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Whiley beats world No. 1 to join Reid in Roland Garros semis

Jordanne Whiley and Gordon Reid both beat higher ranked players on Thursday’s opening day of the Roland Garros wheelchair tennis event to reach the men’s and women singles semi-finals, Whiley doing so at the expense of world No. 1 and defending champion Jiske Griffioen.

Jordanne Whiley plays a forehand

On a good day for players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme, Reid and Whiley also reached the men’s and women’s doubles finals. Whiley and Japan’s Yui Kamiji won a deciding match tie-break in their semi-final that also saw Lucy Shuker on the other side of the net.

World No.4 Whiley made a sensational start to her latest singles campaign in Paris against top seed Griffioen, racing through the opening set 6-0. Griffioen hit back to take the second set, but Whiley secured an early break in the decider and maintained her cushion to wrap up a 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 victory.  

She said:

“I can't believe I've beaten the world No. 1 when I've never won a singles match here in Paris. But I had a new game plan and played to my strengths more.
"After winning the US open last year I've got more self-belief that I can beat these guysl, so I'm going for the title and I've got two matches left to do it."

Reid, also world ranked No. 4 in men’s singles, edged a close first set against world No.3 Peifer after the Frenchman retrieved a break to level at 5-5.

However, the Australian champion clinched the breakthrough in the second set to seal a 7-5, 6-3 victory for place in his third Roland Garros men’s singles semi-final.