#RG17 day ten wrap: Ostapenko stuns Wozniacki

Rain, rain, it’s a complete and utter pain (particularly when it’s accompanied by 80kmh winds and the threat of armageddon).

Unlike its predecessor in 2016, Roland Garros 2017 has been blissfully free from the wet stuff thus far… until yesterday. With just two matches done and dusted on day ten, the rain began to fall on Paris and play was suspended for the day.

Fortunately, those two matches gave us plenty to mull over.

Ostapenko stuns Wozniacki

Jelena Ostapenko might be the youngest player left in the tournament, but she’s into the final four after a stunning 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over Caroline Wozniacki.

The 19 year-old Latvian was forced onto the back foot by the resurgent Dane in the opening set. However, she came out aggressively in the second and quickly assumed control of the match. Ostapenko continued to attack during a match that saw her hit 38 winners and 50 unforced errors, breaking for 5-2 in the decider and serving out the win to love.

“When I came here I didn’t expect I’m going to be in the semis, but I was playing better and better every match,” Ostapenko said after the match. “So I think if I keep it up, I think anything can happen.”

Bacsinszky downs French favourite

The Parisian crowd may have helped to swing Kristina Mladenovic’s fourth round match against Garbine Muguruza in the Frenchwoman’s favour, but there was nothing that they could do for her against Timea Bacsinszky. The Swiss star was better equipped to deal with the difficult playing conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier, eventually securing a hard-fought 6-4 6-4 win.

Mladenovic was out-of-sorts from the off, dropping serve in the opening game. It was a trend that would continue as wind and rain swirled around Centre Court, with both women struggling to hold. At 5-4 in the opener Bacsinszky fired down a big ace and took the first set.

With the crowd willing her on, Mladenovic raced to a 3-1 lead in the second. However, Bacsinszky dealt with the deteriorating conditions the better, and returned from a brief rain break to book her spot in the semifinals.

“I knew she would be a formidable opponent,” Bacsinszky smiled post-match. “We had everything today: a hurricane, and sand storms, nice weather, and almost snow… it was really complicated to stay focused throughout the day.