French Open 2023: Zverev v Etcheverry; Swiatek and Haddad Maia into semis – live | French Open 2023

A fine backhand return gives Zverev 0-15 but Etcheverry holds easily enough for 2-1 and we cut to footage of Gauff saying she tried to change things for her most recent defeat to Swiatek – she’s now 0-7 in the matchup – but she lost again so it didn’t work.

Meantime, Zverev holds for 1-1, and the more I think about it the less I feel he’s a chance if he makes the final.

“A bit like Man City vs Real Madrid recently,” begins Max Williams, “Friday’s Djokovic – Alcarez semi feels like a final in all but name. Which player on the other side of the draw do you reckon has the best chance of the upset? And does the answer change depending on Sunday’s opponent?”

I guess the women’s competition is similar, it’s just Sabalenka, the only player who might beat Swiatek now Rybakina has pulled out, is on the opposite side of the draw. I can’t see Ruud or Etcheverry giving either Djokovic or Alcaraz a problem, so I guess I’m going for Rune on a good day as he has power like Zverev but no scarring. Really, though, I agree that the semi is basically the final.

Etcheverry returns from his break and when Zverev makes 30-15 with an adroit pick-up, he’ll have been wondering. But he gets lucky with a missed forehand, then clouts one of his own to lead 1-0 in the fourth.

A dominating hold including a fine volley, an ace and an overhead seals the set. Etcheverry nips off to the bogs and he has a lot of thinking to do.

Etcheverry hangs on, forcing Zverev to serve for set three at 5-3.

…two saved, then Zverev steps out of court to try a backhand down the line … that scuds just long.

We were talking JP McEnroe earlier, which reminded me of a question he was once asked by Bill Simmonds: “Its 1979, Saturday night, 2am in Studio 54, downtown Manhattan. Bjorn and Vitas are both eyeing the same girl. Who is taking her home?”

“Vitas was an astonishingly good looking man and one of the most charismatic guys I’ve known. But let me tell you with absolute certainty, if all four Beatles in their prime, Elvis Presley, Brad Pitt, Casanova himself and Jesus Christ were all interested in a girl at the same time as Bjorn, that girl is leaving with Bjorn Borg.”

Meantime, Zverev races to 0-40 and three set points…

Make that five, Zverev holding to 30 when Etcheverry nets, and at 5-2 in set three, he needs one more game for a 2-1 lead.

Excellent from Zverev, a combination of power – a huge forehand – and touch – a delicate drop – giving him 15-40. Etcheverry does then save the first break point with a backhand cross-court which breaks the sideline, but when the next return drops onto the baseline, he can’t adjust quickly enough to keep the ball in play. Four in a row for Zverev, who looks very strong now. Zverev 6-4 3-6 4-2 Etcheverry

Zverev hollers as he secures the hold that gives him 3-2 and it looks like momentum might’ve shifted. He’s still not playing that well, but provided he serves properly he should have enough to sort this.

At 30-all, Zverev chases down a drop and is there for the passing, but Etcheverry opts for a top-spin lob over a tall man, down wind, and the ball sails wide; can he hold onto his break? Er, no, Zverev sends him to the corner then steps in and crunches a forehand cross-court that levels the set at 2-2.

Normal service is resumed, but at what cost? Zverev holds easily and he’s on the board in set three but a break down at 6-4 3-6 1-2.

Zverev smites a backhand down the line for 15-30, but Etcheverry his hitting it true now, almost waiting for the ball to bounce then, as it sits up, unleashing, and a succession of murderous forehands earn him a point for his consolidation. But after another long point, his efforts repelled, he loses patience, puff or both, trying a dreadful drop that pitches a yard before the next and means deuce. No matter: on advantage, he tries another drop – but only after a punishing forehand down the line – and this time, from further inside the baseline, it’s perfect. Etcheverry leads 2-0 in the third!

Oh yeah? Etcheverry is starting to win some of the longer rallies now, one such giving him 0-30, and when Zverev needlessly swipes a rushed backhand into the next he’s three points for a third game on the spin … and he only needs one, a backhand slapped down the line but wide the fourth unforced error in a row! What is going on?! Zverev 6-4 3-6 0-1 Etcheverry

He steps into court to discharge a booming forehand, Zverev’s backhand sails out, and do we got ourselves a ball-game?

Gosh, 40-0 in front, Ethcheverry burns a set point then sends down a double. Here comes the third of three…

Now then. Down 0-15, Zverev doubles, then finds a big first serve down the middle. But he can’t land his first delivery at 15-30 so Etcheverry sends a get zoning just over the net, too low to facilitate a telling drop meaning he’s stood there in no man’s land waiting to be passed, and the Argentinian does not disappoint, lashing the ball past him to raise two more break points. And he only needs one, Zverev totally botching an overhead he could’ve let bounce before patting into the open space of his choice, and after struggling to make any impression on the serve throughout the first set, Etcheverry has now done so twice in a row and will shortly serve for the second. Zverev 6-4 3-5 Etcheverry

At 30-all, a service-winner out wide carries Etchebverry to within a point of consolidation, but a double means he’s to pass through deuce for it. In comms, they reckon he’s spraying his toss a little and the crucial one here was too far in front of him; can Zverev punish? Perhaps! He dominates the next rally from the weak serve that starts it, a crushing backhand down the line earning break-back point, then does likewise on advantage, forcing the error after hammering away from the back. He leads 6-4 3-4.

…and he takes it, skidding in to flip a poor, high-bouncing drop into the corner! That did not look like it was coming and yet here it is! Zverev 6-4 2-4 Etcheverry

Etcheverry watches then wallops Zverev’s defensive lob for 0-15, making 30-all courtesy of a double; can he attack the second serve? Yes he can, and when he runs around his backhand to clout a fore down the line, he has break point…

He cannot, Zverev holding then missing a backhand by a touch when up 0-15 next game. You can feel him probing for weakness but Etcheverry stays solid, a lovely one-two punch of wide serve and forehand clean-up making 40-15, a long return giving him 4-6 3-2.

At 30-all, Etcheverry slices a necessary ace out wide, rushes through another quick point, and he leads 2-1 in set two. Can he, though, find a way to break?

Hello again and thanks Tom – this match is proceeding as expected, Zverev just that bit too strong. Etcheverry does have a route to victory – he needs to attack the weaknesses of forehand and second serve – but saying it and doing it are not similar. Anyhow, Zverev holds for 6-4 1-1.

Zverev* 6-4, 0-1 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). A forensic forehand down the line gives Zverev an ominously good start to Etcheverry’s service game. But the German is still prone to the odd error, overhitting badly as Etcheverry rallies to lead 40-15 and then hold with some dominant serving.

And with that, a well nourished Daniel is back to guide you through the rest of the afternoon. Bye.

Zverev 6-4 Etcheverry* (*denotes next server). A string of net-cord lets on his second serve betray a hint of nerves from Zverev, as does a limp backhand into the net for 15-15. An advancing whipped forehand winner quells the nerves but Etcheverry settles a long rally with a beautiful drop shot for 30-30. Forceful serve-volleying, however, takes Zverev to set point. He doesn’t squander these, and controls another fine rally until Etcheverry’s desperate attempted lob drops too long. The German leads by a set and has the upper hand.

Zverev* 5-4 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). Etcheverry’s second best at the moment but not unfazed or out of his depth and he holds to love with haste to keep this first set going.

Zverev will now serve for the set.

Zverev 5-3 Etcheverry* (*denotes next server). Etcheverry responds to the break impressively, returning confidently to go 0-30 but – agh! – he nets sloppily following a long rally that he’d done well to stay in. He then grabs his first break points of the game after another gruelling rally is settled by a fine drop shot that Zverev nets. Zverev saves both though, the first in a rally reminiscent of the Fast Show’s Long Big Punch-up sketch and the second by dominantly pointing Etcheverry round the court. Then Etcheverry is so close to a brilliant backhand back-of-court winner only for the ball to just drop long. And Zverev goes on to hold, but that was a high-class game. There have been 20 rallies of more than nine shots, we’re told, and Zverev has won 15 of them. His kind of match, and surface.

Zverev* 4-3 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). Our first break of serve: a forceful whipped crosscourt forehand from Zverev followed by masterful control of a long rally take him to 0-30, and he has two break points when Etcheverry’s backhand goes long. This time it’s taken, after Etcheverry pushes a forehand slightly wide. Zverev has the break, and it had been coming.

Zverev 3-3 Etcheverry* (*denotes next server). The challenge for Etcheverry here is to get some sort of inroads into Zverev’s serve – he’s competing but not finding the killer instinct and the No 22 seed holds to love courtesy of dominant first-serving laced with a deft backhand volley at the net.

Zverev* 2-3 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). Etcheverry is almost matching Zverev’s power-hitting and certainly doesn’t look like a player in his first slam quarter-final but a couple of slightly misjudged shots – a drop and a backhand pass respectively – peg him back to 30-30 and another mistake gives Zverev a break point, which is saved when the German’s wayward backhand slice drifts out. Confident serve-volleying followed by a delicious backhand dropshot then secure a fine hold.

Zverev 2-2 Etcheverry* (*denotes next server). Zverev romps to 40-0 through a string of rallies that Etcheverry stays in, and is rewarded with a fine forehand winner for 40-15 but the German is not detained for long. Another quick hold, and we’re still on serve.

Zverev* 1-2 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). Etcheverry opens his body and lashes an excellent forehand winner to the corner to get his service game under way but Zverev’s aggression lands the following point. Etcheverry introduces some variety with a nerveless drop shot to go 40-15 up but is pushed around the court adeptly by Zverev for 40-30, but the Argentinian holds. His service game appears in decent nick.

Zverev 1-1 Etcheverry* (*denotes next server). Zverev double-faults first off but responds strongly with that booming first serve to go 40-15, and an ace looks to have completed a swift and comfortable hold before it is called a fault, which Zverev is most peeved about, losing the subsequent point before more emphatic serving levels it at 1-1.

Zverev* 0-1 Etcheverry (*denotes next server). The Argentinian gets us going and fractionally overhits a double-handed forehand after a meaty confident rally to give Zverev the first point of the match. A strong smash at the net settles Etchverry’s nerves a touch. But he’s just a touch too wayward in this game and coughs up a first break point at 30-40, which he saves. Two more deuces ensue before a fine low forehand passing shot breaches Zverev’s defences and seals a good, demanding hold. Some fierce baseline rallies in this game, which may signpost the sort of match we’ve got ahead of us.

Thanks Daniel. They’re knocking up now and we’ll be under way very shortly.

Anyhow, I’m off now for a spot of scran; here’s Tom Davies to coax you through the next hour.

Don’t forget that Zverev properly knackered himself playing in last year’s semis against Nadal – it’s taken him a year to get back to here, and he’s still not quite where he was. But he’s got the power to trouble anyone, and will fancy himself against whichever of Rune and Ruud wins the last quarter.

And here come our players…

So what of our next match? Well both men have colossal power, so I’d expect a lot of baseline thrashing – and make no mistake, Etcheverry has a chance. Prior to this year, he’d never won a match in a major, but at 23 he’s young, as he told Eurosport he was “born on clay”, and really believes he can do this. To get here, he’s beaten good players without dropping a set – problem being none of them are as good as Zverev.

Chrissy reckons Gauff isn’t yet capable of focusing for a whole match, and that sounds fair to me – Swiatek showed almost zero fallibility, and in a tight game, dropping here and there, as Gauff did is a problem.

Coming up next: Alexander Zverev [22] v Tomás Martín Etcheverry.

Swiatek says it wasn’t easy and the first set was tight – sometimes quarters are the hardest matches – and Gauff, though she’s still young at 19, is also experienced. Asked about the wind, she says they’re not exact and you never hit them perfectly, you just have to him them on instinct. Gauff, she notes, is tall so has a wingspan that means she can get back plenty, but she knew she could be in position to play the next shot. She’s quite happy today was a tighter match as she’s not spent long on court so far, doesn’t have a problem with coming back to play again tomorrow, and of course is then incited to praise the crowd – though there remains many empty seats.

Iga Swiatek is just a total beast. She served well today – I’m sure it’s got quicker this last year – won the big points, and turned it up when she needed to. Gauff will be disappointed because she had chances and has improved a lot, but until she resolves her forehand issue won’t be able to win a major while the champ, who’s still to drop a set in the coumpetition, faces Haddad Maia in the last four.

Gauff knows, I think, and Swiatek gets 0-15 with a forehand then 0-30 with a back, cross-court. Ultimately, she’s got just a bit too much, better in almost every department including mentality – she’s been very solid on the biggest points – and a double at 15-30 gives the champ and world no1 a chance to seal her semi-spot here and now….

Gauff plants her feet and leaps into a fantastic inside-out forehand which clips the sideline. Switek, though, hammers away off both flanks until she finds scope for a finishing forehand – she seems to anticipate her opponent’s shots better than anyone else – and when her opponent goes long, she rubs it in with an ace, then Gauff nets and suddenly this match is almost over. Swiatek 6-4 5-2 Gauff

Down 15-40, Gauff can’t decide whether to leap for a lob or run in behind it, the indecision enough to mean she can’t do either. So Swiatek breaks, and is now two games from victory; she’s ceded chances today, though, so this isn’t over yet – just five to.

A straightforward hold apiece, so Swiatek leads Gauff 6-4 3-2 and it looks like I thought our first match did, the better player doing just enough to get in front and stay there. Gauff, though, is playing well; her problem is that Swiatek is better than Jabeur, especially on the dirt.

I should’ve noted earlier by the way, today is Pride Day at Roland-Garros. Visibility and representation matter, people.

…but nope, Gauff can’t take either, messing the second with a poor return to a gimme second serve; deuce. Next point, the players convene at the net again and this time, perhaps remembering that lob, Gauff slams the ball directly at her opponent; lovely stuff. Again, though, she can’t convert – Swiatek is winning almost all the big points – and shonuff she hangs on for 6-4 2-1.

Gauff holds then gets to 0-30 on the Swiatek serve ,whereupon a fine forehand return takes control of the next point and a drop looks to have won it … except with both players at the net and the whole court available, she somehow overhits her lob. No matter, she then digs out a forehand from the corner and Swiatek nets, so here come two break points…

Gauff looks serious during change of ends, either furious, stealing herself for what’s to come, or both. And at 0-15 she comes in to level the game – perhaps a change of tactics – problem being her tendency to hit forehands off her back foot then costs her as Swiatek punishes one of her own for 40-15 before closing out to 30. Three games in a row now for the champ who leads 6-4 1-0.

Gauff will be devod at that, one careless volley and two poor forehands allowing a brutal forehand from Swiatek that cements her lead.