Righto, that’s it from us for today. Thanks all for your company, and see you again tomorrow for the top half of the fourth round, but until then, peace out.

We’re now at 3-3 on Lenglen, Andreeva – Teichmann a really decent contest so far. I don’t think the Swiss quite has the game to win, but I thought that of her Muchova matchup, and here we are.

Zverev admits that De Jong started well, saying it was difficult to begin with, but once he found his rhythm he felt very comfortable, which is the most important thing for him: he feels that his game is there, and it’s about showing it on the match courts.

He prefers the weather when it’s hotter – his ball is a lot faster through the air and his opponent struggles more, plus he spends a lot of time in Florida, so is used to the heat. But Paris is like Germany, things can change quickly, and he has to make the best of it.

Told he’s going to play Jodar, he makes a face then wishes him congratulations, saying his next opponent is incredibly talented, saying he’s come from outside the top 100 to near the top 20 in two months. It’s a big challenge, but he has to trust himself and he’ll be ready for it.

He loves to play on Chatrier and in front of the energetic, passionate French crowd. He really enjoys being there, and hope he feels the same way after his next match.

Next for Zverev comes Jodar; that’s going to be a lot of fun.

Teichmann breaks Andreeva back for 2-2, but is again taken to deuce on serve; Zverev rushes to 40-15, and two match points.

Zverev’s trying to get this match finished now, an overhead making 2-0 4-1 0-15, and though a backhand into the net follows, at 15-40, he carts a forehand return cross-court for a winner and 5-1. He’ll shortly serve for the match, and this has been a very competent performance.

I promised more hott Jodar chat, so, though I admire his confidence and power, I don’t think he’s quite ready for Zverev, even if I think his backhand down the line might test a forehand renowned for being streaky. I also think he needs to do some work on his net-game, but that’s only to be expected, and I’m excited to see how the match goes.

Andreeva, though, soon raises another break point, Teichmann slaps a forehand long, and the 19-year-old has a the breakthrough at 2-1.

This is what Teichmann had to say about her break after beating Muchova:

I love tennis and enjoy playing a lot, but I felt I was heading down a path that was no longer healthy for me.”

“My entire team agreed with the decision. We felt that if I wanted to keep playing for many more years, I needed to stop, go back to the beginning, and rebuild everything from the ground up. That’s exactly what I did starting in January. We practically started from scratch, working very hard and taking the necessary time to do it right.

It was a complete break. I didn’t touch a racket. At first, it wasn’t easy because that voice always appears telling you that you’re still in the top 100 and maybe you shouldn’t stop. There were many moments of doubt and contradiction.”

But when I truly listened to what I felt inside me, I understood it was exactly what I needed. I traveled a lot, spent time with my family in Switzerland, went skiing, surfing, visited a childhood friend in Berlin, and also traveled to Argentina because nearly all my team is Argentine. There, I took the opportunity to have a small pre-season during the Southern Hemisphere summer. The most important thing was being back with my family, friends, and recharging my batteries.

I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m a very emotional player and I love competing in big stadiums, feeling the energy of the crowd, and experiencing these kinds of moments.

That’s part of who I am. That’s why I play tennis, to be in such environments and play important matches. Also, I’m in Paris, a very accessible city for my friends and many people from Switzerland, so I’m feeling a lot of support these days.”

Zverev breaks De Jong immediately to lead 2-0 2-0 – this is nearly over – while Teichmann is giving Andreeva plenty, up 1-0 and moving her about so she cant plant feet and thwack. But, like Teichmann, Andreeva holds through deuce, and we’re at 1-1 in a match that’s made a very promising start.

Two break points to Andreeva, both saved very competently by Teichmann – the second with a winner at the end of a 22-shot rally – and from there, she closes out for 1-0.

Zverev gets to 15-40, De Jong nets, and that’s the second set, Zverev up 7-6 6-4. He’s broken the back of this match, reinforcing his status as favourite for the title.

I can’t lie, I didn’t think Teichmann would have anything for Muchova but, refreshed after taking a complete break from the game, she’s reached this stage without losing a set.

Again, De Jong is doing a fine job of sticking with Zverev, who leads 7-6 5-4 on serve; on Lenglen, Teichmann and Andreeva arrive.

Next on Lenglen: Mirra Andreeva v Jil Teichmann. I’m going to take a five-minute screen break, then we’ll discuss what Jodar might do from here.

A first appearance at Roland Garros, a first comeback from 2-0 down, a first quarter-final; not bad. Jodar congratulates Carreno Busta, wishing his good friend good luck for the rest of the season, and he’s really happy with the win.

At two sets down, he tried to not rush and be there mentally, trying to make fewer unforced errors, and it worked really well. It’s different playing in front of big crowds, but he’ll always be the same person, very humble, and thanks the crowd for their support, then congratulates the PSG fans, currying yet more favour.

Finally, to Jodar’s dad and coach, in his box alone during the last match; he’s grateful to have him and also the other members of his family. His dad is his biggest support, so he thanks him for all he’s done, and he seems a really grounded lad.

I really enjoy the uncomplicated essentials of Jodar’s game. He hits it hard, picks the right shot a lot of the time, believes in himself without getting silly, as doesn’t panic under pressure. I can’t see a way he beats Zverev, should they meet in the last eight, but he’ll get to that level.

…and a forehand cross misses the sideline by a fraction, three match points burned.

Oh, but an error then a double make things a little tight at 40-30…

It’s quickly 30-0, then a return flies long and there are no nerves here at all – Jodar knows Carreno Busta has nothing left for him, and that he’s playing his best tennis.

We’re on serve at 2-1 Zverev in set two, but he looks inevitable now, while Jodar holds for 5-1. He’s one game away from completing an incredible comeback – yet one which has, for a while, felt inevitable – and taking his second five-setter in a row. Indeed, as I type, Carreno Busta makes it 5-2, so after change of ends, he’ll serve for the last eight.

Jodar then records a second break, quicksmart, and he’s been brilliant these last two sets, his power-game and shot selection far too much for Carreno Busta; he leads 4-1 in the fifth, and I can’t fathom a way he loses from here.

At 2-1 30-all, Carreno Busta nets a forehand, but looks to have won a thrilling rally at the net, but somehow, Jodar digs the ball out of the clay – with top – and he leads 3-1 in the fifth, again getting the crowd going in celebration. Whatever happens here, he’s going to be a factor over the next 10 years; we’ve got brilliant talents coalescing at the top of both men and women’s games.

Yup, we hear an announcement that the shower will be short, then Zverev zooms into a one-set lead, taking the tiebreaker to three; all that hard work De Jong put in, worth nowt following three or four minutes of poor play. He’s not happy with himself.

Ah, it appears to be raining, hence the tallit on head; Zverev turns 0-3 into 4-3.

A backhand on to the baseline, hit really close to Carreno Busta, cramps him, and that’s the break: Hodar, not that long ago down two sets to love, leads 2-1 in the fifth and, not unlike Dawn French’s character in Five Go Mad in Dorset, he is shockingly mature for someone of his youth.

At 5-6 in the first, Zverev holds to love and to a tiebreaker we go; Jodar, who you can tell is absolutely loving the competition, makes 30-40 … and overhits his return, just. He’s much the better player, but if Carreno Busta can string together some holds, it won’t take much for him to win.

Carreno Busta stops the rot, holding for 1-0 after losing five games in a row, as De Jong serves at 5-5 in the first. He’s playing well, but I don’t think he’s got the game to beat Zverev over five even if he wins a set – at some point, he’ll dip, whereas the German’s serve and backhand are so good, he’ll always hit a certain level.

Carreno Busta disappears, presumably hoping to halt Jodar’s momentum, while De Jong survives a break point to hold for 5-4 in the first. It’s looks a little grimy out there and the Dutchman asks the umpire if there’s rain coming; we shall see.

And Jodar serves out a 6-2 set; he’s going all the way again and, the way he’s now playing, he’s a strong favourite.

Yup, Jodar is holding the door, breaking Carreno Busta again, and that’s four games in a row; at 5-2, he’ll shortly serve for a decider. On Chatrier, De Jong leads Zverev 4-3.

Of course, no sooner have I hit launch than Zverev breaks back to love while, on Lenglen, we’re at 2-2 in the fourth. Carreno Busta, leading by two sets to one, is just about staying with Jodar, who slams a backhand cross-court and when, somehow, it comes back, he deflects a forehand winner, noising up the crowd in celebration of the two break points he now has. And he only needs one, the veteran netting, and there’s now every chance this contest goes to a decider.

Oh yes! Down 3-0 40-30, Zverev can’t kill game point with two volleys, the third goes long, and this is already compelling gear. The hold is swiftly secured thereafter, but, so far, De Jong is giving it loads, quick about the court and not shy to come to net.

We’re just under way at Wembley, join Earl Rob Smyth for that one.

Carreno Busta, meanwhile, has his shoulder back in working order, at least for now, holding for 2-1 1-0. But Jodar is hitting is the better player now, this match still in the balance.

Down 30-40 in his first service game, Zverev – who beat De Jong in for here last year – hammers an unreturnable delivery down the middle. But down advantage, he then drags a backhand wide, and the underdog leads 2-0.

Carren Busta calls out the physio to manipulate his right shoulder, while on Chatrier, De Jong – 26 today – holds to lead Zverev 1-0. He’ll know, of course, that Zverev is under colossal pressure; after getting splattered by Sinner in the final of the 2025 Aussie Open, it felt lie he’s almost given up on ever winning a major, but with the two big dogs gone, Djokovic too, the opportunity of a lifetime is upon him; his anxiety must be off the scale.

Jodar serves out to love and, after losing nine straight games has now won five on the spin; Carreno Busta leads 6-4 6-4 1-6. This is getting interesting.

Jodar is racing through this third set, now serving for it at 5-1, with Carreno Busta enduring a dip in energy and form – not unsurprisingly as, though he’s a wily vet, he’s not a player able to sustain a top level.

I was wrong: the scheduled not before 3.30 for De Jong v Zverev is CET not BST, so out come our players on to Chatrier.

Now then. Jodar makes 15-40, Carreno Busta slaps a backhand long, and that’s the break; he trails 2-0 but leads 3-1.

Back on Lenglen, Carreno Busta leads Jodar 6-4 6-4 1-1, a pass down the line taking him to deuce, but from there, Jodar serves out for 2-1 in the third. Aside from that calamitous run of nine games lost on the bike, he’s played OK, and that wasn’t something I expected from him, given his serve and mentality, but here we are.

Ah, in the gap, TNT are showing us Swiatek’s press conference, and she’s telling us how much she cares, saying she did everything she could to handle the situation, but there was nothing she could do and she needs to learn from it and get better. I wonder what she can do to stay relaxed – the intensity that brought her to this point sees to be working against her. Mats, meanwhile, thinks she needs to rediscover her identity as a player, taking a bit of power off and adding a bit more spin on – currently, she’s not quite sure what player she wants to be.

Next on Chatrier: Jesper de Jong v Alexander Zverev (2). That’s not scheduled until 3.30pm at the earliest, I think BST rather than CET, so we’re an hour away from that.

Fabrice Santoro wishes happy mother’s day to Svito, his own mum and all the mums; Svito adds in Bencic, noting how amazing it is that they played each other as youngsters and are now doing so as parents.

She tried to stay locked-in with her tactics and bring her best fighting spirit; you need to go in with a good mindset and she’s happy she’s stayed mentally fresh in her matches, facing difficult situations in a good way.

As for Kostyuk, she agrees it’ll be a great battle for Ukrainian tennis, with last-four representation guaranteed. It’s an amazing achievement for Ukrainian tennis so many great players in the top 100 and coming up – in a difficult situation following the invasion, it’s inspiring.

Carreno Busta serves out to lead Jodar 6-4 6-4 and, having spent most of this year playing Challengers, he’s looking good for a third Roland-Garros quarter-final.

At 30-15, Carreno Busta dumps a backhand, while Bencic continues her disappearance and down advantage, faces match point.

Jodar holds, forcing Carreno Busta to serve for the second set at 6-4 5-4, while Svitolina holds, forcing Bencic to serve to stay in the match at 6-4 4-6 5-0.

Bencic – as she’s done so many times before – has gone. Svitolina breaks her again to lead 4-0 in the third, and this is over.

Swift love-holds for Svitolina and Jodar, pressure mounting on Bencic and Carreno Busta – who, down 0-30, will be starting to wonder for the first time in a while. From there, though, he closes out the hold, his lead 6-4 5-3, and he’s within a game of a 2-0 lead.

Jodar fights his arse off fort a break point … and Carreno Busta confiscates with a backhand down the line. No matter, he soon forces another go, and this time, he sweeps a tremendous backhand winner cross-court; is this the start of the comeback? He trails 4-6 2-4 while, on Chatrier, two glorious winners from Svitolina give her 15-40 … then she climbs into a second serve that sits up and begs violence, the forehand winner down the line securing a 2-0 lead in the third. Bencic is fading badly.

It’d be easy to say Jodar is knackered from the first five-setter of his career, but Careno Busta’s knowhow has also been significant, overcoming the power differential with angles. He leads 6-4 4-1, while Svitolina saves two break points and closes out, Bencic missing with four returns in a row.

And only needs one, Bencic fetching a backhand and dragging it wide; at 4-6 6-4, Svitolina levels the match, while Carreno Busta gives Jodar a lesson in harsh reality, holding for 6-4 6-0 lead, the winning streak now nine games. Jodar does then hold, but if he’s to win here he’ll probably need to take three sets in a row.

Oh, but then Bencic, down 15-30, inepts a mid-court forehand of her own into the net, and Svitolina has two set points…

Bencic gets to 15-40, stretches to divert a return back into court, and when Svitolina marches in to dispatch a routine putaway … she goes long! She did get nervous serving out, and at 6-4 4-5, we’re back on serve in the second!

Bencic holds for 6-4 3-5, and Svitolina will now serve for a decider; on Lenglen, Carreno Busta has a point for a double break in set two, having taken the first, and when Jodar goes wide on forehand, that’s eight games in a row! He leads 6-4 3-0, and this is now a collapse.

Carreno Busta is enjoying himself now, his forehand the dominant shot in the match and helping him to a break at the start of set two – he’s now taken the last five games and leads 6-4 0-1. On Chatrier, Svitolina holds for 4-6 5-2, and I don’t expect her to get nervous serving out – if, of course, Bencic holds.

From 0-40 down, Bencic holds for 6-4 2-4, back in the match after a mental break. Can she hit enough good balls into court to put Svitolina’s serve under pressure?

Carreno Busta makes 5-4 40-15, has two points to win a set he looked likely to be whacked out of … and only needs one, Jodar hooking a forehand wide. Tat’s four games on the spin and this is now a really good test of the youngster’s bona fides: so far, he’s shown terrific ticket and temperament, but maintaining that as second-favourite to win an open slam is a different thing.

Svitolina holds for 4-6 4-1, then Carreno Busta finishes another long struggle of a game with a winner; at 5-4, he’ll shortly serve for set one.

Carreno Busta has done really well to stay in this set – he might’ve gone down a double-break but now he’s got a break point at 4-4 … but tamely slices a backhand return well wide down the line. It’s also worth noting that Jodar’s first serve wasn’t up to much, but a glorious backhand winner down line – that’s more like it – means the veteran has another shy at it. Jodar, though, devastates a backhand of his own to set up the forehand winner, while Bencic, who almost broke Svitolina for 6-4 2-1, is now 15-40 down, lays a drop … into the net. She leads 6-4 1-3, and I don’t like her under pressure, at all.

After a protracted struggle, Carreno Busta retrieves the break taken from him by Jodar to trail 3-4 in the first; on Chatrier, a hold apiece means Bencic leads Svitolina 6-4 1-1.

Back to Swiatek, then, she was desperately poor in the second set today – her confidence, once impregnable, is now brittle, and I’m not sure she’ll ever get it back. Which isn’t me saying she’s done as factor at the top end of the game, not at all, just that the other players are no longer intimidated by her because they’ve seen weakness, and they’re not about to forget it. She can still win, of course, but she’ll have to play well, and can expect her second serve and forehand, in particular, to face attack in pretty much every match.

Only to waft a forehand long. Bencic does not love pressure, I’m afraid, but a sensational inside-out backhand lands right in the corner, seizing her another opportunity to clean up the set, and this time, a big serve out wide allows her to usher a backhand down the line. She leads 6-4.

A drop from Bencic … and it’s a delight, landing just over the net, and Svitolina can’t flick it back over so, at 5-4 advantage, she has set point.

Two forehand errors donate Svitolina 0-30, but an ace out wide makes 30-all … then a netted backhand means break point. It won’t be easy to recover if she can’t save herself, and does Svito’s volley-lob fall in? Not quite, so to deuce we mooch while, on Lenglen, Jodar had to do plenty to stave off a break-back attempt from Carreno Busta – his mental game is solid as you like – and he leads 4-1 in the first.

Better from Svitolina, who breaks to love – Bencic isn’t the most even of opponents, so I’m not surprised she tightened trying to secure the set. She does, though, play a terrific point to make 5-3 30-all … but excellent hitting from Svito secures the hold and forces Bencic to serve for the set a second time at 5-4. Pressure.

Jodar breaks Carreno Busta for 2-0, then Svitolina swats a backhand wide when break point down, and Bencic is in total command of this set at 5-3.

Jodar, now second-favourite for the men’s competition – amazing, given this is his first major – holds in game one against Carreno Busta, a wily veteran who’s made two quarters here and two semis in New York. He’s beaten Lehecka, Kokkinakis and Tirasnte to get to this stage, and though I can’t say I like his chances today, he knows his way around a clay court, so.

Chrissy was saying earlier that Svitolina has changed as a player since getting together with Gaël Monfils, her husband – she’s more attacking and aggressive now, and also has more power. She reckons the two practising together has had an impact, and I also wonder if his mindset has been as much an influence as his strategy – he played with joy and risk, now so does she. But can she finally make a the last four here, after losing five quarter-finals? And can she major final after losing four semis? Well she’s just been broken, so Bencic, who has a slightly looser, more natural style, leads 3-2.

We’re under way on Chatrier, Svitolina holding for 2-1 against Bencic.

Next on Lenglen: Rafael Jodar (27) v Pablo Carreño Busta.

Cirstea shares a long, deep hug with Marion Bartoli, then says it was a great match and she played really well, but at this level if you drop 1% intensity, it’s a problem and Wang started to play amazing, so she’s happy to close in two as it was getting hard.

“I have the pleasure to know you,” Marion says and there’s clearly a lovely friendship there. “Seventeen years ago, back in 2o09, you were there, at Roland Garros playing the quarter-final. Seventeen years later, it shows your resilience, your courage, your passions for this sport. You’re back there to the quarter-final of Roland Garros, I have chills just saying it, can you tell us what’s going through your body, your mind, your family watching it today.”

“There is no expiration date for ambition and for dreams,” comes back the inspirational response, and she goes on to discuss how much she loves the game and playing in front of her family and team. “I think sometimes society puts us in certain goups because of the age- she’s 36t– but I think in life you are free to do whatever you want and I want to play and here I am.”

Oh my goodness there’s more, and this is really a lot, in the best possible way,

“Sorana, I had the pleasure to coach you for a little bit, i always knew you had that tennis in your bag, but when you’re on the court right now what strikes me the most is your smile, your enjoyment for what you’re doing and your incredible confidence level,” Marion continues, before asking what her feeling is before the later stages.

Cirstea says she’s trying to enjoy herself – she learnt a lot from Marion, a a lot of tennis IQ. She very complete player, able to attack and defend, tennis ois her passion and she’s very grateful.

That, mates, was awesome.

Right, on Lenglen, Cirstea leads Wang 5-4 in the tiebreak, just about winning a net exchange to raise two match points.

I totally missed this at the time, but Kostyuk danced after winning the first set, not the first time she’s busted moves on court, but in these circumstances? She’s feeling herself.

Next on Chatrier: Elina Svitolina (7) v Belinda Bencic (11). Ouiiiiiiii!

To add some flesh to the weight of that interview, check out this from round one. Marta is on a mission.

“I’m still in shock,” says Kostyuk, saying Swiatek has won four times here and she’d lost to her four times, without winning a set.

She feels like she’s giving herself more space to create something and challenge her opponent but the main thing is trying to enjoy herself. “I woke up today in the morning and all I thought about is what an unbelievable day I have to live today” – what a beautiful sentiment that is, beautifully expressed, too – “play on Chatrier, play against Iga, there is nothing else I could do today than this.”

She hopes to stay in this frame of mind, enjoying and not focusing on winning and losing. “I’m not playing tennis to win, I’m playing because I love it, I want to connect to people, I want to feel this energy coming to the court, make people happy and unite people.”

Oh man, what a lovely interview. I said after round one that this blog has a new favourite to join Oor Maddy and Karoline Muchova, and that is why, emotionally intelligent expansiveness can’t be beaten.

Before we do her interview, let’s check in on our other match, which Cirstea has now failed to serve out twice; she still leads, 6-3 5-6, but Wang, having won four games in a row, has the momentum.

If Kostyuk’s confident, she’s very hard to beat, an all-round monster who’s finally grown into her prodigious talent, and she’s every bit as delighted as you’d hope.

On the one hand, Kostyuk hasn’t lost on clay this year, 14 matches unbeaten but, on the other, in looking to expand her game, Swiatek has lost consistency and conviction. Very quickly. she’s down 40-0….

Amazing disrespect from Kostyuk, standing way inside court to slam back a second serve via inside-out backhand; “She’s lost the plot, she’s lost her game – the essence of what makes her great on clay,” says Chrissy as 15-30 becomes 15-40. If one of them is converted, it might well mean curtains, but Swiatek saves the first then trots in to sort the second … only to overhit her forehand, and by a bit! “She’s not hitting the ball with feel,” Chrissy advises. “She’s slapping,” and at 7-5 5-1, Kostyuk will now serve for the match.

Cirstea can’t serve the match out, broken by Wang, who then holds; at 6-3 5-4, she’ll shortly go again. Meantime, Kostyuk wins a net rat-a-tat-tat for 30-0 – her hands are the quicker – closes out her consolidation, and if she doesn’t get nervous – a gigantic if, admittedly – a last-eight spot is hers for the taking. She leads 7-5 4-1.

A booming return then a netted forehand and Kostyuk has 0-30, then Swiatek goes long and, facing three break points, this could be the beginning of the end. She just isn’t quite as good now as she was two years ago, but it’s also the case that the competition has got a lot, lot better, a pretty forehand down the line securing the break to love. Kostyuk leads 7-5 3-1, and she knows this is her moment, growing as her more august opponent flaps.

Back on Lenglen, Cirstea now leads 6-3 5-2 and will presently serve for the match.

At 30-all Kostyuk hammers down a big first serve … and Swiatek thwacks it back with interest, unloading on the forehand when a decent get demands she play another shot. Break point, though, is quickly extinguished with a service winner … but Kostyuk’s relative weakness at net, er … costyuks her, hitting the net on the stretch. Again, though, Swiatek can’t convert, a forehand falling wide as again, Chrissy chastises her for attacking lines unnecessarily, but she’s purring when two big backhands restore deuce; a double follows, offering a third break point … and again, an unforced error ruins it. This is brutally tense stuff, high quality punctuated with nervous snatches, underlined when Kostyuk makes advantage then slams down an ace.

Poor footwork from Swiatek means she’s lunging for a backhand, she can’t keep it in court, and Kostyuk has the break back, again. She leads 7-5 1-1 while, on Lenglen, Cirstea leads 6-3 3-2 with a break.

Kostyuk, of course, won Madrid recently, and this is what happens if she takes a tournament:

Back on court, a backhand winner takes her to advantage, but Swiatek plays a decent point to restore deuce … then sends down an entirely unsurprising double.

Swiatek left court between sets and gets right back to it on her return, making 15-40 then attacking a tepid second serve, her backhand too good. Kostyuk leads 7-5 0-1, and this is exceedingly enjoyable fare.

Wang survives various break points, but eventually secures her hold to trail Cirstea 3-2 2-1.

Twenty-five errors and six winners for Swiatek; Chrissy says her thing when she started was consistency but, as the game changed, she had to open up and it’s not quite her natural game, so she should widen the targets and not go for lines and corners. She needs to do something, because Kostyuk is winning the tactical battle, imposing the match she wants to play.

A overhit forehand from Swiatek donates 0-15, a double 0-30, and I wonder if this is what happens when you want something as badly as Swiatek does – of course all the players are into it, but there’s an obsessive intensity about her that stands out even among the intense obsessives that necessarily populate her sport. Anyroad up, Kostyuk goes for two big shots and misses both, taking us to 30-all, but a second double in the game means set point and we know how the Ukrainian is going to approach this … and when Swiatek doesn’t do enough with her approach, a backhand cross-court pass leaves her stranded. Kostyuk wins the first set 7-5, and the birthday girl is in trouble!

At 40-15, Kostyuk sends down a double, then redirects a forehand … wide. A game that looked almost hers is now in the balance but she dominates the advantage point, a drive-volley forcing Swiatek to desperately try a lob, the overhead botched into the tape … but somehow it clambers over! Swiatek, though, attacks the next rally and restores deuce … but Kostyuk stands strong, quickly securing her hold, the first in four games, for 6-5. Pressure on the Pole.

She makes hard work of it, but Cirstea serves out the first set against Wang at the second time of asking; she leads 6-3.

Terrific return from Kostyuk, a backhand hooked on to the sideline for a winner … ruined by a forehand looped long; 15-all. A double follows, the misses by far enough to intimate nerves and reinforced by a wild forehand that donates two break-back points. And Kostyuk only needs one, a decent return forcing Swiatek to net, and she looks encouraged – rightly so, that felt like a tightening. It’s 5-5 in the first, and this might just mature into an epic.

“Every point is good, every point is high quality,” kvells Chrissy in commentary as murderous shots are traded from the back, Kostyuk overhitting to cede 15-40. But from there, she recovers to deuce, competing like an equal; for maybe the first time, she believes she can do this, a service winner raising advantage, but then she’s fractionally late on a backhand down the line and it’s just a little wide, Swiatek – whose return was good – nowhere near it. And from there, the birthday girl dominates the next point with forehands, making advantage, then elicits the error for the third break in row. At 5-4, she’ll now serve for the first set – just as Cirstea is at 5-3 in our other match, a netted volley ceding deuce.

That last game was a lesson for Kostyuk: lose focus, lose the match. And it’s one she seems to have learnt quickly, a forehand from Swiatek falling long for 0-40, and the pressure tells immediately, another forehand shanked wide, and we’re back level at 4-4. Meantime, Wong takes one break back off Cirstea for 2-5 in the first, and looks to be settling.

Back with Swiatek, from 30-0 she makes 30-40, visibly upping the pace from the back, and as a tremendous rally unfolds, the players sending each other nashing about the court, she takes control of it, a forehand winner securing the break. She leads 4-3 while, on Lenglen, Cirstea is serving for the first set at 5-1.

I enjoyed this from yesterday. Moïse Kouamé is a superstar with a temperament to match.

Today I lost. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be winning, and I’m happy because I played well. I made interesting things during the week, so it’s not a loss that poses me a problem. It’s a loss which I’m certain is going to help me grow in the future.”

“I have learned an awful lot about myself, and this loss, perhaps, has given me more than the two wins. To answer your question, I’m not a bad loser. I’m a loser who learns from his mistakes and always tries to bounce back.”

Also going on:

I can’t lie, I leant my local turf accountant a small sum in lieu of Kostyuk winning this competition, and she holds easily for 3-2; if she keeps serving well, this match will come down to a few points here and there. Swiatek, 25 today, has focus and craft on her and, as I type, she marches in to attack a second serve and spanks it long; 40-15. From there, Swiatek holds to 30, and we’re level at 3-3 in the first.

On Lenglen, meanwhile, Cirstea leads 4-1, and she’ll be sensing a moment – her opponent has a heavily taped shoulder, making this a chance to match her best major performance, the quarters of this competition in 2009 and the US Open in 2023.

On Chatrier, Swiatek is serving at 1-2 deuce, Kostyuk having started fairly well – the message is that this is going to be a contest, and thoug, from there, the hold is secured, Kostyuk underlines the point: she’s taking this on.