Roland-Garros: Zheng battles past Samsonova to book spot in last eight

Zheng Qinwen, the No 8 seed, advanced to the last eight of Roland-Garros by beating Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 19 seed, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3.

The Chinese is into her first Roland-Garros quarter-final and only her fourth Grand Slam quarter-final.

But she was made to work hard by the in-form Samsonova, who looked to have all the momentum behind her when she stormed the second set 6-1.

Yet the Olympic gold medallist reset admirably for the decider, ultimately holding firm in the most important moments of that third to move into the last eight.

Zheng, ranked No 7, will play the winner of the match between Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, and American Amanda Anisimova, the No 16 seed, next.

The 22-year-old Chinese won against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (6-4, 6-3), Colombian Emiliana Arango (6-2, 6-3) and Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko (6-3, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous rounds, Samsonova, ranked No 18, won against Egyptian Mayar Sherif (7-6 (3), 6-2), Spanish qualifier Leyre Romero Gormaz (6-3, 6-3) and Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (6-2, 6-3).

Paris (Grand Slam), other last-16 results (Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 56.352.000, most recent results first):

• Madison Keys vs. Hailey Baptiste
• Lois Boisson vs. Jessica Pegula
• Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Coco Gauff
• Mirra Andreeva vs. Daria Kasatkina
• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Amanda Anisimova
• Elena Rybakina vs. Iga Swiatek: sunday
• Elina Svitolina (13) beat Jasmine Paolini (4): 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1