Aryna Sabalenka is aiming for a spot in her seventh consecutive Grand Slam semifinal as she prepares to face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva at the French Open on Wednesday. The tournament's schedule has been altered following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic due to injury. Other notable quarterfinal matchups on Court Philippe Chatrier include Elena Rybakina versus Jasmine Paolini and Alexander Zverev against Alex de Minaur in the night session.
World No. 2 Sabalenka, who remains on track for a potential final showdown with rival Iga Swiatek, has consistently reached Slam semifinals since winning her first major title at the Australian Open last year. Reflecting on her success, Sabalenka expressed how achieving her goals has significantly boosted her confidence. So far, she has dominated the French Open draw, not dropping a set and easily defeating Erika Andreeva, Mirra's older sister, in the first round.
Mirra Andreeva, the youngest woman to reach the French Open quarterfinals since 2005, poses a new challenge for Sabalenka despite her previous losses to the Belarusian star. Determined to improve her performance, Andreeva mentioned that she and her coach would make necessary adjustments for their upcoming match. The winner of their encounter will advance to face either former Wimbledon champion Rybakina or Italian 12th seed Paolini, with Rybakina favored to progress due to her strong form.
Djokovic's unexpected withdrawal has significantly impacted the men's draw. He was slated to play Casper Ruud in a rematch of last year's final but had to exit the tournament due to a knee injury sustained in his last-16 match. As a result, Jannik Sinner will replace Djokovic as world No. 1 and will face Carlos Alcaraz in the men's semifinals on Friday.
Meanwhile, Zverev and De Minaur will compete for the remaining semifinal spot against Ruud, with Zverev seeking his fourth consecutive Roland Garros semifinal appearance despite dealing with the demands of a grueling schedule and an ongoing legal issue.
ADD A COMMENT :