Ukraine's Elina Svitolina staged a remarkable comeback at the French Open on Sunday, saving three match points to defeat 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, advancing to her fifth Roland-Garros quarterfinal. The 13th-seeded player will face either three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek or 2022 Wimbledon champion Elina Rybakina in the next round.
The victory came after a tense battle where Paolini, the fourth-seeded Italian, served for the match at 5-3 in the second set. Despite holding two match points while leading 5-4, 15-40, Paolini couldn't convert her opportunities.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A crucial moment came in the tiebreaker when Paolini had her third match point but failed to capitalize. Svitolina seized control afterward, dominating the final set with a quick 4-0 lead. Svitolina, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist with appearances at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, has yet to progress beyond the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros, where she holds a 0-4 record.
The Ukrainian player has shown particular prowess on clay courts this season, securing 16 of her 27 wins on the surface, the highest on the tour. Paolini entered the match with impressive momentum, riding a career-best nine-match winning streak that included claiming the Italian Open title on red clay.
In men's singles action, American Tommy Paul made history by becoming the first U.S. male player to reach the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. The 12th-seeded Paul defeated No. 25 Alexei Popyrin in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The tournament's Day 9 schedule features several high-profile matches. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic are set to compete, along with four American women.
The American contingent includes second-seeded Coco Gauff, third-seeded Jessica Pegula, and a matchup between seventh-seeded Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste The victory marked Svitolina's second win over Paolini this year, following their previous encounter at the Australian Open in January.
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