Exciting French Open Quarterfinal Preview: Swiatek’s Comeback & Sabalenka vs Zheng
Overview
The French Open quarterfinal preview for Tuesday promises thrilling matchups. In one corner, Iga Swiatek takes on Elina Svitolina, while Aryna Sabalenka is set to face Zheng Qinwen in a battle for redemption. 🎾
Highlights of the Clay Court Season
Most importantly, Iga Swiatek has been under the spotlight this season at Roland Garros. She faced scrutiny after unexpected early exits on clay. Consequently, doubts about her ability to clinch a fourth consecutive title arose. When she lost the first eight of nine games to Elena Rybakina in the fourth round, the pressure was immense. Nevertheless, Swiatek’s comeback win showcased her resilience, extending her French Open winning streak to an impressive 25 matches.
Rybakina remarked, “She has great intensity. I think she has all the chances.”
Swiatek, relieved after her victory, stated, “I think I needed that kind of win to feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure. Even if it’s not going the right way, you can still turn the match around to win it.”
This year is exceptional as all Top 8 seeds reached the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2005. Therefore, Tuesday’s French Open quarterfinal preview promises action-packed tennis.
Match Previews
Aryna Sabalenka vs Zheng Qinwen
In the much-anticipated showdown of Aryna Sabalenka vs Zheng Qinwen, the stakes are high. Sabalenka currently leads their head-to-head 6-1. However, Zheng Qinwen emerged victorious in their recent Rome encounter, winning 6-4, 6-3.
Sabalenka explained, “I was pretty exhausted in Rome. Honestly, I was playing the tournament constantly thinking I shouldn’t be playing and I needed a little rest before Roland Garros. But now I’m fresh and ready to go.”
Sabalenka has reached 10 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams from 2014-17. Since 2021, only Novak Djokovic has reached more major quarterfinals.
Zheng, meanwhile, is motivated by her Olympic success and determination. Her dramatic win over Liudmila Samsonova marked her 10th consecutive win at Roland Garros.
Zheng said, “It is true I won the gold medal last year, but I don’t consider myself as a defending champion at Roland Garros because it’s Swiatek who won Roland Garros last year. Of course, I beat her last time, so I have a lot of confidence on clay court.”
Serving could be pivotal. Zheng recorded 10 aces against Samsonova, while Sabalenka hit 11 aces against Anisimova, her highest total this year.
Iga Swiatek vs Elina Svitolina
In the match between Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina, Swiatek leads their head-to-head 3-1. However, she lost their only Grand Slam encounter at Wimbledon 2023.
Swiatek’s comeback win over Rybakina placed her in elite company. Her 25 consecutive French Open wins matched Monica Seles’ record and left her just four shy of Chris Evert’s record of 29. A win against Svitolina would also tie her with Margaret Court for the second-best winning percentage at the French Open.
Swiatek celebrated her 24th birthday, drawing inspiration from her recent victory. “I’m happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court,” she said.
Meanwhile, Svitolina saved three match points in her victory over Jasmine Paolini. Although she refrained from calling it her biggest win, she acknowledged its significance. “But I rate it pretty high because, for sure, winning from the match points, it’s special, especially at the Grand Slam,” she said.
This marks Svitolina’s fifth trip to the Roland Garros quarterfinals, and she’s eager to advance further. Therefore, fans can expect a captivating French Open quarterfinal preview.
For more insights and updates, visit the official WTA website and ESPN’s tennis coverage.
