Paris, June 1: Anna Kalinskaya of Russia made it to the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time by defeating Anastasia Potapova of Austria 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Monday.
Their contest on Court Suzanne-Lenglen stretched to almost three hours after Potapova failed to serve out the match twice in the decider and Kalinskaya overturned a 4-1 deficit in the super tiebreak.
It will be 22nd-ranked Kalinskaya’s second quarterfinal at a major after she advanced that deep at the 2024 Australian Open.
Despite pre-tournament men’s favourite Jannik Sinner losing in the second round, Italian fans will have at least one player in the quarterfinals.
Tenth-seeded Flavio Cobolli advanced to the second Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career – and also his first here – after beating American Zachary Svajda 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).
His next opponent will be the winner of a fourth-round match later Monday between No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and unseeded Alejandro Tabilo.
Big-serving Matteo Berrettini, the other Italian left in the men’s and in the women’s draw, faces Juan Manuel Cerundolo later Monday.
Also later, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, takes on Naomi Osaka in a match between four-time Grand Slam winners. It is the first women’s night match at the French Open in three years.
Fonseca continues run
Former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten was getting nearly as animated in the front row of the stands as Joao Fonseca was on the court.
In the end, both Brazilians were celebrating after the 19-year-old Fonseca followed up his five-set victory over Novak Djokovic by beating two-time runner-up Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-6 (8), 5-7, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Fonseca is the first Brazilian man to reach the last eight in Paris since – you guessed it – Kuerten in 2004.
Now if Fonseca can win three more matches, he can become the first Brazilian to raise the Coupe des Mousquetaires since Kuerten captured the third of his three titles 25 years ago.
Seated directly behind the court, Kuerten – whose nickname is “Guga” – was gesticulating and cheering for Fonseca from start to finish and it even appeared that Fonseca was looking at him for inspiration on occasion.
Kuerten was known for displaying his emotions as a player – never more so than when he used his racket to draw giant hearts on the red clay during a run to the 2001 title.
Fonseca, who came back from two sets down against Djokovic, is known for his massive power and high-risk style.
When Ruud had the first of two set points in the second-set tiebreaker, Fonseca rushed the net on his serve and produced a drop-volley that Ruud couldn’t get back.
Fans wearing the neon yellow shirts of Brazil’s national soccer team chanted Fonseca’s name after every big point.
Up next, Fonseca will face 20-year-old Jakub Mensik, who held off a comeback from Andrey Rublev in a 6-3, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 win to become the youngest Czech man in a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Ivan Lendl in 1980.
It was Mensik’s second five-set match of the tournament. He collapsed to the clay with cramps upon edging Mariano Navone in a fifth-set tiebreaker after 4 hours, 41 minutes in the second round, then defeated Alex de Minaur in four sets despite losing the opening set 6-0. (AP)
