French Open 2024 Quarter final result: World Number Two Aryna Sabalenka shocked by teenager Mirra Andreeva on Court Philippe-Chatrier
M. Andreeva vs A. Sabalenka | Roland-Garros
Women's Singles | Quarter-final | 05.06.2024 | Court Philippe-Chatrier
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Completed
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M. Andreeva
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A. Sabalenka (2)
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Updated 05/06/2024 at 17:19 GMT
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18:19
GAME, SET AND MATCH! - SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 4-6 ANDREEVA
It’s a huge moment in the fledgling career of 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
The World No.38 secures her biggest ever win by upsetting the visibly unwell No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka to edge into her maiden Grand Slam semi final after a two hour and 29-minute rollercoaster.
Andreeva broke on her second match point with a supreme lob to send shockwaves through the tournament and set up a last-four clash with Jasmine Paolini.
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Image credit: Getty Images
18:18
SABALENKA SERVING TO STAY IN IT…
It goes a bit pear-shaped from 30-0 up but at 30-30 Sabalenka nails an elite backhand down the line.
The Belarusian can’t wriggle free though and a drop shot error hands over match point…
Sabalenka saves it with that raw power but Mirra earns a second chance with a backhand down the line….
18:11
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 4-5 ANDREEVA
How’s the 17-year-old’s nerve in the dying embers of the deciding set in a Grand Slam quarter final?
Not too shabby it seems as she darts through a quick-fire hold to 15 to apply plenty of scoreboard pressure to her under-the-weather opponent.
Sabalenka must now hold to stay in the tournament.
18:09
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 4-4 ANDREEVA
Sabalenka is managing her workload in points here.
She’s been doing it for a while actually and it’s keeping her afloat.
Things threaten to turn from 40-15 up but she guesses right on Mirra’s threaded pass from a dropper and rattles away the crosscourt volley to level.
18:06
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 3-4 ANDREEVA
What. A. Point!
Conchita Martinez tells her to just go for it after wrestling back the initiative to game point from 30-0 up and boy does she do that.
A hefty serve is redirected to the baseline by Andreeva and she’s on the defensive throughout the rally. She handles a smash from the Belarusian and then shows great speed to chase down a drop shot and flick a winner to the side.
18:02
BREAK! – SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 3-3 ANDREEVA
On another day you’d bet your life on Sabalenka backing up that break.
But’s it not a normal day and she can’t keep the energy up.
A double fault and more wild misfires see her pretty much break herself to 15 and we are tied once again.
18:00
VIDEO: IT'S HIT OR MISS FROM TENNIS FROM SABALENKA
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'She's obliterated the ball - Sabalenka takes out frustration after dropping serve to Andreeva
17:58
BREAK! – SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 3-2 ANDREEVA
The love from the crowd seems to help Aryna and her sudden surge unsettles Mirra.
The teenager cracks under the pressure with an untimely miscue to cough up triple point and her block long under pressure means she capitulates to love.
17:57
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 2-2 ANDREEVA
The game turns when Andreeva balloons a routine return at 0-30 and Sabalenka hits clutch mode with a backhand down the line and an ace down the T.
The No.2 seed almost surprises herself by surviving, raising her arm in triumph and calling for the crowd to give her a lift with some noise and appreciation.
17:51
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 1-2 ANDREEVA
That was a bit of a let off for the 17-year-old.
Sabalenka reads her crosscourt attempt and teases a winner up the line at 15-30 but then cannons a weak second serve out on the return.
The Belarusian plays a bizarre, short lob that Mirra pummels a forehand winner off and then the youngster shows sharp reactions to block a rasping return back into the open court.
17:47
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 1-1 ANDREEVA
So much for that formula - that’s exactly what not to do.
Mirra loses her way on the return, failing to find the island and Sabalenka is delighted to ease through a surprising, clean hold.
17:44
SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 0-1 ANDREEVA
Andreeva is confident in her formula for dealing with the dramatics taking place on the other side of the court.
There are times it’s evidently unsettled her own rhythm, but she’s managing it well now and the over-zealous striking of Aryna trying to keep points short helps the teenager to open the decider with a game to 15.
17:39
SET! – SABALENKA 7-6 4-6 ANDREEVA
That’s a supreme return game from Andreeva and she deservedly forces the decider!
Mirra goes on the attack with a side-spinning dropper before rasping a forehand winner up the line to assume control.
Another fine return tees up set point but Sabalenka jumps all over a short ball to unleash the power and reach the sanctuary of deuce.
The Australian Open champion has her chances in the next rally but then lashes wide off the backhand and another tired miss into the net puts her hopes of reaching a seventh straight major semi final are now under real threat.
17:33
VIDEO: SABALENKA SOMEHOW TAKES THE OPENING SET
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'She looked cream crackered!' - Sabalenka wins first set despite pain
17:32
SABALENKA 7-6 4-5 ANDREEVA
Andreeva makes hard work of what looked like being a routine hold and there are worried expressions from her coach Conchita Martinez and the rest of her team before Sabalenka helps her over the line to a hold to 30 with a wayward backhand return.
17:27
SABALENKA 7-6 4-4 ANDREEVA
Sabalenka comes up clutch under stress at 15-30 with a superb wrong-footer forehand back in-behind before a readjustment off a net cord to drill away a backhand down the line puts her in charge.
A clever angle on another slow-paced crosscourt backhand catches the youngster out and somehow the Belarusian remains in contention in this set.
17:24
BREAK! – SABALENKA 7-6 3-4 ANDREEVA
Well, just when you think Sabalenka is done, she finds some movement and a brace of winners to somehow break back.
Mirra should have staved off one of the two BPs but had brain freeze on a pick-up from a dropper and teased it wide.
The teenager gestures in irritation at her team while Aryna takes a seat and is given more pills and some fluids by the Dr.
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'I don't know what they can do' - Sabalenka receives medical treatment again
17:19
BREAK! – SABALENKA 7-6 2-4 ANDREEVA
The hefty first serve can’t do any heavy lifting for Aryna and she looks forlorn as Andreeva stays solid to fire off a couple of winners and break to love.
17:16
SABALENKA 7-6 2-3 ANDREEVA
Mirra almost offers the No.2 seed a way back in at 30-0 with a double fault and a woeful second serve that the Belarusian punishes courtesy of a forehand return winner.
Sabalenka is then left frustrated when she flashes into the net returning an average serve and it’s Mirra heaving a sigh of relief when another blockbuster attempt lands a whisker wide.
17:13
SABALENKA 7-6 2-2 ANDREEVA
Andreeva scurries back from 30-0 down with a scorching return to feet and then digs out a drop-shot to guide a pick-up winner down the line.
The 17-year-old fluffs her lines on the break point and then misfires twice more to let Aryna off the hook.