It is Day 12 at the
French Open on the courts of
Roland Garros with WTA semi-finals taking centre stage with the potential of an
Iga Swiatek -
Aryna Sabalenka final in Paris.
But two players will be out to stop that and as ever with the
schedule now confirmed, TennisUpToDate will
preview the two matches in depth.
Matches to watch
Aryna Sabalenka v Karolina Muchova
First up on court will be the World Number Two at around 2pm local time in the form of Aryna Sabalenka albeit her tournament has been shrouded somewhat in controversy.
From the skipping of press conferences to waiting at the net for Elina Svitolina despite her stance on handshakes, Sabalenka has attracted more attention without her racquet.
But still she has navigated her way through the rounds and finds herself in touching distance of a first Roland Garros final.
Again though, there could be a surprising Czech finalist with
Karolina Muchova who has risen from the ashes to produce a superb run this week and rise back up the rankings set to face Sabalenka.
Muchova after a hiatus last year has found herself back within the top 20 and like Karolina Pliskova and former champion, Barbora Krejcikova, she will look to add a Grand Slam final to her resume.
Many will point towards Sabalenka as the winner on Thursday with her battle scars seemingly gone after the Australian Open win, but will the weight of expectation now weigh her down and hand the initiative to Muchova? Time will tell.
Iga Swiatek v Beatriz Haddad Maia
Then it is the turn of Iga Swiatek who after a wobbly first set made light work of Coco Gauff again at Roland Garros.
The World No.1 remains the favourite to lift the title and next faces a Brazilian who has become the first from her country in 55 years to reach the latter stages of a Grand Slam.
Slowly gathering steam, Haddad Maia in particular impressed last season on the next surface in grass winning in Nottingham and Birmingham.
A rise up to World No.12 earlier this year saw her show it wasn't just a flash in the pan but with grass now approaching, BHM is a scary thought going into that surface.
But next is a player who she has an unbeaten record against in Swiatek, she has played one and won one at last year's National Bank Open in her run to the final losing to Simona Halep.
Albeit clay is a surface that Swiatek thrives on, it could yet be her biggest test. Could we get Muchova v Haddad Maia or will the dream final be on?
Schedule Day 12 Roland Garros
Thursday, June 08, 2023 | | | | |
Day 18 | | | | |
Court Philippe Chatrier Starts At 2:00 PM | | | | |
SF | Karolina Muchova | VS | Aryna Sabalenka | |
SF | Iga Swiatek | VS | Beatriz Haddad Maia | |