- Tamara Zidansek secures victory over Paula Badosa 7-5, 4-6, 8-6
- Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beats Elena Rybakina 6-7 (2), 6-2, 9-7
Never before in the open era history of women’s tennis, an unpredictable sport even in regular times, had six of the final eight players at a major all been first-time quarter-finalists. Yet Tuesday’s pair of duels at the French Open between four players searching for their first semi-final was a comprehensive demonstration of its merits as all four fought tooth, nail and to the death, with Tamara Zidansek and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova emerging in extra innings to play for a spot in the final.
Earlier in the day, Zidansek, the lowly world number 85 of Slovenia who had never passed the second round of a slam, rose to the moment against the highly-favoured 33rd seed, Paula Badosa of Spain, winning 7-5, 4-6, 8-6 in a desperately tense encounter. Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 31st, followed immediately and went even further as she defeated the 21st seed, Elena Rybakina, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 9-7.
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