First of all on Monday in Paris last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE-4) had to say goodbye to the young Danish star Holger Rune and in the night session the second in the world rankings Daniil Medvedev from Russia, who seemed very strong in the first rounds, went against Marin Cilic (CRO-20 ) smooth in three sentences below.
The 19-year-old Rune, who recently won his first ATP title in Munich, defeated number four seeded Tsitsipas after 3:01 hours with 7: 5.3: 6.6: 3.6: 4. This is his first time in a major quarter-final, as is his next opponent, Kitz starter Casper Ruud from Norway.
The fact that 33-year-old Cilic made it into the last eight against Medvedev, who was rated higher, was also unexpected. Especially in this clarity: 6:2,6:3,6:2 after only 105 minutes for Cilic, Medvedev remained in the first three rounds without losing a set. Cilic celebrated his first victory in the fourth duel with the 26-year-old current US Open winner.
In the afternoon, number 8 seeded Ruud sent Hubert Hurkacz (No. 12) from Poland home after 2:31 hours with 6:2,6:3,3:6,6:3. This means that two Scandinavians will duel in the quarter-finals: Ruud has played Rune three times so far and won all three matches without losing a set. Most recently, the Norsker, who wants to defend his title at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel this summer, won 7:6(5),7:5 in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago.
“I feel incredible, I was so nervous at the end,” admitted Rune, who is playing his first French Open. “It’s so great to still be here,” said the right-hander with a two-handed backhand.
Rune had already eliminated number 14 seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov in three sets in the first round. Against Tsitsipas he gave a sentence for the first time. The world number 40. from Gentofte is only playing his third Grand Slam tournament: At the US Open 2021 he was eliminated as a qualifier in round one against Novak Djokovic in four sets, at this year’s Australian Open also in round one in five sets (against Soonwoo Kwon/KOR ). Now he is the first Dane in the professional era to reach a men’s major quarterfinals. In the ranking, he will at least improve to 28th place.
Later, the number 7 seeded Russian Andrej Rublev benefited from the resignation of his opponent Jannik Sinner (ITA-11) with a score of 1:6.6:4.2:0. The South Tyrolean had to stop because of a knee injury.
The big quarter-final hit in the men’s between Novak Djokvic and Rafael Nadal was scheduled for Tuesday in the night session (from 9 p.m. / live ServusTV, Eurosport).
In the women’s top star Iga Swiatek initially had great difficulties before she was able to secure her 32nd victory en suite. The top seeded Pole, who won her only Grand Slam title so far in Roland Garros 2020, led 5: 2 against the 19-year-old surprise round of 16 Zheng Quinwen in the first set, missed three set points at 5: 4 and then lost the set one in the tiebreak. In the second set, the Chinese received treatment for a thigh injury on her right leg, lost the set 6-0 and then became more competitive again in the third set. In the end Swiatek was happy about a 6:7(5),6:0,6:2 win after 2:40 hours.
She now meets American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. The number 11 of the tournament knocked out Irina-Camelia Begu from Romania with 4:6,6:2,6:3.
Also in the last eight are the two Russians Darja Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetowa. Kasatkina, seeded number 20, clearly won 6:2, 6:2 against the Italian Camila Giorgi. Kudermetowa, ranked number 29, prevailed against the American Madison Keys with 1: 6.6: 3.6: 1.
Source: Nachrichten
