Aryna Sabalenka's impressive performance at the French Open continued as she secured a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Emma Navarro, advancing to the quarterfinals. The Belarusian player, ranked second in the world, expressed her delight at the sunny weather in Paris, attributing her improved play to the brighter conditions.
Following her win, Sabalenka celebrated with dance moves to the tune of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” showcasing her joy on the court. She remains unbeaten at Roland Garros this year and is now just one win away from her seventh consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
In other matches, No. 12 Jasmine Paolini overcame Elina Avanesyan with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory, while No. 4 Elena Rybakina defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3. Paolini and Rybakina are set to face each other in the upcoming quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Australian player Alex De Minaur made history by becoming the first Australian to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros since 2004. De Minaur staged a remarkable comeback against No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. Despite the challenging match, De Minaur expressed gratitude for the support and the incredible atmosphere at the tournament.
With temperatures in Paris hovering around 22 degrees Celsius, the absence of rain allowed matches on Court Philippe Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen to proceed with the roof open. De Minaur, who conducted his post-match interview in French, acknowledged the difficulty of facing Medvedev but received cheers from the crowd for his efforts.
De Minaur's next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between No. 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 13 Holger Rune, scheduled for later in the day.
Overall, the French Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and surprises as players strive to advance in the prestigious tournament.
For more tennis news and updates, visit AP tennis.
