final before the letter Swiatek-Gauff and surprise duel between Paolini and Andreeva

The women’s semi-finals will be played this Thursday, on the Philippe-Chatrier court from 3 p.m.

Time for the women’s semi-finals of the French Open, Thursday June 6, at the Central. The first duel will pit the double title holder, Iga Swiatek, against the world number 3, Coco Gauff, before the two surprises of the tournament, the Italian Jasmine Paolini and the Russian Mirra Andreeva, face each other at the end of the afternoon. noon.

Is Coco Gauff capable of beating the world number 1? In eleven confrontations, the American won only once against the Pole. It was in Cincinnati in August 2023. On clay, the winner of the last US Open has never dismissed her opponent in four meetings (including two at Roland-Garros). The world number 3 has never even won a single set on ocher against her bête noire. Their last match ended in a victory (6-4, 6-3) for Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 in Rome, less than a month ago.

This year, the Pole has lost only one match on clay. It was in the semi-final in Stuttgart against Elena Rybakina. The world number 1 has since made up for it by winning the two Masters 1000s in Madrid and Rome. If Iga Swiatek was scared in the second round of the Paris Grand Slam against the Japanese Naomi Osaka, nothing seems to stop her since. In its last two meetings, it has only conceded two games. Not enough to reassure Coco Gauff, who had to work hard against Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals.

Although Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva are not at all the same age (28 years old for the Italian compared to 17 years old for the Russian), it will be a first in a Grand Slam for both, played just after the clash of the favorites. The first is currently having her best season, after qualifying for her first round of 16 in a major tournament at the Australian Open.

On Wednesday, the Italian created the feat by taking out world number 4 Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Mirra Andreeva also defied the odds by eliminating one of the big favorites of the tournament, Aryna Sabalenka. The two players have only faced each other once, during the Masters 1000 in Madrid. Mirra Andreeva had the last word in two sets.

Court Philippe-Chatrier

From 15 hours :

Iga Swiatek (POL) [n°1] – Coco Gauff (USA) [n°3]

Jasmine Paolini (ITA) [n°12] – Mirra Andreeva (RUS)