Four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek lost in the fourth-round Sunday at Roland Garros to Marta Kostyuk, 7-5, 6-1, leaving no former French Open champions remaining in the women's draw, with fourth-round matches still left to be played for advancement to the quarterfinals.
That might sound like good news for the remaining competitors, one of whom will be a first-time champion, but the field still includes top-seed Aryna Sabalenka, who plays No. 16 Naomi Osaka in her fourth-round match Monday. Sabalenka lost in the final last year to Coco Gauff, who lost her third-round match Saturday.
After Sabalenka, the highest ranked players in the draw are No. 7 Elina Svitolina and No. 8 Mirra Andreeva, neither of whom have played in a Grand Slam final. The only players remaining beyond Sabalenka who have played in a Grand Slam final are Osaka and 19-seed Madison Keys, who plays her fourth-round match Monday, so a maximum of two will remain after Monday's action.
My take: It's been a tough tournament for high seeds on both sides of the singles draw, but if Sabalenka can get past surging four-time Slam winner Osaka, I like her chances to add the French to her trophy case, that already includes two U.S. Opens and two Australian Opens.
THE ASYLUM
No champs left in French draw
Four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek lost in the fourth-round Sunday at Roland Garros to Marta Kostyuk, 7-5, 6-1, leaving no former French Open champions remaining in the women's draw, with fourth-round matches still left to be played for advancement to the quarterfinals.
That might sound like good news for the remaining competitors, one of whom will be a first-time champion, but the field still includes top-seed Aryna Sabalenka, who plays No. 16 Naomi Osaka in her fourth-round match Monday. Sabalenka lost in the final last year to Coco Gauff, who lost her third-round match Saturday.
After Sabalenka, the highest ranked players in the draw are No. 7 Elina Svitolina and No. 8 Mirra Andreeva, neither of whom have played in a Grand Slam final. The only players remaining beyond Sabalenka who have played in a Grand Slam final are Osaka and 19-seed Madison Keys, who plays her fourth-round match Monday, so a maximum of two will remain after Monday's action.
My take: It's been a tough tournament for high seeds on both sides of the singles draw, but if Sabalenka can get past surging four-time Slam winner Osaka, I like her chances to add the French to her trophy case, that already includes two U.S. Opens and two Australian Opens.
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