Source : ABC NEWS
Aryna Sabalenka has continued her relentless charge towards a maiden French Open crown, overcoming the resistance of Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
In the first women’s night-session match at Roland Garros in three years, the Belarusian world number one recovered from a shaky start to reach the last eight.
Sabalenka, who has now reached at least the quarterfinals in her last 14 grand slam appearances, set up a last-eight meeting with Russian Diana Shnaider.
“She is such a great player, she plays a super aggressive tennis,” Sabalenka said of Osaka.
Naomi Osaka’s run was ended by the world number one. (Getty Images: Ian MacNicol)
“I’m happy with how I was able to put back the pressure on her. It’s amazing to play the night session in front of all of you guys.
“I’m super happy with my serve. I’m super pleased overall with the performance today.”
Osaka opened a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Sabalenka double fault, but the Belarusian immediately broke back and stole her opponent’s serve decisively for a 6-5 lead, whipping a powerful service return that the 16th seed could not control, her backhand failing to clear the net.
Following a tough hold for 3-3, Sabalenka broke for 4-3, ending a long rally with a subtle half volley.
Osaka, who was playing in the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time, did not have more in the tank and lost the remaining games, bowing out on Sabalenka’s first match point.
Shnaider, meanwhile, took down American 19th seed Madison Keys, who beat Sabalenka in the 2025 Australian Open final.
The Russian won 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 in an upset that leaves Sabalenka as one of three players in the women’s draw who have progressed past the quarterfinals of a slam.
The most surprising inclusion in the last eight is Poland’s Maja Chwalińska, making her main-draw debut in Paris, with her previous best at a major a Wimbledon second-round appearance in 2022.
The world number 114 knocked out the last French player in either singles draw, beating Diane Parry 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Chwalińska will take on Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya, who beat former countrywoman Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(10/7) to match her career-best major mark with her second quarterfinal berth.
On the men’s side of the draw, Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini ensured Italian fans still had someone to cheer for despite top seed Jannik Sinner’s early exit.
Tenth seed Cobolli beat American Zachary Svajda 6-2, 6-3, 6-7(3/7), 7-6(7/5), before Berrettini downed Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who stunned Sinner in the second round.
The 6-3, 7-6(7/2), 7-6(7/6) win marks the injury-plagued Italian’s first journey past the fourth round of a slam since the 2022 US Open.
Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime dismissed Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 and completed his set of Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.
Reuters/ABC
