Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus competes in the French Open women's singles Round of 16 match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 3, 2024. /CFP
Aryna Sabalenka extended her dominant run at the French Open by dispatching Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals on Monday.
And watch out, because the sun is back at Porte d’Auteuil in the southwest of Paris.
“When the sun is out, I play with a lot more happiness,” said Sabalenka.
She was joyful after her fourth-round win over the 22nd-seeded Navarro, showing disco-inspired dance moves on her way off the court to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” being played loudly on the phone of No. 8 Ons Jabeur, who stood near a staircase leading to the locker room.
The second-seeded Sabalenka is one win away from her seventh straight Grand Slam semifinal. She will face the unseeded Mirra Andreeva, who reached the quarterfinals of a major for the first time after beating Varvara Gracheva 7-5, 6-2.
When Andreeva, who turned 17 a month ago, hit the winning forehand, she threw her racket over he head and let her emotions go.
“My coaches, before the match, they talk about the plan, about the tactics,” Andreeva said. “I listen, but honestly, once I step onto the court, I don’t remember anything. That’s how I always play.”
Gracheva, six years older and also born in Russia, decided to represent France in 2018 and played her first tournament as a French player in 2023.
“I’m happy for her,” Gracheva said Andreeva. “She served well, she played a very serious match.”
Andreeva became the third woman in the last 18 years to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros before turning 18, following Amanda Anisimova in 2019 and Coco Gauff in 2021.
