Elena Rybakina defeated reigning men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz in a last-16 matchup against Ben Shelton on Sunday, keeping her bid for a fourth successive French Open title alive.
The four-time Roland Garros champion was in serious trouble when the second set ended 2-0 for her, who had been struggling for her best form and had not made it to the final since winning the title last year.
But the 24-year-old dug deep to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Swiatek wants to become the first woman to win four Roland Garros titles in a row since Suzanne Lenglen did it 102 years ago.
In the final eight on Tuesday, the Pole will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who defeated 2024’s Jasmine Paolini.
Swiatek currently has a 25-match winning streak at the French Open and is credited with a remarkable 39-loss record.
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Swiatek and Rybakina had previously met in clay-based matches, and the Kazakh had won both of their opening sets, beating 12 of her confused opponent.
Swiatek remarked, “Well, it was tough, you know, first set I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner.”
“I had to do something to regain my composure, but with her playing that way, I didn’t feel like I had much hope.”
In the opening match of the second set, Rybakina threatened to run away with the match when she broke.
However, Swiatek made a remarkable turnaround by turning the tables five times in a row.
With a break to take the final set, the fifth seed appeared to have finally taken control, but it was back to the fifth seed.
Swiatek was one game away from losing when Rybakina had fought back, but she held her resolve to end the contest.
With a comeback of 4-6, 7-6 (8 / 6) and 6-1 victory over the runner-up from the previous year, Svitolina advanced to the quarter-finals, saving three match points in the dramatic opening encounter with Court Philippe Chatrier.
When she takes on Swiatek, the former world number three will compete to advance to her first Roland Garros semi-final.
Svitolina remarked, “I still can’t believe this match ended in my favor.”
“Jasmine was playing really well today, and it was a really challenging match.” I had a really difficult time, but I’m happy I was able to stay focused and fight until the very end.
For the second successive major tournament, fourth seed Paolini faced the same opponent as last month’s winner of the Italian Open.
Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion, defeated Russian Liudmila Samsonova, who was 19th-seeded, in a close three-set victory to earn a quarter-final spot.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, the Chinese eighth seed defeated 7-6 (7 / 5), 1-6, 6-3 to extend her winning streak to 10 matches.
Zheng will face American 16th seed Amanda Anisimova or world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her first Grand Slam contest.
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Shelton faces Alcaraz in a live performance.
Alcaraz fights off on Court Philippe Chatrier in a title defense match later on Sunday against stooped American Ben Shelton.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, fought through the third set only to be briefly scared by Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.
Shelton will be back in action after passing Matteo Gigante in the final 32 after being given a walkover in the second round.
Playing the defending champion, round of 16, on center court, Shelton said, “That’s a pretty cool opportunity, pretty cool experience, that not many people get or see in their lifetime.”
After defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Tommy Paul will face the winner in the quarter-finals.
Source: Channels TV
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