Sabalenka, Swiatek set for thrilling semi duel

WORLD No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen began their French Open quarter-final in front of a small crowd on Tuesday, prompting calls for such high-profile matches to be moved to later slots to showcase them better.

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A sumptuous lunch often takes priority for fans in Court Philippe Chatrier’s corporate seats, and the Parisian cultural practice leaves many seats unoccupied in the showcourt when matches begin at 11am.

Sabalenka overcame her Chinese opponent 7-6 (3), 6-3 in just under two hours, leaving her with the rest of the day off, but the Belarusian said organisers could do better to improve the atmosphere. “I didn't really look in the crowd, but it felt like it was a lot of people. Yeah, it was a big match and it probably would make more sense to put us a bit later just so more people could watch it,” Sabalenka said.

“At the same time, I’m happy to finish earlier and then I have a half-day off, and I can just enjoy the city and do all the things that I have to do.”