First-set tiebreak: Samsonova 6-6 Cocciaretto

At 1-1 Cocciaretto keeps coming forward, as always, but hits long to give up a mini break. Samsonova then climbs into a big forehand from the baseline but nets it for 2-2. Cocciaretto now winds up a big forehand of her own and bravely attempts an angled winner but it’s fractionally wide. That’s 3-2 to the Russian but Cocciaretto wrestles it back to all square at the change of ends …

Samsonova 6-6 Cocciaretto

We’ll have a tiebreak to settle this first set, Samsonova having battled back from 4-0 down.

On Simonne-Mathieu, Danilovic is fighting back in the second set against Vekic, and leads 3-2. It’s with serve in the second set.

Samsonova 6-5 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Cocciaretto has a glimmer of a chance at 15-30. She stays light on her feet while waiting to return serve and tells herself: “Allez, allez …” The Italian buys two break points but they soon evaporate, the second due to a forehand winner from Samsonova, who opens her body up and crunches a commanding stroke cross-court. Samsonova then prevails in a thrilling rally, running her opponent all around and finally patting a volley to the open court to force a game point. She rounds it off when a Cocciaretto shot balloons up off the net cord and out. Samsonova shakes her first at her coach in triumph. She’s moved beyond that distinctly shaky start.

*Samsonova 5-5 Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Cocciaretto feathers a serve down the middle to start and Samsonova is all over it, hitting powerfully to the corner twice and wrong-footing her opponent on the slippery clay. Then Cocciaretto hits long and it’s suddenly 0-30 … then 0-40 when she hits a forehand wide. A relatively protracted rally up next and Samsonova pumps her fist and roars when Cocciaretto nets from the back of the court. The Russian has a second break back and it’s all square at 5-5.

Samsonova 4-5 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

A tidy hold from Samsonova to 15. But Cocciaretto can serve for the first set, which would be a massive step on the road to her first appearance in the fourth round of a grand slam.

Vekic won the first set against Danilovic 6-0. The dreaded bagel.

*Samsonova 3-5 Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

A lovely backhand winner angled down the line brings up 40-0 for the Italian. Facing three games points, Samsonova tries to attack her opponent’s second serve, but only dumps a backhand of her own in the net. Cocciaretto is a game away from taking the first set and Samsonova must serve to stay in it.

Samsonova 3-4 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Better, much better from Samsonova. There is still an unforced error – she’s up to 12 now, to just one for her opponent in the match. But she’s also struck four aces to none, and one of those brings her to within a game at 4-3, still a break down.

*Samsonova 2-4 Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

From 30-30 Samsonova has a look at break point … and seals the game with a smooth winner to the corner. The Russian is finding her range now but Cocciaretto, judging by her positive body language, will keep coming forward and going for her shots.

On Court Simonne-Mathieu, Donna Vekic leads Olga Danilovic 4-0 in their first set.

Samsonova 1-4 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Cocciaretto’s forehand is a serious weapon. She opens her shoulders and cracks a powerful winner, again going cross-court, her opponent left motionless and helpless at the back of the court. But Samsonova suddenly comes to life and belts down four straight aces for 40-15! Impressive. A slightly longer rally on what proves to be the concluding point, Samsonova finding an accurate winner that kisses the line on Cocciaretto’s forehand side. Samsonova is on the board thanks mainly to some elite serving.

*Samsonova 0-4 Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Cocciaretto whips a tremendous cross-court forehand past Samsonova for 15-0. The Russian then goes to the drop shot again but again Cocciaretto runs it down. That’s 30-0, and Samsonova tries yet another drop shot that collapses limply into the net. She hits long when returning serve, next up, and that’s a ludicrously easy hold for the Italian.

Samsonova 0-3 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

Again, it’s sloppy stuff from Samsonova. At 30-30 she carelessly steers a backhand into the tramlines and it’s another break point for Cocciaretto … Samsonova tries a drop shot but the Italian runs it down – and she’s stormed into a 3-0 lead with a double break.

*Samsonova 0-2 Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

A speedy hold for the Italian to start. She is aiming to make the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time. Samsonova has been past this point at a grand slam twice – Wimbleon 2021 and the US Open 2022 – but she is playing error-strewn tennis at the moment and is handing the initiative to her 23-year-old opponent.

Samsonova 0-1 *Cocciaretto (*denotes next server)

A couple of sweet forehands from the Russian, one particularly artful stroke down the line, sets up a game point at 40-30. But there were a couple of mishits too, and Samsonova hits long for deuce, then nets a backhand and it’s quickly break point for the Italian … Cocciaretto hits long to waste a first opportunity at an immediate break, but a couple more errors from Samsonova hands the early break to her opponent.

Liudmila Samsonova (17) v Elisabetta Cocciaretto is first up on Suzanne Lenglen. They are warming up now. Samsonova, as a Russian, is playing under a neutral flag and dispatched Amanda Anisimova in straight sets yesterday. Cocciaretto is ranked 51 in the world and beat Cristina Bucsa of Romania in the previous round.

Preamble