Roland Garros 2024 Women’s Day 7

Aryna Sabalenka took a break-strewn opening set to get acclimatised and then unleashed her game on Paula Badosa on Saturday to roll into the French Open fourth round 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday.

For the fifth day in a row, rain and chilly temperatures made a mockery of the schedule, with only moveable roofs on the Chatrier and Lenglen showcourts allowing play to go on.

Sabalenka won an opening against her best friend in the game in an opening  set riddled with seven service breaks in a dozen games.

But the second seed  took a stranglehold on her Spanish opponent in the second set as she swept to the win in 77 minutes after leading 4-0.

The only hint of trouble for two-time Australian Open winner Sabalenka came when she trailed 5-3 in the first set, a problem she quickly remedied, losing only one more game in the match.

“I knew I could come back,” she said. “I tried to play my nest and fight for every point in tough conditions.”

Sabalenka said that by adding weapons into her game, she has to avoid the problem of over-thinking while on court.

“It’s more complicated to play, but I didn’t think so much today.

“I was just feeling the game and trusting my instincts, going for all of my shots.

“It’s tough to play your best friend,” said the player with a 5-2 record over the Spaniard who has been returning from 2023 back problems.

“I tried to only focus on myself and bring my best game.”

The winner improved to 14-3 this season on clay, losing only to WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek in Madrid and Rome finals plus going out to current Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the Stuttgart quarters.

“I grateful to be here after all I went through,” former No. 2 Badosa said . “Last year I was on the sofa. 

“Today I played one of the best players in the world at Roland Garros.”

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina started off Day 7 play with a 67-minutes defeat of Belgian Elise Mertens, winning 6-4, 6-2.

“It was a tough match, but as always, my serve helped me a lot,’ the Kazakh said.

“I was more confident in the second set so I’m really happy with the performance.”

After pulling out of Rome with stomach illness, Rybakina said she faces constant fitness battles.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with sleep, some issues,and I had to skip tournaments. 

“Also allergies and everything. But now I’m feeling pretty well and focused.”

 The 88th-ranked Moscow-born French player Varvara Gracheva stunned Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-3 to keep fragile home hopes alive.

The Romanian lost three straight set points serving for victory while leading 5-4 40-0 as Gracheva mounted her miracle comeback.

Lenglen crowds broke into a rendition of the  French Marseillaise anthem after the surprise win.

“I will remember that moment until the end of my life,” Gracheva said.

“After the (on-court) interview, they said it’s your first French Open as a French player with the French crowd.

“I said yes. I couldn’t believe what a wonderful atmosphere it was,” said the player who lost seven straight matches from the Australian Open before breaking the spell with a qualifying win in Charleston two months later .

 Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen was upset 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-6) by Elina Avanesyan.

Main photo:-Aryna Sabalenka consoles her best friend on the tour Paula Badosa after victory today – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd