We now know the posters for the last four of the women’s draw at the Roland-Garros tournament. After Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and Czech Karolina Muchova, Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia and Polish Iga Swiatek emerged victorious from their respective quarter-finals on Wednesday June 7. In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev eliminated Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry and will face the winner of the duel between Holger Rune and Casper Ruud in the semi-finals.
- A year after his injury, Zverev back in the semi-finals
On June 3, 2022, Alexander Zverev’s cry of pain tore through Central as they faced Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. A year and a few days after his ankle injury, the German will be back on Center Court at the same level of competition.
27e World Cup qualified on Wednesday by eliminating Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (49e) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter-finals and will face Danish prodigy Holger Rune (6e) or last year’s finalist, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (4e), who clash in the evening.
- The beautiful story of Beatriz Haddad Maia
She created the surprise. Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, 14e world player, validated her place for the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, putting an end at the same time to the course of the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 7e world,Wimbledon and US Open finalist last year. The native of Sao Paulo won in three sets – 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 – on a Philippe-Chatrier court bathed in sunshine.
At 27, Haddad Maia is the first Brazilian to access this stage of the Parisian Grand Slam since the start of the Open era, she who had never managed to pass the second round of a Major until then. She signed the greatest feat of her career, hampered by four operations and a ten-month suspension for testing positive for anabolics in July 2019. Her lawyers had at the time succeeded in proving that it was an error of the pharmacy which provided him with food supplements.
“I am very proud of myself”blew the interested party, incredulous, after 2:29 a.m. of the match.
- Iga Swiatek, always in control
The poster looked like deja vu: that of the 2022 final. Like last year, Iga Swiatek dismissed Coco Gauff in two sets (6-4, 6-2). The Polish, defending champion and world No. 1, was more solid and consistent against an American full of desire and offensive, but who rushed and lacked lucidity in important moments.
“The quarter-finals are sometimes the most difficult matches. Even though she is young [19 ans], she already has experience. I’m happy to be in the semi-finals “Commented Iga Swiatek, on the court, after his victory. The 22-year-old player, who had to give up in the quarter-finals of the Rome tournament a week before the start of Roland-Garros (pain in the right thigh), seems to be resuming her cruising speed: no set lost in five games and only 5:39 am spent on the court.
She who has already won the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup twice (last year and in 2020) is now aiming for a third Porte d’Auteuil final. For that, he will have to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia. The Brazilian won their only previous confrontation (6-4, 3-6, 7-5), in Toronto (Canada), in August 2022.
