THREE of the four remaining women’s singles Olympic tennis competitors will be crowned the medallists after the semi-finals were determined through results yesterday. Just one top eight seed survived the draw thus far, with three of the four remaining competitors seeded. Three of those four are 24-years-old or younger, with the oldest being Elina Monfils who heads into the last four as the Gold Medal favourite.

Monfils knocked off Italian Camila Giorgi in straight sets 6-4 6-4 to advance through to the semi-finals. The match lasted 91 minutes, with Monfils hitting six aces to one, and winning 77 per cent of her first serve points, compared to the Italian’s 62.5 per cent. Despite hitting five less winners (11-16), she had nine less unforced errors (27-36), which was the same difference as the points won (63-54). Monfils is trying not to think about the fact that she could become the first Ukrainian to win a medal at the Olympics.

“For sure, it’s exciting, but I have to not think too much about that,” Monfils said post-match. “My goal is to focus on myself, my game and my recovery and be ready for tomorrow.

“You know when you are higher ranked everyone wants to beat you, and everyone is extremely motivated to beat you,” the No. 4 seed said. “I’ve had that for the past three or four years already, when I entered the Top 10: you step on the court, and everyone is just there to try to beat you.”

Now the Ukrainian will face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, with the 2019 Roland Garros runner-up the lowest ranked player in the semis. The 22-year-old Czech backed up her superb wins over Kiki Bertens and Naomi Osaka so far, with a strong performance in the first set against Paula Badosa, before the Spaniard retired at a set down. Vondrousova only dropped seven points on serve for that first set, hitting 10 winners to eight and only having three unforced errors to seven.

“I think she was exhausted,” Vondrousova said of Badosa. “It’s sad the way it ended. For me it’s good that I have some rest now, but it’s sad to see her like this.”

In the other quarter finals, Belinda Bencic set up a clash with Elena Rybakina after the Swiss talent knocked off Russian 13th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets. Storming to a 6-0 lead, Bencic was forced to work for it against her opponent who won the second set, before the Swiss star claimed the win in three sets, 6-0 3-6 6-3. She now takes on Rybakina who upset seventh seed Garbine Muguruza, 7-5 6-1 in the other quarter final.

OLYMPICS WOMEN’S QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[4] Elina Monfils (UKR) defeated Camila Giorgi (ITA) 6-4 6-4
[15] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated [7] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 7-5 6-1
[9] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated [13] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-0 3-6 6-3
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) defeated Paula Badosa (ESP) 6-3 RET

Picture credit: Daniel Kopatsch / ITF