Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 7

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued to dominate opponents, with the world No. 1 reaching the fourth round of the French Open on Saturday 6-0, 7-5  over Daria Kasatkina.

The 53rd-ranked Kasatkina came  in with a strong pedigree after reaching the semi-finals here four years ago.

But the tournament lost its defending champion when Coco Gauff crashed 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 to Anastasia Potapova.

Potapova began the match with a break to love and held that margin for seven games until Gauff broke back, 4-all, salvaging the set two games later.

The second set was marked by nine breaks of serve, with Potapova failing to serve for it while leading 5-2.

But the Austrian jumped on the ensuring tiebreaker, running out a 5-0 lead and securing five set points with a backhand winner.

One chance was enough as the erratic Gauff weakly netted a forehand to leave the match at a set apiece.

The third set was a slugfest, with Potapova of Austria firing a backhand down the line to set up a match point. A Gauff mis-hit ended her time as a Grand Slam champion.

Sabalenka, losing finalist a year ago, has won her last 15 matches against players ranked outside the top 50. She has now beaten adopted Australian Kasatkina in eight of their 10 meetings.

The top seed swept the opening set to love in 25 minutes but exchanged early breaks early in the second.

Sabalenka finished off a quick win as Kasatkina drove wide on a match point return, capping a Week 1 composed of straight-set victories.

“It’s been a great week, I’m happy to be in the second week,” the winner said. “I’m happy with my level against the fight that she brought.

“It’s a dream to play here and feel the crowd support.”

Sabalenka became the ninth woman to win 100 matches while holding the No. 1 WTA ranking.

“It means the world to me, I’m glad I stayed tough in the tough moments. I never gave up. 

“I’m proud of myself and my team; we’ve been able to reach an amazing level.”

Sabalenka will duel on Monday with Naomi Osaka after the former No 1 booked the Paris fourth round for the first time after playing in her first third-round match here in seven years.

Osaka came good after going out in the third round in 2016, 2018 and 2019. She is now into the second week of a noon-hardcourt Slam for the first time.

The 16th seed defeated Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4 wearing another of her ever-changing array of outrageous outfits, this one comprising a floor-length sheer skirt which she stepped out of to reveal a sparkly golden-fringed tennis dress.

The battle lasted three hours, with Jovic sending a return long on match point.

“This was probably one of my best matches on clay,” the winner said. “It seems the farther I go the calmer I am.

“It’s a privilege to be here and get to the fourth round for the first time.”

Osaka was playing her 100th match at a Grand Slam and produced her 74th victory at this level. 

She called her current success a welcome change from the first half of the season.

“I got injured in Australia, and then the Sunshine Swing wasn’t the greatest for me. I really wanted to make it a goal to do really well on clay and grass.

“I don’t want this to be my last (match at this edition). I want to keep going, I just want to keep focusing, every match.”

Qualifier Maja  Chwalinska  put a second Pole into the second week, joining four-time champion compatriot Iga Swiatek after a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 fightback defeat of Maria Sakkari.

The underdog ranked 114 and playing in only her second Grand Slam main draw put her head into a towel and wept tears of joy after the biggest accomplishment of her career.

Chwalinska recovered from a set and a break down to put out her Greek opponent, a former Paris semi-finalist.

The underdog has never reached the quarter-finals of a WTA event.

Diane Parry kept home hopes alive with her 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-3) knockout of sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, who completely collapsed in the third-set tiebreaker.