Tennis, WTA – Roland-Garros 2024: Sabalenka knocks out Navarro

“I was here ready to fight for every point, I was ready for long rallies,” admitted Sabalenka on court afterwards.

But the world No 2 is undefeated this year on clay by players ranked outside the Top 10, and that fine run continued – and she is also threatening to continue her streak of reaching at least the semi-final of the last six Grand Slams.

Sabalenka, ranked No 2, will face the winner of the match between Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva and Russian Mirra Andreeva next.

The Belarusian defeated Russian Erika Andreeva (6-1, 6-2), Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima (6-2, 6-2) and Spaniard Paula Badosa (7-5, 6-1) in the previous rounds.

Earlier in the tournament, Navarro, ranked No 24, won against qualifier Zeynep Sonmez (6-2, 6-0), Italian qualifier Sara Errani (6-2, 7-5) and No 14 seed Madison Keys (7-6 (5), 7-6 (3)).

Paris (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 53.478.000, most recent results first):

• Varvara Gracheva vs. Mirra Andreeva
• Elena Rybakina (4) beat Elina Svitolina (15): 6-4, 6-3
• Jasmine Paolini (12) beat Elina Avanesyan: 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
• Ons Jabeur (8) beat Clara Tauson: 6-4, 6-4
• Coco Gauff (3) beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto: 6-1, 6-2
• Marketa Vondrousova (5) beat Olga Danilovic (Q): 6-4, 6-2
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Anastasia Potapova: 6-0, 6-0