Day 9 saw the completion of round 4 and we now know all the quarter-final match ups.

Day 9 started off with 2 ladies matches. 7th seed, Jabeur, was up against unseeded American Pera in her 4th round match. The Tunisian managing to find some of her best tennis once again on her way to this 4th round encounter. Jabeur continued that form as she dropped just 4 games as she booked her spot in another grand slam quarter-final. Her opponent was going to be the winner of Sorribes Tormo who got that lucky walkover over Rybakina and 14th seed, Haddad Maia who had battled through some tough matches to reach this 4th round match. Sorribes Tormo was the player who got the better start as she took the tight first set in a tiebreak. The Spaniard then went 3-0 and a double break up in the 2nd set and looked to be on her way to the quarter-finals. However the 14th seed, fought back impressively as she rattled off the next 6 games to take the 2nd set 6-3 and take the match into a deciding set. Haddad Maia was then the player who took control of the 3rd set as she went up 4-2 and then 5-3. Sorribes Tormo then had to battle hard to survive in the match as Haddad Maia tried to break to win the match but somehow it was Sorribes Tormo who managed to get through her service game and force Haddad Maia to serve the match out at 5-4. The Brazilian crumbled under the pressure and all of a sudden it was 5-5. Sadly for Sorribes Tormo, she could not continue with her momentum as she was broken at 5-5 and Haddad Maia had a 2nd chance to serve out the match. This time the Brazilian did it and Haddad Maia was into a quarter-final at a grand slam. She is the first Brazilian lady to reach a grand slam quarter-final since 1968. An incredible achievement for Haddad Maia.

The first 2 men’s matches of the day was Ruud against Jarry and Rune vs Cerundolo. The 4th seed, Ruud, who was last years finalist was trying to make the quarter-finals for the 2nd time in a row and it was Jarry in his way. The Chilean was coming off a title before Roland Garros so this was always going to be tight encounter and it certainly was a tight encounter. Ruud managed to get through in straight sets but there were times in the match when Jarry did have the break up in the sets. The end score was eventually 7-6(3); 7-5; 7-5. The match of the day on paper and in reality was 6th seed, Rune, against 23rd seed, Cerundolo. Rune was the player who managed to get the early lead in the match after taking the opening set in a tiebreak. Cerundolo however has been playing some incredible tennis of late and managed to hit straight back as he took the 2nd set 6-3. The 3rd set is always an important set when it is level at 1 set a piece. Rune was the player who managed to get the first break of the 3rd set as he broke in the 4th game to lead 3-1. He managed to back up the break and he looked good at 4-1 up in the set. However Cerundolo managed to break back in the 7th game to make the score 4-3 and then held to make it 3 games in a row and we were level again at 4-4. The 9th game was pivotal in the outcome of the set as Rune fended off a break point before holding serve. He then went on to break Cerundolo comfortably to take the 3rd set 6-4. The end of the 3rd set felt like the match was turning in Rune’s direction however it was not the case. Cerundolo broke in the first game of the 4th set and then from then on raced away as he dropped just the 1 game on his way to taking the 4th set 6-1. Both players then held their first 4 service games of the deciding set. The 9th game was a big game again and it was Rune who managed to break to lead 5-4 and he had a chance to serve out the set and the match. Cerundolo had other ideas as he broke back to make it 5-5. Both players then held to take us to a super-tiebreak to decide the match. At the first change of ends there was nothing separating the 2 players at 3-3 and at the 2nd change of ends there was still nothing separating them at 6-6. Cerundolo then took the next point to lead the tiebreak 7-6. Sadly however for the Argentine he made 4 unforced errors in a row to lose the match. Rune was through to the quarter-finals where he will face Ruud for a spot in the semi-finals.

Back to the ladies draw and it was 6th seed, Gauff against unseeded Schmiedlova for a spot in the quarter-finals. Gauff would have been pleased as she did not drop a set in this match as she took it 7-5; 6-2. Her opponent in the quarter-finals is number 1 in the world Swiatek who won her match after Tsurenko had to retire due to breathing problems.

Nishioka the 27th seed was up against unseeded Argentine, Etcheverry. Both players heading into the match would certainly have fancied themselves as they were both vying for a spot in the quarter-finals. The first set was incredibly tight as it went into a tiebreak. The tiebreak had everything and both players had their chances to take the set. The unseeded Argentine was the player to get through the set 10-8 in the tiebreak. After that he really managed to settle into a nice rhythm as he dropped just 1 game in the next 2 sets to book his spot in the quarter-finals.
His opponent was the winner of Zverev against Dimitrov which was the night session on day 9. Dimitrov started off really poorly and it was Zverev who took the opening set 6-1. Dimitrov then found a bit of his best tennis as he broke Zverev and led 4-2 in the 2nd set. The 7th game turned out to be huge as Dimitrov found himself with another break point which he was unable to take and it was Zverev who then rattled off 4 games in a row to take the 2nd set 6-4. The German then took the 3rd set 6-3 and a year on from his terrible injury, he is back into a Roland Garros quarter-final.

Picks who lost on Day 9:
Men: Dimitrov, Nishioka and Cerundolo
Ladies: Pera

Onto the fantasy leaderboard:
‘Royal Roland’ extend their lead up front to 11 points. ‘Hawk Eye’ continue to chip away at the leaderboard as they now move up into 2nd place. Tied with ‘Hawk Eye’ is ‘Rolanding on a River’ who moved up 3 places on day 9. ‘Nandos’ moved down into 4th while ‘Volley Vibes’ moved up a place into 5th. The fight for the last prize position is intense as 4 teams are tied in 6th, ‘Pat’s Pick’, ‘Drop Shots’, ‘Serves you Right’ and ‘You’ve Met Your Match.’
We have a new leader in the wooden spoon race as ‘Slider 2’ moves down into last place. ‘Serve with Eish’ still only just ahead by 4 points.

Matches to Watch Day 10:

• Svitolina and Sabalenka(2) (live)
• Djokovic(3) vs Khachanov(11) (14:50)
• Alcaraz(1) vs Tsitsipas(5) (20:15)

Jared

Jared matriculated in 2020 from Wynberg Boys High School in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for tennis afforded him the opportunity of travelling to Europe. He is a quizmaster and a fantasy organiser.