French Open 2018: Rain plays spoilsport after Halep, Muguruza move to SF

Catch live updates from Day 11 of the French Open.

Updated : Jun 06, 2018 23:08 IST

Rafael Nadal plays Diego Schwartzman for a place in the semis. Photo: AFP
Rafael Nadal plays Diego Schwartzman for a place in the semis. Photo: AFP
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Rafael Nadal plays Diego Schwartzman for a place in the semis. Photo: AFP

Welcome to Sportstar 's live coverage of the French Open.

11.05pm: So, that is it. Play has been cancelled for the day due to inclement weather. After a stupendous day of excitement on Tuesday, Wednesday proved to be a damp squid. We will be back tomorrow, hopefully with more and better action. Hope you enjoyed the updates as much as we did in bringing it to you. Good night!

10.18pm: As the players walk off, a reminder of the scores:

Philippe-Chatrier Court:

Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman

4-6, 5-3 (30-15).

Suzanne-Lenglen Court:

Marin Cilic vs Juan Martin del Potro

6-6 (5-5)

10.15pm: Well we have bad news again. Play has been suspended for the second time because of rain. Can be frustrating to the players to have their rhythm broken and for us for the excitement and the tension brewing, but that's how it is.

10.07pm: It is 6-6 and we have the tie-break between Cilic and del Potro.

10.02pm: Marin Cilic takes the game and it is now 6-5 with del Potro to serve.

9.51pm: We have some good news. Play is all set to resume at the Roland Garros.

9:06pm: Play has been suspended because of rain at Stade Roland-Garros. Respite for Rafa as the covers come on.

READ: Nadal's amazing Roland Garros set streak ended by Schwartzman

Recap to the Italian Open final against Alexander Zverev last month. With Nadal down a break in the deciding set, the rain came. When play resumed, the King of Clay took five straight games to win the match.

Čilić was serving at 5-all against del Potro in his match.

9:03pm: Schwartzman sends his first break point into the net, but comes good with the second. Nadal broken again! Schwartzman leads the second set 3-2.

9:02pm: Triple break point for Schwartzman!

8:59pm: Nadal breaks back. Schwartzman was 40-love but failed to close out the game, and the champion took advantage.

Meanwhile, the Čilić-del Potro match is still on serve, at 5-all now.

8:54pm: Schwartzman has hit 25 winners to Nadal's 7 this evening.

8:51pm: Schwartzman breaks Nadal again! He leads 2-1 in the second set, having won the first 6-4.

No breaks of serve in the Čilić-del Potro match, though. Both men are winning at least 93 per cent on their first serve.

8:50pm: A powerful forehand from Schwartzman down the line takes it to deuce on Nadal's serve. And now another break point.

8:47pm: Breathtaking tennis from both players on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Drop shots and lobs and cross-courters!

8:45pm: One-all for Nadal and Schwartzman in the second set.

8:43pm: Drops of rain at Stade Roland-Garros. Umbrellas are being pulled out.

8:39pm: Nadal holds in the opening game of the second set as Schwartzman belts a routine forehand into the net.

This is the second straight Major that the two have met. Schwartzman took a set of Nadal in the Australian Open round of 16, too.

8:36pm: The Čilić-del Potro match is on serve at 4-3 in the first set.

8:31pm: Shock and awe as Schwartzman wins the first set against Nadal 6-4!

It's been exactly three years since the 10-time champion lost a set at Roland Garros. That's a run of 37 straight sets. The last man to take a set off the world No.1 was Novak Djokovic – in the 2015 quarterfinals.

You could take a leaf out of Schwartzman's book today. The Argentine's gone for his shots in every point. Probably the only way to go if you want to beat Rafa in Paris.

8:29pm: A delay on Court Philippe-Chatrier with Schwartzman on set point. The match referee is on court.

Unconfirmed reports say a spectator fainted.

8:24pm: A sublime drop shot from Nadal saves the second of Schwartzman's set points. It's deuce.

8:23pm: Schwartzman has two set points on his own serve. He sends the first long.

8:21pm: Nadal has the trainer called out. Play resumes and Schwartzman serves.

8:18pm: Schwartzman breaks Nadal again! The Argentine will now serve for the opening set.

8:11pm: Nadal breaks back and resumes parity at 4-all.

On Court Suzanne-Lenglen, two former US Open champions will be vying for a semifinal berth. The only time Juan Martín del Potro reaching that stage before was in 2009, the year when he upset Roger Federer in the final at Flushing Meadows (the Swiss superstar has never won the US Open since). Marin Čilić has matched his best performance at the French Open – the quarters last year.

8:06pm: Schwartzman breaks Nadal to go up 4-3!

The Argentine's carrying on with the momentum of his previous match, where he came back from two sets down. Will he be the first man to win a set off Nadal at Roland Garros since 2015?

8:02pm: It's 3-3 in the Nadal-Schwartzman match at the 40-minute mark.

7:56pm: Simona Halep, the world No.1, completes a remarkable 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2 win over Angelique Kerber in 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Halep had looked all out of sorts in the opener as Kerber raced to a 4-0 lead. But there's never any discounting the Romanian.

READ: Masterful Muguruza thrashes startled Sharapova

7:55pm: Phew! Nadal saves two break points.

7:50pm: Nadal breaks back. It's 2-2.

Simona Halep is up 5-2 in the third set of her match against Kerber.

7:44pm: Schwartzman breaks the champion! He's up 2-1.

7:40pm: Schwartzman holds after another long game. Two games, 19 minutes. It's 1-1.

On Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Halep is comfortably ahead 4-1.

7.24pm: The women's top seed has won the first game in the third. Talk about comebacks and Halep knows a thing or two about it!

7:19pm: Nadal is getting ready to begin his match. Remember: he has to go all the way to the final and win that too if he wants to remain world No.1. A punishing ask for almost all tennis players. For Nadal? Maybe not.

7:18pm: We're into the third set on Court Suzanne-Lenglen as Kerber double-faults on Halep's fourth set point in the second.

7:17pm: Three set points for Halep on Kerber's serve. And the German saves all three.

7:14pm: Incredible court coverage by Halep! She reaches Kerber's drop shot and sends one of her own. She leads 5-3 in the second set.

7:07pm: Halep sends it long and Kerber holds. It's 4-3 to the top seed.

7:04pm: Halep holds for a 4-2 lead.

6:59pm: A wonderful rally as Kerber, who's looking a bit tired, tries to hold serve against Halep. And Kerber holds, but she's still a break down in the second set.

6:56pm: Court Philippe-Chatrier gets ready for the 10-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who will be challenged today by Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, who came back from two sets down against sixth seed Kevin Anderson on Monday.

ALSO READ: Stunning Schwartzman fightback sets up Nadal meeting

6:52pm: Garbiñe Muguruza is through to the semis at Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Maria Sharapova.

The third seed looked the far better player in that second set, as Sharapova was unable to hold serve even once. Plenty of breaks in the match, six for Muguruza and one for Sharapova.

6:51pm: Two match points for Muguruza. Sharapova saves the first with an ace.

6:48pm: Muruguza is now a game away from winning the match. It looks like Sharapova's run on her return to the French Open after two years is coming to an end.

6:46pm: Halep breaks Muguruza in the opening game of the second set.

6:44pm: Muguruza breaks Sharapova again. She's now two games away from another Roland Garros semifinal.

6:40pm: Muguruza consolidates the break. She leads 3-1.

6:36pm: Kerber finally wins the first set, 7-2 in the tie-breaker. If Halep loses today, she loses the No.1 ranking, too.

Another break on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Muguruza serves at 2-1.

6:33pm: Sharapova breaks back immediately. It's 1-1.

6:31pm: Muguruza breaks Sharapova in the opening game of the second set.

6:29pm: Another break. We're into a tie-break in the first set. Halep to serve.

Six breaks of serve in 12 games in this set. Kerber's blown a 4-0 lead.

6:26pm: Kerber breaks back! She'll serve for the set at 6-5.

6:24pm: Muguruza wins the first set 6-2.

It's hard to pick between her and Sharapova. Both are playing aggressive tennis, but Muguruza has been able to close out the important points today.

6:23pm: A 23-shot rally, the longest of the match, gets Halep off the mark on her serve.

6:20pm: Halep breaks! It's 5-5.

The Romanian world No.1 may not have won a Grand Slam title, but she has the heart of a champion. She's reached the final here twice – in 2014 and then last year. Can she go all the way this year?

6:19pm: Sharapova holds, but the Russian trails 2-5 in the opening set.

6:16pm: Halep is hanging on. She holds, but Kerber will serve for the set at 5-4.

6:15pm: Muguruza holds with an ace. The 2016 champion leads 5-1.

6:13pm: Stunning tennis on Philippe-Chatrier! Sharapova sends Muguruza from end to end before winning the point with a deft dropshot. She tries it again but Muguruza reaches the ball this time.

On Suzanne-Lenglen, Kerber leads 5-3.

6:10pm: Sharapova holds to love to open her account in this match. Muguruza to serve at 4-1.

ALSO READ: I could barely move - Zverev considered retiring in Thiem thrashing

6:09pm: Halep holds for 3-4. The world No.1 is on the comeback trail.

6:08pm: Muguruza holds to go up 4-0 against Sharapova in the first set.

6:07pm: Halep saves the first break point, then promptly sends the ball wide to give Kerber another chance.

6:06pm: Kerber has another break point on the Halep serve.

6:03pm: Halep wins back a break. She's serving at 2-4 in the first set.

6:02pm: Break point No.4 for Muguruza. And she wins it! It's 3-0 for Muguruza.

5:57pm: Halep finally wins a game. Kerber to serve at 4-1.

5:55pm: Halep shows some fight, but Kerber holds for 4-0.

5:49pm: A really poor start for Halep, who double-faults and then sends a backhand wide on the next point to give Kerber another break and a 3-0 lead.

Muguruza holds for 2-0.

5:46pm: Sharapova double-faults to give Muguruza the break in their opening game.

5:41pm: An easy hold for Kerber to go 2-0 up.

5:39pm: Kerber breaks Halep in the opening game! No a good start for the world No.1.

Halep and Kerber have each won five matches against the other. But the Romanian won their most recent match – in the Australian Open semis in January.

05:25 pm: The women play their quarterfinal matches first: Muguruza vs Sharapova on Court Philippe-Chatrier and Halep vs Kerber on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Muguruza has lost to Sharapova all three times they've met before, including in the 2014 Roland Garros quarterfinals. But this is an older, much-improved, Grand Slam-winning Muguruza that the Russian will face this time, not the 20-year-old upcoming talent that Muguruza was in 2013-14. Age might be against the 31-year-old Sharapova this time.

--

Rafael Nadal, the world No. 1, and third seed Marin Cilic, among others, will be in action in what looks likely to be an eventful quarterfinal round at the French Open on Wednesday, after a day of upsets. Italian Marco Cecchinato and Dominic Thiem have already reserved their berths in the semifinals, having overcome their better seeded opponents on Tuesday.

Can Nadal, who takes on Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, continue his ruthless winning march or will it be another day of upset?

Welcome to Sportstar 's live coverage of the French Open. In the ladies singles quarterfinals, Garbine Muguruza of Spain takes on Maria Sharapova, and Simona Halep, the top seed, plays Angelique Kerber.

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