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Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 8

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Rising clay powerhouse Marta Kostyuk kept the upsets rolling at Roland Garros on Sunday as she sent four-time champion Iga Swiatek out 7-5, 6-1, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

The Ukrainian stands an unblemished 15-0 on the dirt at the Tour level after defeating her former world No. 1 opponent who celebrated a bitter 25th birthday.

The exit of third seed Swiatek came a day after defending champion Coco Gauff was stunned by Anastasia Potapova and during a week where men’s top seed Jannik Sinner and three-time champion Novak Djokovic were both shown the door.

The Kostyuk victory sets up a clash in the last eight with compatriot Elina Svitolina, after the seventh seed defeated Swiss Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Svitolina will be playing the quarters here for a sixth time as the Rome champion plays the winner of Madrid and brings s 10-match win streak to the match.    

“There could not be a better tournament for us,” Svitolina said. “It’s an amazing achievement for Ukrainian tennis.

“It’s been difficult since the war and the (Russian) invasion. But this is something inspiring for the next generation to believe it’s possible to play sports.

“The match was not easy, I always have big battles with Belinda.  I tried to stay locked in with my tactics. I brought my best fighting spirit today.”

Kostyuk was one of a record four Ukrainian women who reached the third round in Paris; she arrived with titles in Rouen and the Madrid Masters.

Poland’s Swiatek lost for only the fourth time here and owns 43 victories at the clay major.

Kostyuk finished off the match with a pair of aces and set up match points with a drop shot. Swiatek drove a service return wide to lose after 98 minutes.

The 23-year-old from Kyiv broke new ground with her quarter-final, the second of her career at a Grand Slam after 2024 Australia. 

She had lost in three previous meetings with Swiatek – including Paris five years ago – never winning more than four games in a set.

“I’m still in shock,” the 15th-ranked winner said. “It’s incredible, I still cannot believe it.”

Kostyuk tried to explain her clay surge this spring:  “I’ve given myself the space to challenge my opponent. The most important thing for me is to enjoy.

“I woke up this morning and thought what a day I have to live. I want to keep enjoying, not focusing on winning or losing.

“”I’m not playing tennis to win. I’m playing tennis because I love it. I want to connect to people. I want to make people happy & unite people.”

The hour-long first set featured five breaks of serve, with Kostyuk dictating play to an opponent who normally takes that role.

The 15ht-ranked Ukrainian dropped serve to start the second set but got it straight back before sweeping to victory.

Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, whose upcoming retirement at age 36 is looking more and more uncertain, powered into the last eight 6-3, 7-6 (4) over China’s Wang Xiu.

The pair each struck more than 30 unforced errors each and converted on a combined nine break points out of 21.

 Cirstea has been on a clay hot streak, reaching semis at both Rouen and Rome.

“It was a great match played really well,” the winner said. “I didn’t do much wrong and she played amazing.

“I was very happy to close it out in two sets as it was getting very, very hard at the end.”

Cirstea is playing her 17th French Open main draw and reached the quarters in 2009, her second appearance.

“There is no expiration date for dreams and ambitions,” she said. I love tennis. To still play at this level is an absolute joy.

“In life, you are free to do what you want – I want to pay and here I am. The farther I go, the less pressure I put on myself.

“My passion is tennis, I’m so grateful for everything that is happening.”

Cirstea moved into a match against eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, who needed four match points to finally prevail 6-3, 6-2 over Swiss Jil Teichmann.

Andreeva, 19, is into the Paris quarters for the third straight year and played a semi-final in 2024.

Teichmann saved three match-winners for Andreeva while trailing a set and 5-1, finally holding serve.

But the seed finished off the job a game later, coming good on her fourth chance,

“I was playing much better today than in my previous matches, she said. “Jil is tough and has been playing well.

“I had to be solid the entire match, I could not  afford mistakes like I made in the other matches.

I had extra focus from the first ball, I’m super-happy with how I played today.”

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Sinner stages fightback to win second Wimbledon

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Jannik Sinner rallied after dropping a 65-minute opening set, with the Italian lifting his second straight Wimbledon title 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday over Alexander Zverev.

The result between the pair of elites will keep Sinner on world No. 1 while Zverev nudges injured Carlos Alcaraz aside to take the second ranking position as a result of his performance here.

Sinner collected a fifth trophy at a major after fading in the heat six weeks ago to exit the French Open second round but working with his team and taking medical advice to get back on top of the fitness situation.

Sinner’s recovery in his first-round match from two sets to one down took him all the way to the title a fortnight later.

Sinner crushed a forehand to the empty court on match point to clinch victory in three and three-quarter hours.

“It’s been an amazing final one again. Sasha and I gae it all we had,” Sinner said. “I’m happy about the win and the level that we both played.

“thanks to this crowd – there is no better place to play tennis.”

The Championships Wimbledon 2026 Day Gentlemen’s singles final Jannik Sinner kisses the Winners Trophy after he wins in four sets by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

The match began as a slow-moving affair, with each of the first two sets taking an hour as the pair tested each other throughout. Zverev came to Centre Court one month off his breakthrough Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.  

Italy’s Sinner won his first Wimbledon trophy a year ago over Alcaraz, who has been off court since April with a wrist injury and has no return date as of yet.

The victory was his 44th of the season against a mere three defeats and his fifth title of 2026.

Zverev accepted defeat and joked during the trophy ceremony: “Jannik, I’m not sure I like you any more. You’ve beaten me 10 times in a row

“But congratulations, Jannik showed why he’s the best player in the world. It was great to share Centre Court with you.

“Unfortunately it did not go my way, but me and my team have had a pretty good two months even if I lost this final.

“I came here never reaching the quarter-finals. At age 29 I actually feel that I can win this trophy.”

The Championships Wimbledon 2026 Gentlemen’s singles winner Jannik Sinner (ITA) with Winners Trophy shows off the trophy from the members balcony after four set -Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

The German, who went through a serious knee injury drama several seasons ago, suffered a scare in the third set as he slipped while chasing a Sinner dropshot.

“The 29-year-old sat on the grass favouring his right knee as Sinner came around the net to help him to his feet. Zverev played on after the incident without any medical intervention.

Zverev drew first blood by winning the opening set to end a 14-set losing streak against Sinner.

But the Italian top seed slowly turned the momentum as his game kicked  in.

After winning the second and third sets, Sinner moved towards domination of his German opponent in the fourth set 

The holder came from 0-30 down to square at two games apiece and broke on his third opportunity of the seventh game to take 4-3 command, backing that up with a love game, 5-3.

Sinner claimed the trophy three games later, firing 15 aces among more than 50 winners. 

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner falls to the ground to celebrate as he wins Men’s Singles – by Roger Parker/ISF LTD

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Zverev brings the curtain down on Fery-tale run

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Alexander Zverev dominated from the start to end the unexpected victory run of Arthur Fery at Wimbledon, with the British wild card going down 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 in the Friday semi-final.

The 23-year-old  Paris-born Brit dubbed “Cross-Channel Fery” by tabloid media, lost his bid to become the first local to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Murray and only the fourth Briton overall to get that far here.

With his dominating victory in two and a quarter hours, German’s Zverev became the 13th man to reach the final at all four Grand Slams; he won his only title at a major a month ago at Roland Garros over Flavio Cobolli.

Zverev will be playing in his fifth Grand Slam final.

The mis-match ended on the second seed’s first match point, which he earned  with a winning stab volley at the net.

The German took victory a point later as  Wimbledon local Fery’s return landed long over the baseline.

Zverev will now face the winner from top seeded holder Jannik Sinner and seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic for the title.

“It’s amazing, this is the Grand Slam where I’ve struggled the most and all of a sudden I’m in the final,” the 29-year-old winner said.

“I’m incredibly happy and proud. But we have one more match to go and that’s what the focus is on.” 

Zverev paid credit to Fery, calling his run to semi-final glory “amazing.”

“Credit to Arthur, he’s just beginning his career and I’m sure he will do great things on the court.”

Zverev said he does not care whom he plays in the Sunday final. “No matter who it is, it won’t be easy. I have to trust myself and believe that I can win. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

Zverev has won his last nine matches against British opponents dating to 2023.

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev celebrates straight sets win – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd

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Player media “strike” suspended after Wimbledon peace talks

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Peace talks behind tightly closed doors at Wimbledon have resulted in a suspension of a top player media strike during the Championships.

A consulting firm representing players who are seeking a rise in prize money to at least 20 percent of tournament takings at the four Grand Slams, broke the news on Monday as opening day play got underway.

It cited “constructive meetings” with Wimbledon bosses over the weekend.

Leading players including world No. 1’s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka limited their time during pre-event media to just 15 minutes – the same protest they staged five weeks ago at Roland Garros.

Wimbledon increased prize money by 20 percent for this edition, but the total is still less than what players are seeking.

Wimbledon officials were quick to spin the truce as a win-win.

“I think it’s great news that we and they can now just concentrate on the championships and on the tennis,” All England Club boss Sally Bolton said.
“We’ve had some really fruitful conversations over the weekend. They’ve been really positive.”

While the pause will last over the Wimbledon fortnight, the prize money issue still remains, with the player side saying “the underlying matters remain unresolved.”

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