Roland Garros 2023 comes to the decisive stages, as we already know whole the line-up of WTA quarterfinals matches, which will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
(1) Swiatek vs (6) Gauff
The revenge for last year's final between Iga Swiatek and Cori Gauff can be considered as the strongest QFs match-up on paper. It is also the only one match-up between current world's top 10 players out of all. The American needs to find some hope before the clash against title holder, as she didn't find a way to take any single set from Swiatek in all 6 matches played between them so far. The Pole looks very strong and did not need to put too much effort to advance into QFs. Just after defeating Xiyu Wang with a score 6-0 6-0, Swiatek spent just 29 minutes on the court during her 4th round match against Lesia Tsurenko. The Ukrainian has pulled out after 6 games while losing 1-5, due to the sickness.
The form of Gauff was quite a question before the tournament, as the American was not playing really well in the clay season before. All 3 tournament appearances of Gauff in European swing got ended up after winning one match and losing in the second one. The world's number 6 was approaching Roland Garros with a pressure of defending 1300 points for last year's final run, but handled it well and prevailed in all 4 matches against unseeded players. Just after coming back from being a set down against Mirra Andreeva, Gauff scored a straight sets win against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Gauff was leading 5-2 with a double break in the opening set, but lost her advantage despite having a setpoint during own service game. She regrouped from this slump though and regained the advantage, winning this set 7-5. The second one was under control of Gauff from start to the end, as she clinched the victory with a score 7-5 6-2.
(14) Haddad Maia vs (7) Jabeur
Beatriz Haddad Maia is known for playing long and thrilling matches this season, but the battle against Sara Sorribes Tormo in 4th round was enormous one, as the Brazilian made it through the quarters after 3:51 hours of play, ended with a score 6-7(3) 6-3 7-5. It is the longest match in whole the WTA season so far. Despite multiple breaks on both sides, the quality of this marathon was not bad. Haddad Maia scored 65 winners, commiting the same amount of unforced errors, while Sorribes Tormo had a positive ratio with 35 winners to just 31 unforced errors on such a long distance. The Spaniard has definitely something to regret there, as she was leading with a set and double break, while being 3-0 up in second set. Haddad Maia scored an impressive streak of 7 games won in a row since then, forcing a decider. The Brazilian was on the front foot from the start and had 3 matchpoints in 9th game during Sorribes Tormo's serve. The Spaniard cleared the danger and stayed alive in the match while breaking Haddad Maia in the following game to level the score. The 14th seed regained her advantage and broke her opponent once again in 11th game and did not waste the second chance to serve for the win later on.
Ons Jabeur had much less bumpy road to the quarters. The Tunisian scored a routined win over Bernarda Pera, winning it 6-3 6-1 in just 64 minutes. Roland Garros was the only one Grand Slam, where Jabeur did not manage to reach out the quarterfinals stage at least once so far. This time, the 7th seed made it in style, losing just one set on the road in an interesting 3rd round's match-up against in-form Olga Danilovic. Jabeur will be much fresher before the quarters against the opponent who played such a marathon today, and needed to prevail in 3 consecutive three-setters to stay in the tournament.
Muchova vs Pavlyuchenkova
Karolina Muchova reaches out her 4th career Grand Slam quarterfinal after comfortable win over Elina Avanesyan. The Czech has defeated the sensational qualifier with a score 6-4 6-3. This run practically completes the stunning comeback of Muchova, who was climbing back in the rankings after the break caused with injury issues. Muchova will advance into top 30 of WTA rankings and has a great chance to be seeded in the upcoming Wimbledon championships. The possible win in quarterfinals can even mean, that she equals career's highest 19th place.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova proves, that Roland Garros is a perfect environment for her to play her best tennis, as the 2021 runner-up reaches out the quarters during the comeback season after struggling with injuries whole the previous year. Recent months were not easy, as the Russian did not win any single match in main draw of tournament on WTA level, trying to get back the groove in ITFs as well. The clay season was quite better, as she entered 3 tournaments with a protected ranking and managed to win 4 matches in Madrid, Rome and Strasbourg. French Open is a different story, as Pavlyuchenkova endured 3 difficult battles in a row, coming back from being a set down against players like Liudmila Samsonova, Anastasia Potapova and Elise Mertens.
The last one is a great story for Pavlyuchenkova and really a bitter lose of the Belgian. Mertens was playing very well so far, especially showing an impressive form in one-way traffic match against 3rd seed Jessica Pegula. She was also on the front foot in the 4th round's match against Pavlyuchenkova. Mertens won the opening set 6-3 and was leading 3-1 in second one. 5th game was a crucial moment, as the Russian has defended 7 breakpoints and held the serve to stay in touch. She managed to level the score and won the tiebreak, which forced the deciding set. While converting any of the chances in 5th game, it's possible that nothing could stop Mertens to win this match in straights. Pavlyuchenkova was a dominant force in third set and secured her quarterfinal's spot after 3:06 hours of battle with a score 3-6 7-6(3) 6-3.
Svitolina vs Sabalenka (2)
Elina Svitolina is another quarterfinalist from the bottom half of main draw with a story of great comeback to competing on highest level. The Ukrainian has defeated 9th seeded Daria Kasatkina 6-4 7-6(5) to reach out the QFs in first Grand Slam after the maternity break. Svitolina has already secured the comeback into top 100, less than 2 months since her first tournament appearance after the break.
Aryna Sabalenka advanced into her first Roland Garros quarterfinal after defeating Sloane Stephens 7-6(5) 6-4. The match, which was choosen as the one for night session on Philippe Chartier, was an exciting one with a great comeback of the American in opening set. Sabalenka was leading 5-0 after 16 minutes with a flawless performance. Stephens managed to fight back from this and leveled the score to 5-5, but lost this set in tiebreak eventually. Second set was also level till the score 4-4, but Sabalenka gained the decisive break in 9th game. Stephens was leading 40-0 there, but Sabalenka scored 8 points in a row since then, earning the break and serving for the match without losing a point. The Belarusian has secured the lead in WTA Race after Roland Garros, regardless of the further results in this tournament.
