French Open 2025 Women’s Day 8

Holder Iga Swiatek fought back after trailing a set and a break to outlast Elena Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday, reaching the French Open quarter-finals in a late show of strength.

The winner of four of the last five editions at Roland Garros looked like joining 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini is making an early exit.

The Italian was ousted by Elina Svitolina, who saved three match points on the way to a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1 victory.

Fifth seed Swiatek gathered her reserves against former Wimbledon winner Rybakina, ignoring three double-faults in one game and using a late break to sneak out the win in two and a half hours.

“I felt like I was playing Jannik Sinner,” former WTA No. 1 Swiatek said. “Elena really pushed me. I needed to get back into the match, and I didn’t have a lot of hopes. I just kept fighting.

“I loosened up at the end and was able to play my game. I’m super-happy with the win.”

The match which featured more than 20 break points marked the first time this century that Swiatek has lost a Grand Slam opening set 6-1; the Pole had won her previous 17 sets at the venue.

“I was patient enough to stay in the match and focus, use any opportunity that came to me.”

Svitolina, wife of Gael Monfils who returned to Tour tennis in early 2024 after giving birth, said that her will to fight kept her alive in the massive fourth-round comeback effort on the Chatrier showcourt against Paolini.

“I can’t believe it finished my way, my head still in the match in a big battle,” the Ukrainian said. “It was really difficult, she was playing well.

“I’m happy I could stay to the end – here I am in the next round.”

The 30-year-old winner said it was the little things that led her to victory.

“I had to be aggressive and focused on my game plan and how to take the small opportunities in the second set.

“It was one or two points that decided that set. I played really well in the third to close it out.

Svitolina engineered a turnaround to knock Paolini from contention a year after the Italian reached her first final at a Grand Slam and followed that up with a similar showing at Wimbledon.,

Svitolina is playing in her 12th edition at Roland Garros and has reached her 13th quarter-final at a Grand Slam by winning her 33rd career match at the venue after two and a half hours.

“I had my chances,” Paolini said. “Maybe one match point I have could played

better, but at the same time, she’s a great player. 

“In tennis, this sometimes happens. It’s tough to accept, but you have to.”

Top seeded Aryna Sabalenka fought off frustration as sevenmatch points came and went as opponent Amanda Anisimova dug in.

But the world No. 1 finally prevailed with a backhand winner down the line to return to the Paris last eight.

Last year, Sabalenka dealt with food poisoning as she lost at this stage.

But she is hoping for a positive change at this edition: “I definitely learned a lesson. I’ll do my best to be healthy.

“I want to stay here until the last day, I;ll go in the quarter-finals and do my very best.”

Even after the hard-fought victory, Sabalenka still holds a losing record against Anisimova, who leads their series 5-3.

“She’s a great player, a tough one. We’ve had a lot of battles in the past. I was so focused today, I tried to put the pressure on her.”

Eighth-seeded Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen defeated Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 and will carry a 1-6 record into her quarter-final with Sabalenka.

“There are not many words to describe my emotions because I’ve been trying every year, and that’s the real first time for me to be in quarter-final in Roland Garros,” the Chinese winner said.

The Paris Olympic champion said there is little to compare between a major and the Games tournament held once each four years.

“It’s true I won the gold medal, but I don’t consider myself as a defending champion at Roland Garros because it’s Swiatek who won Roland Garros last year. 

“It’s different because Grand Slam we need to play seven matches, and the Olympic Games is six matches to get a gold medal. 

“I just want to stay calm and fight every single match. Forgot what happened last year, but just fight at this moment in Roland Garros.”

Main photo:- Iga Swiatek celebrates victory – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd