Kalinskaya makes Roland Garros quarters with super tiebreak

PARIS (AP):

Anna Kalinskaya surprised herself after defeating Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) to reach her first French Open quarterfinal yesterday.

The Russian had not expected to get this far.

"Thinking two weeks ago that I will be here, I wouldn't believe it," she said. "I would probably laugh with my team."

Perhaps setting a low bar has helped her play more freely in the opening rounds.

"I just take this clay season very easy mentally. I don't put too much pressure to do well. I guess it helps," the No. 22 seed said. "I didn't have any expectations on clay for myself."

After Potapova failed to serve out the match twice in the decider, Kalinskaya overturned a 4-1 deficit in the super tiebreak.

"I'm super proud, and I can't believe it," Kalinskaya said.

It will be Kalinskaya's second quarterfinal at a major beside the 2024 Australian Open.

Despite pre-tournament men's favourite Jannik Sinner losing in the second round, Italian fans will have at least two players in the quarterfinals.

Tenth-seeded Flavio Cobolli advanced to his second Grand Slam quarterfinal — and his first here — after beating American Zachary Svajda 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).

"It's for sure my favourite Grand Slam to play," Cobolli said after winning on Court Philippe-Chatrier. "We have the best feeling with the surface as Italians."

A little while after his win, Cobolli — a former youth football player at Italian club Roma — joined players from the Paris Saint-Germain team as they paraded the Champions League trophy on Chatrier. PSG beat Arsenal in the final on Saturday.

His next opponent will be No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the last eight at all four majors. The Canadian has never been beyond the semi-finals and won't have to face Sinner if he makes the last four.

"Not having Sinner in the semi-finals is another opportunity, but you need to be there," Auger-Aliassime said. "So I have to focus on the next match."

Big-serving Matteo Berrettini joined Cobolli in the quarterfinals after beating Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6). Berrettini last reached the quarters here in 2021.

French hopes were over following Diane Parry's 6-3, 6-2 loss to Maja Chwalinska of Poland. There were also no more Americans in the women's draw after Madison Keys lost to Diana Shnaider 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

Chwalinska had never been beyond the second round of any major, and her run is even more impressive since she came through three qualifying rounds and was ranked No. 114.

Big names have also gone out of the French Open women's draw — defending champion Coco Gauff, four-time winner Iga Swiatek, and No. 2-ranked Elena Rybakina — but it makes little difference to Chwalinska.

"Whoever I'm playing, I'm lower in the rankings," Chwalinska said smiling. "So they are the favourites to win."