Jannik Sinner has won once again, always, now, beating Andrey Rubles 6-2, 6-4. Three years ago, he has very good, but not great, yet. But then, gradually, he improved his forehand and his backhand, down the line, and crosscourt, stable. His first serve is phenomenal, flat, and the No. 1 can also twist it in his second serve. He does have to improve at the net, yet he is pretty good, down low.
“This year [is] the first time I’ve won something big on clay. But this is also the confidence of the process what we are trying to produce year after year,” Sinner said. “Also, physically I’m getting stronger. I think it’s a mix of everything. Those experience, to play certain points in a better way, but mostly I feel like, physically, if you improve, it helps you a lot on clay.”
Daniil Medvedev had to grind it, a long day, when he edged Martin Landaluce 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. He does go way back on the court, but the tall man can run and sprint it, until he touches it, into the corners, or touch it. He is not terrific at the net, but his return is super, solid. The Russian can be running, all day. Can he upset Sinner? Maybe.
“There is always a chance to beat Sinner, more or less. But lately he rarely has a bad day. Carlos [Alcaraz] and Novak [Djokovic] can keep up with him,” Medvedev said. “I have played him at Indian Wells, but never on clay. If Jannik loses, don’t be surprised; that is sport.”
They will play each other on Friday, including Casper Ruud against Luciano Darderi in the semis. The Italian won very late, but he stood there, and he ran until he had a shot to drive it, deep.
“It was really a battle. After the second set, I never thought I’d win, but I just tried to take it game by game, ball by ball. I pushed a little bit more in the third set, and physically I won it there,” Darderi said.
American Coco Gauff beat Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3, which was very solid. Her backhand is terrific, crosscourt, and down the line. Her first serve can nail it into the corners, and at the net, she can put it away. She has won two Slams, but she wants even more. However, she can be so-so this year, but she is trying, day after day.
“I think it’s like the first time in my career I feel like I’m really stable with that shot. It’s been an up-and-down process. I obviously don’t want to jinx anything, but I think we found the recipe to making it more consistent,” Gauff said. “Now it’s focusing on how to make it more of a weapon, how to serve smarter, things like that.”
Will Gauff win Roland Garros again? First, she has to win Rome. Yet in a couple weeks in Paris, she has to lock it, down, once again.
“It definitely gives me a lot of confidence because I also played some players who are having great clay-court seasons and great seasons in general. I thought in Madrid I also felt like I was playing some good tennis, too. There are moments that I still can fine-tune and do better at. I definitely think it’s in the right direction.”
Elina Svitolina has also found the right solution, upsetting Iga Swiatek 6-4, 2-6 6-2. In the third set, instead to sit there, softly, she decided to hit it as hard as she could. She saw that Swiatek began to be erratic, so she jumped on it, and it worked. Svitolina has been there for years, but this week, she found it. There it is.
“I still feel like I’m more experienced player in the team because we have, I don’t know what is the gap, maybe 10 years’ or nine years’ difference with other girls. I’ve been on tour a bit more,” Svitolina said. “Sometimes I just try to not be the competitor with them because they are just the beginning of their career. Me, I’m almost going towards the end of my career.”