaur eventually prevails to hold.
Ah, those were the days.
*Navarro 2-6, 1-3 Sabalenka
No let-up from Sabalenka on Philippe Chatrier, where she breaks in game three of the second set and then sprints to 40-0 on serve. There’s a winner at the net … a backhand winner … and almost a forehand one, but it loops long. Navarro nabs the next two points for 30-40 and then hits an audacious drop shot on the the return and it’s deuce! Sabalenka restores order with the next two points – finishing with a flashing ace out wide.
Alex De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev are out on Suzanne Lenglen. This could be quite some battle. But given I predicted the same for Rybakina v Svitolina let’s see.
Sabalenka wins the first set 6-2
“Let’s go Emma, let’s go” rings around Philippe Chatrier as Navarro finally gets her name on the scoreboard. But it must feel like one step forward, 10 steps back for the American as Sabalenka then pulls three successive aces out of her pack to hold for 5-1. Navarro scrapes through for 5-2, but Sabalenka, showing the authority of a potential French Open champion, holds with ease to take the first set.