French Open semi-finals filled with unknowns

The line-up for the last four at the French Open contains a quartet of players in their first grand-slam singles semi-final — only the second time this has happened in the Open era.

Greece’s Maria Sakkari celebrates victory over Iga Swiatek of Poland at the French Open at Roland Garros. Picture: Getty Images

The unpredictability of this French Open women’s singles draw reached new heights with the shock exit of the defending champion, Iga Swiatek. In her absence, the line-up for the last four contains a quartet of players in their first grand-slam singles semi-final — only the second time this has happened in the Open era.

Not since the 1978 Australian Open has a major tournament proved so erratic in its results, and that was an event affected by the reluctance of star players to make the long trip down under. The Australian trio of Chris O’Neil, Dianne Evers and Christine Matison, and the American Betsy Nagelsen, made up the final four that year.

This time the unlikely quartet at Roland Garros is Maria Sakkari (ranked world No.18), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (No.32), Barbora Krejcikova (No.33) and Tamara Zidansek (No 85). These are unheralded names that are not known to the wider public but are more than deserving of their respective spots in the semi-finals after taking full advantage of a wide- open draw that had lost the world’s top three — Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep because of injury, and Naomi Osaka because of mental health concerns — before the end of the first week.

No doubt that the challenges of living in a biosecure bubble from week to week has helped to breed further volatility on a tour that was already renowned for its fluctuations in recent years but all four semi-finalists had at various points this year shown glimpses of improvements in their respective games. They have gone somewhat under the radar, though, because of the temporary two-year ranking system which means good results do not have the same impact as previously in pushing a player up the list.

“I think all of us have been playing really good this year,” Sakkari, the 25-year-old from Greece, said. “It’s a little bit unfortunate the way the rankings still work, that there are some tournaments saved (from two years ago). You cannot see what the real ranking is, so that’s why it’s a surprise for everyone.

“I am the highest-ranked player but the rest of the girls are playing extremely well. I think the draw has changed so much, it doesn’t really matter who is the highest ranked in this tournament. We’re four very good players.”

Sakkari was ruthless in the way in which she exposed Swiatek’s physical struggles yesterday (Wednesday). It quickly became evident that the 20-year-old Pole was not at full fitness and, after her streak of 22 consecutive sets won at Roland Garros came to an end, she took a medical timeout early in the second set to receive strapping on her right thigh. It made no difference, though, as Sakkari cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“I think the past couple of weeks hit me yesterday,” Swiatek said. “I couldn’t do the physical recovery well because I was stressed. Days like that happen, and it’s normal. I couldn’t even sleep well yesterday. I slept for a few hours. I think I was feeling everything twice as much as I should. It was hard to rationally just see what’s going on.”

Sakkari is the favourite in tonight’s second semi-final against Krejcikova — not that such status counts for much this fortnight. The 25-year-old Czech overcame the yips on her service toss to defeat Coco Gauff, of the US, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 in a nervy encounter. Understand-ably this significant achievement was followed by thoughts of Jana Novotna, the former Wimbledon champion who mentored Krejcikova for three years before she died of cancer at the age of 49 in 2017.

“I always think about her,” Krejcikova said. “I’m always wondering what she would tell me after such a run. I’m just really sad I cannot actually hear her.

“I get a lot of support from her family and from her friends, everybody that was around her. Because I know they knew her really well, I think they can give me the words that she would say, so it’s really helpful.

“I feel like she always knew that I can play at this high level but it’s just sad that it didn’t happen earlier.”

As talented as Gauff is for a 17-year-old, her inexperience did show in a first grand-slam quarter-final. She failed to convert five set points in the first set and then allowed the match to quickly get away from her. At 4-0 down in the second set she was given a warning for smashing her racket on the clay.

“I’m obviously disappointed that I wasn’t able to close out the first set,” Gauff said. “To be honest, it’s in the past, it already happened.

“After the match, my hitting partner told me this match will probably make me a champion in the future. I really do believe that.”

Gauff’s efforts in Paris will certainly add to the hype as she prepares for a first return to Wimbledon since her breakthrough run to the round of 16 two years ago. Her prospects of going further this time have been boosted by a probable seeding inside the top 24 at the All England Club.

“I’m excited to go back, for sure,” Gauff said. “I think my most memorable thing I remember from Wimbledon is just the crowd experience. That was one of my first matches on a big stadium like that, playing against really great people like Venus Williams. It was the start of my career and making it on the pro tour.”

The Times