Paris: World number one Aryna Sabalenka is closing in on a place in the semifinals of the French Open, with the women’s draw wide open and an opportunity to claim her maiden title on the Paris clay appearing increasingly within reach.
Golden chance for Sabalenka
Sabalenka, one of only two top-10 seeds remaining in the tournament, is aiming to go one step further than her runner-up finish last year at Roland Garros. The Belarusian has been in strong form throughout the competition and appears determined to capitalise on the absence of several top contenders.
Speaking after her convincing last-16 victory over Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka emphasised her focused approach and mental clarity during the tournament.
“I think because I’m not really focusing on that and I’m not really overthinking, I was able to kind of separate myself from what’s going on this year at Roland Garros,” she said.
“I’m bringing my best level that I have, and I’m there, I’m fighting, and I’m doing everything I can to get this trophy.”
Her composed mindset and consistent performances have made her one of the strongest contenders left in the draw.
Quarter-final challenge ahead
Before securing a place in the semifinals, Sabalenka must overcome Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider. The 22-year-old has impressed with her dynamic playing style and will pose a significant challenge.
Sabalenka acknowledged her opponent’s strengths, describing Shnaider as a “tricky” player capable of varying pace and rhythm effectively.
“She’s a great player. I’d say tricky game, changing the rhythm a lot, and moving well, great serving. So I’m super excited to face her for the first time,” Sabalenka noted.
A victory would mark Sabalenka’s seventh consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance, underlining her consistency at the highest level of the sport.
Surprise contenders in women’s draw
In another quarter-final, Anna Kalinskaya will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska. While Kalinskaya enters the match as the favourite, Chwalinska’s remarkable run has been one of the highlights of the tournament.
Ranked 114th in the world, Chwalinska has defied expectations by defeating several higher-ranked opponents, including Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, 23rd seed Elise Mertens, and former world number three Maria Sakkari.
“For me, it’s like whoever I’m playing, I’m lower in the rankings, so it doesn’t matter for me if the draw is open or not,” Chwalinska said.
Her fearless approach and underdog mentality have made her a player to watch as the tournament progresses.
Men’s draw set for new champion
While the women’s competition remains unpredictable, the men’s draw at Roland Garros is guaranteed to produce a first-time Grand Slam winner, following the early exits of several top players.
Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is among the leading contenders and is aiming to break new ground in his career. Reflecting on the unexpected developments, he acknowledged the shifting dynamics of the tournament.
“There was that big day or two days in a row, it was like Jannik Sinner lost, Novak Djokovic lost, it was a lot of noise,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“But that was last week. Then, as the days went by, you kind of get used to it.”
Despite the absence of some of the biggest names, Auger-Aliassime stressed the importance of staying focused on each match.
Tough road in the men’s bracket
To reach the semifinals, Auger-Aliassime must overcome 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. The winner of that clash will face either Matteo Berrettini or Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the final.
Interestingly, Auger-Aliassime is the only non-Italian player left in his half of the draw, setting up the possibility of multiple high-intensity match-ups against Italian opponents.
Arnaldi, ranked 104th, has already made history by spending 17 hours and 42 minutes on court en route to the quarter-finals — the longest recorded time at this stage of a Grand Slam.
“It’s so special, I mean, for everyone. For Flavio, for Matteo, for me. I feel like we all have different stories, but we’re all so happy to be here,” Arnaldi said.
“Definitely it’s going to be a tough one for us, because it’s a derby.”
Conclusion
As the French Open enters its phase, Aryna Sabalenka stands on the brink of another semifinal appearance, carrying the hopes of securing her first Roland Garros title. With the draw wide open in both the men’s and women’s competitions, the tournament is shaping up for thrilling finishes and potentially historic breakthroughs. For Sabalenka and other contenders, the coming matches could define their careers on one of tennis’s biggest stages.