On Monday, Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed from Belarus, defeated Emma Navarro, the 22nd seed from the United States, 6-2, 6-3, to move on to the round of eight at Roland-Garros in Paris.
The sole previous meeting between the two had been earlier this year in the round of 16, in Indian Wells, and Navarro had prevailed.
Following the match, Sabalenka said in court, “I was here ready to fight for every point, I was ready for long rallies.”
However, the world No. 2 is unbeaten against players outside of the Top 10 on clay this year, and that impressive record has maintained. She also poses a threat to maintain her streak of qualifying for at least the semifinals of the last six Grand Slams.
The No. 2 seed Sabalenka will next play the victor of Varvara Gracheva’s match against Russian Mirra Andreeva, a Frenchwoman.
In the earlier stages, the Belarusian overcame Paula Badosa (7-5, 6-1) of Spain, Erika Andreeva (6-1, 6-2), a qualifier from Japan, Moyuka Uchijima (6-2, 6-2).
No. 24 seed Navarro defeated qualifier Zeynep Sonmez (6-2, 6-0), Italian qualifier Sara Errani (6-2, 7-5) and No. 14 seed Madison Keys (7-6 (5), 7-6 (3)) earlier in the competition.
Paris (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 53.478.000, most recent results first):
- Varvara Gracheva vs. Mirra Andreeva
- Elena Rybakina (4) beat Elina Svitolina (15): 6-4, 6-3
- Jasmine Paolini (12) beat Elina Avanesyan: 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
- Ons Jabeur (8) beat Clara Tauson: 6-4, 6-4
- Coco Gauff (3) beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto: 6-1, 6-2
- Marketa Vondrousova (5) beat Olga Danilovic (Q): 6-4, 6-2
- Iga Swiatek (1) beat Anastasia Potapova: 6-0, 6-0