Four-time champion Iga Swiatek faced a tough challenge in the French Open in Paris, but managed to come back and secure a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over 12th-seeded Elena Rybakina.
This victory marked Swiatek’s 25th consecutive win at Roland Garros, equalling Monica Seles’ record for the second-longest winning streak in Paris in the Open Era. Despite making 27 unforced errors in the first eight games, Swiatek fought hard and overcame Rybakina in two hours and 30 minutes.
Next, she will compete against the 13th seed, Elina Svitolina, who saved three match points to defeat the fourth seed, Jasmine Paolini, in a thrilling match lasting two hours and 24 minutes, with set scores of 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1. Svitolina displayed remarkable resilience, turning the match around after falling behind in both the first and second sets.
In another notable match, eighth-seeded Qinwen Zheng of China secured her place in the French Open quarterfinals for the first time with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 victory over Liudmila Samsonova of Russia. Zheng secured her win with a strong serve, including 10 aces, becoming the second Chinese player in the Open Era to reach the women’s quarter-finals, alongside 2011 champion Li Na.
Zheng is now set to face top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka maintained her dominant form by defeating 16th seed Amanda Anisimova 7–5, 6–3 without dropping a set in the tournament. Anisimova showed resilience by saving multiple match points before the match concluded.
