Weather conditions have disturbed the smooth action in Trophée Clarins again after yesterday's delays, but despite that the scheduled got completed and lots happened on clay courts in Paris on Thursday. Madison Keys and Yuliia Starodubtseva are the only two seeds remaining in the draw before Friday's quarterfinals, as the rain-disturbed second round delivered significant upsets. After elimination of other featured players like Leylah Fernandez and Katie Boulter, Emma Navarro is another one to get eliminated.
Volynets upsets Navarro in all-American clash
The fourth seed who was ranked in top 10 of WTA rankings not so long ago, continues her struggles with a disappointing exit served by the fellow-American Katie Volynets. The match was resumed overnight after first set won by Volynets by 6-3 on Wednesday. Current world number 35 ended first day of this match with three consecutive service games lost. Navarro had an opportunity to reset her mind before resumption, but Volynets delivered another break at the start of second set today. Navarro has tried to chase the scoreline, but did not succeed, as Volynets was keeping eye on serve very well with 80% second serve points won. The world number 104 another and decisive break in 8th game of second set, winning by 6-4 6-2. The slide down in rankings continue for Navarro who will drop down to 39th in next Monday's list. It's 11th loss of Navarro in 16 matches played in 2026 with miserable series of 7 defeats suffered in last 8 matches.
Keys makes the job done
The top star of this tournament has expectedly defeated Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah by 6-4 6-1. Keys started well with an early break, but the 20 years-old impressed with a grit to make first set competitive, breaking Keys to love in 4th game and performing hold in another game defending 4 breakpoints. Then, the rain stopped the match for a longer while. Keys was putting an instant pressure on her lower ranked opponent after resume. The French defended three setpoints during own serve but favorized American took the opening set in the following game. Second set was a display of full control from Keys who dropped just three points on serve and won the decisive part of the match under half an hour in a smooth way.
Charaeva wins a marathon thriller
The biggest highlight of this day was an encounter between qualifiers - Alina CHaraeva defeated Tamara Korpatsch by 6-4 6-7(3) 7-5 after more than 3 hours and 20 minuts of effective play. The German who has already played a 3 hours-long match against home representative Clara Burel in first round was trailing by 3-5 in second set after losing first one. Despite this, Korpatsch managed to force a tiebreak and won it prolonging match into whole distance. Same as in previous two sets, Charaeva was on front foot from the start. The fighting spirit of Korpatsch helped her to deny two matchpoints when the Russian was leading by 5-3. Charaeva has finally found a way to cross the finish line in 12th game, breaking her opponent for 7th and last time. Aliaksandra Sasnovich will be her quarterfinals opponent, as the Belarusian defeated Anna Blinkova by 7-5 6-4 after two competitive sets. Sasnovich came back from a break down in second set, winning 4 last games to secure the advance into quarters with two straight sets victories.
Friday quarterfinals preview
With a few stars being already out, Madison Keys seems to cruise for the title as a confident favorite before decisive weekend. The American meets Anastasia Zakharova on Friday. The Russian booked a ticket to quarterfinals early on Wednesday, defeating the reigning champ Katie Boulter in a sparkling battle, just before the start of whole the rain chaos which tormented the play for two days. Keys and Zakharova met once before in last year's WTA 500 Queen's Club on grass when Keys won in comfortable straight sets. Yuliia Starodubtseva is on a good way to come back on track after disappointing start of European clay season. The Charleston Open finalist scored two commanding victories and faces Katie Volynets on Friday. Both met in Rome two years ago when Volynets won in three sets.
The only one French representative left in the draw - Diane Parry is already the first semifinalist in the field. Parry defeated Chloe Paquet in another three-setter which started on Wednesday and got completed today, winning by 6-4 3-6 6-4. The French player was supposed to meet Yulia Putintseva who achieved two confident wins over Mccartney Kessler and Veronika Podrez. This performance predistined the Kazakh to a deep run in Paris, but the 31 years-old withdrew from the tournament due to a low back injury.
M. Keys (1) vs. A. Zakharova match preview