PARIS: Nadia Podoroska has already won more matches at this French Open eight than it usually takes to raise the trophy.
Thats because the 131st-ranked Argentine has come all the way through qualifying to reach the semifinals, becoming the first woman to achieve that feat in the Open era.
Having never won a main draw Grand Slam match before last week, Podoroska could hardly believe it after her 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal victory Tuesday over third-seeded Elina Svitolina on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Asked afterward whether she is pinching herself to make sure its not a dream, Podoroska replied: No. I dont want to wake up.
Podoroska is only the third female qualifier to get to the semifinals at any major tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968, and the first since Alexandra Stevenson at Wimbledon in 1999.
In the semifinals, Podoroska could face another qualifier in Martina Trevisan of Italy, who also had not won a main draw Grand Slam match before this tournament. Trevisan was scheduled to face unseeded 19-year-old Iga Swiatek later Tuesday.
And to think, Podoroska, who is from the same city in Argentina as soccer superstar Lionel Messi, said she considered quitting tennis altogether a couple of years ago after too many injuries, including to her right wrist.
It didn’t look good: she was off the tour for eight months; her ranking dropped; she didnt have enough money to travel to tournaments; and she split with a coach shed been working with for a decade.
I didnt know what to do, Podoroska said.
She stuck with it, though, and now has a new team around her, based in Spain. And she has, by far, the best results of her career.
I have, she said, a lot of confidence.
STRICTLY TENNIS
Danielle Collins, an unseeded American, was in no mood to discuss anything but tennis after she secured a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time at Roland Garros.
Asked about blowing her nose on changeovers and if she had a cold, Collins snapped back to a reporter in her virtual news conference: I dont see the thought process there, and I think its not a very good question.
Then came a query about greater restrictions being put in place in Paris to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the best things about sports is that people get to watch sports, Collins responded. They get to engage in something thats not COVID related, not political. Im not going to comment any further on anything going on in terms of the bubble or COVID protocols or whats going on in Paris. I think that this event brings a lot of positivity to players lives. Really, those questions are quite frivolous.
Obviously were in a pandemic and its a very serious situation, Collins added after beating 30th-seeded Ons Jabeur 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. But I think you should be reporting on the tennis.
In Collins defense, she spent several stressful hours warming up and cooling down on Monday before her match with Jabeur was postponed to Tuesday due to rain.
Last night we were at the courts for eight to 10 hours waiting to go on, she said. So were still having to focus on our matches, having to focus on getting warmed up, having to focus on getting treatment, having to do all of the things that we need to do to be able to go out and play matches.
Collins won’t have much more time to ponder the pandemic before she plays again on Wednesday against Australian Open champion and fellow American Sofia Kenin for a spot in the semifinals.
CAN I KICK IT?
Ons Jabeur drew attention during her fourth-round loss to Danielle Collins as much for her drop shots from all over the court as for a couple of her sumptuous half-volleys with her right foot.
The 30th-seeded Tunisian showed the technique of a soccer player when, after losing a couple of points during her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat, she booted the ball crisply over the net as if scoring a goal at nearby Parc des Princes. The home of French champion Paris Saint-Germain is located a stones throw or a Jabeur kick away from the grounds of Roland Garros.
Turns out those sweet half-volleys were no flukes, either.
Ive got two brothers, so I played soccer a lot with them. I love soccer in general. Im a big fan of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, she said. Im thinking about joining a team, not necessarily a professional one but amateur. Because its a sport I love. Even for tennis it can help me a lot.
As a fan of superstar Ronaldo, who has amassed nearly 750 career goals in a glittering career, no prizes for guessing which position Jabeur would like to play.
I like scoring goals, she said. Surely Ill be a forward and try to really score as much as possible.
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Dampf reported from Rome. AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington also contributed.
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