Roland-Garros: Sabalenka overpowers Anisimova to reach last eight

Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, moved into the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros by defeating American Amanda Anisimova, the No 16 seed, 7-5, 6-3.

In a clash of two huge hitters, it was the Belarusian who was able to display a greater variety to supplement her power.

“I’m building my confidence against her, and I improve my game a lot over the years, Sabakenka said after the match. “I think now I have everything I need to get all of those wins back against her.”

A close first set went the way of Sabalenka, breaking late on after the pair had earlier exchanged beaks of serve.

The second was a more straightforward affair, with a single break enough for the world No 1 to take it and seal safe passage into the last eight.

Sabalenka : “I knew that I wouldn’t have a lot of opportunities for my touch game today”

“I knew that I wouldn’t have a lot of opportunities for my touch game today, Sabalenka added. “As much as I could, I tried to change the rhythm against her.”

“I think I did it pretty well, and overall I stayed really aggressive. Like those little moments help me a lot to put an extra pressure on her.”

Sabalenka is seeking her first Roland-Garros title, having reached the semi-finals in 2023 and the quarter-finals last year.

Sabalenka, ranked No 1, will face Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 8 seed, next. The Chinese defeated the Belarusian in Rome two weeks ago. “I have to say I was pretty exhausted in Rome. Honestly, I was playing the tournament constantly thinking I shouldn’t be playing and I needed a little rest before Roland Garros. But I think maybe because courts are a little bit slower, so she has a bit more time to prepare her shots, but now I’m fresh and ready to go. So I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals.”

The Belarusian won against Russian Kamilla Rakhimova (6-1, 6-0), Swiss Jil Teichmann (6-3, 6-1) and Serb Olga Danilovic (6-2, 6-3) in the previous rounds.

Earlier in the tournament, Anisimova, ranked No 16, beat Serb qualifier Nina Stojanovic (6-3, 4-1 ret.), Swiss Viktorija Golubic (6-0, 6-2) and Dane Clara Tauson, the No 22 seed (7-6 (4), 6-4).

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
• Iga Swiatek (5) beat Elena Rybakina (12): 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
• Qinwen Zheng beat Liudmila Samsonova (19): 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3
• Elina Svitolina (13) beat Jasmine Paolini (4): 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1