French Open 2023 quarter final as it happened - World number two Aryna Sabalenka proves too strong for Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina

E. Svitolina vs A. Sabalenka | Roland-Garros

Women's Singles | Quarter-final | 06.06.2023 | Court Philippe-Chatrier

Completed

E. Svitolina

A. Sabalenka (2)

Live

Live Updates

ByJames Kilpatrick

Updated 06/06/2023 at 12:47 GMT

All
Highlights

13.47

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - SVITOLINA 4-6 4-6 SABALENKA

The No.2 seed keeps her hopes of back-to-back Grand Slam titles alive with a hard-fought straight sets victory over former World No.3 Svitolina in just one hour and 36 minutes.

The Belarusian chalks up a Tour-leading 34th match-win of the year and stretches her perfect record at majors to 12/12 victories as she serves out from 0-30 down and deuce on a second MP. Fittingly, victory came via another powerhouse forehand winner.

Svitolina’s fairytale run comes to an end just eight months on from giving birth, but she will be buoyed by the fact the fourth Roland Garros QF appearance of her career will move her back into the top 75 (73 provisionally) in the world.

Sabalenka will meet Karolina Muchova in the semi finals.

Image credit: Getty Images

13.42

SVITOLINA 4-6 4-5 SABALENKA

Sabalenka decides not to waste energy trying to work her way back into the game after dropping the first few points and Elina races through a clean hold to pose that famous, old serve-out question.

13.40

SVITOLINA 4-6 3-5 SABALENKA

The World No.2 can sense the finish line. She blasts her way through another emphatic hold to 15, reeling off another three scorching winners along the way.

13.35

SVITOLINA 4-6 3-4 SABALENKA

If there’s one thing we are sure of when it comes to Elina, it is that she will keep scrapping. The World No.192 stays in touch with a tidy hold to 30.

13.32

SVITOLINA 4-6 2-4 SABALENKA

The World No.2 tightens that grip further as she consolidates to 15 with a fourth game in a row. It’s been a tough old fight but it looks like Sabalenka is on her way to the last four.

13.30

Muchova on 'incredible two weeks' reaching semi-finals of Roland-Garros

13.29

BREAK! – SVITOLINA 4-6 2-3 SABALENKA

It’s a nine-minute grueller with Svitolina battling doggedly from behind that baseline to fend off three break points. The Ukrainian has her chances to dodge out of danger but succumbs on a fourth as Sabalenka takes a firm grip of this quarter final.

13.18

SVITOLINA 4-6 2-2 SABALENKA

Aryna consolidates via the scenic route as she shrugs off two frustrating double faults to consolidate the break back from deuce with a rasping crosscourt forehand winner.

13.12

BREAK! – SVITOLINA 4-6 2-1 SABALENKA

Sabalenka chases down a drop shot at 30-0 to push a backhand up the line and from there she turns the screw, searing a forehand down the line to secure break back point.

The Belarusian them misses her cue once again with a proverbial missed sitter from close to the net and then follows suit on a second BP.

Svitolina has her chance to scramble clear but suffers a case of the yips with a couple of double faults and the latter proves costly as the No.2 seed does indeed break back at the third time of asking when the Ukrainian angles a tight backhand into the net.

'Made her move' - Sabalenka takes opening set against Svitolina

13.05

BREAK! – SVITOLINA 4-6 2-0 SABALENKA

Svitolina conjures up a spellbinding backhand winner up the line to pose a question at 15-30 – and Aryna fluffs the answer.

The World No.2 endures a poor game overall, offering up the break point with as double fault before going too big on a forehand under pressure and slapping it right into the middle of the net.

13.00

12.59

SVITOLINA 4-6 1-0 SABALENKA

It’s a rollercoaster of a hold for Elina. She’s pegged back from 40-15 up courtesy of two explosive winners from Aryna and then needs to fend off break point.

A couple of aces and a double fault make it highly unpredictable for a few moments before the Ukrainian digs deep to snatch the scoreboard advantage.

12.50

THE WINNER OF THIS CLASH WILL FACE KAROLINA MUCHOVA IN THE SEMIS

Muchova beats Pavlyuchenkova to reach semi-finals at Roland-Garros

12.48

SET! – SVITOLINA 4-6 SABALENKA

Too good. The big serve and the huge forehand make life fairly simple for the No.2 seed as she closes out a 39-minute first set with a game to 15.

12.46

BREAK! – SVITOLINA 4-5 SABALENKA

Ouch. After all of that hustle and resilience, Svitolina is undone when a weak second serve is despatched with nonchalant authority by Sabalenka. The Belarusian breaks with a stonking backhand return winner and she will now serve for what has been a tight opener.

12.42

SVITOLINA 4-4 SABALENKA

Sabalenka rips a forehand up the line to conclude a serve-plus-one and cruise to a game to 15.

12.38

SVITOLINA 4-3 SABALENKA

If Svitolina is going to produce the shock today, she’s going to have to come out on top in a lot of these sort of games.

The Ukrainian can’t hide the signs of some tension as she digs very deep to absorb Aryna’s power and re-direct it to the opposite side of the court. She lets out aloud roar when she does just that at deuce and follows up with a clutch serve to keep her nose in front.

12.34

SVITOLINA 3-3 SABALENKA

It’s equally sharp from Aryna as she surges level once again with a fluid hold to 15.

12.31

Sabalenka flashes fierce winner against Svitolina at Roland-Garros

12.30

SVITOLINA 3-2 SABALENKA

It’s a slight surprise to see Svitolina as the one bringing the power on serve, landing the first ace of the match and another hefty delivery straight after to ease to a game to 30. It’s been a very impressive start from the former World No.3.