ROLAND GARROS, FRANCE

BOTTOM HALF: Women’s Semifinalists

[31] Petra Martic (CRO) was feeling a little under the weather yesterday and that was perhaps the slight dip in level that [38] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) needed. Martic served for the first set 5-3 up but could not close it out. They traded two breaks each in the first set before forcing a tiebreaker, which was won by the nineteen-year-old. While serving for the set at 5-3 up, Vondrousova succumbed to a bout of nerves and dumped both serves into the net on match point. She lost her serve, giving the Croatian a brief reprieve; however, she re-grouped just in time to win 7-6()1, 7-5. She is into her first major semifinal without dropping a set, plus she got her first victory over Martic.

Last year’s finalist, [7] Sloane Stephens (USA) could not get past the in-form [26] Johanna Konta (GBR). Stephens offered up a bit more resistance in the second set; however, it was a tad too late. Konta won 6-1, 6-4 keeping her winning streak against the American intact. It was a bit disappointing, I thought Stephens would have risen to the occasion, given what was at stake, but Konta came to play and stayed focused.

BOTTOM HALF: Men’s Semifinalists

The much-anticipated showdown between [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) and [3] Roger Federer (SUI) will take place on Friday after both players got by their respective opponents. Nadal had a much easy time of it, defeating an injured [7] Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. Federer had to work a tad harder to get by a weary [24] Stan Wawrinka (SUI). Wawrinka had chances to perhaps sneak out the victory; however, he could not win any of the breakers and was broken once in the fourth set to lose the match. Federer won 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Top Halves Will Contest Their Matches Tomorrow

Can Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova make it two Americans in the semifinals? It will be a tough ask for Anisimova against the hungry defending champion, Simona Halep. Keys may stand a better chance against Ashleigh Barty because the prospect of getting back to another major semifinals will inspire the American.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev will mix things up tomorrow along with Dominic Thiem, who will try to stop Karen Khachanov.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (all pics from Getty Images Europe: main is Marketa Vondrousova)