World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka can't believe her own ‘crazy stat' amid French Open
The post World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka can't believe her own 'crazy stat' amid French Open appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Aryna Sabalenka is still alive at the 2025 edition of the French Open women's singles tournament. The world No. 1 took care of her business in the fourth round of the tourney, as she outlasted No. 8 Zheng Qinwen of China in two sets via a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 score.
Advertisement
With her win over Qinwen, the Belarusian star extended her streak of reaching the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam event to 10. The 27-year-old Sabalenka appeared mildly surprised when she was informed of that feat during a post-match press conference.
'That's a crazy stat,' Sabalenka said after learning of her incredible streak (h/t ESPN). 'I wasn't really thinking about that. I'm really focused on the game, and yeah, that's just crazy statistics.'
Sabalenka's streak started way back in 2022 when she lasted until the semifinal round of that year's US Open. In 2023, Sabalenka started her Grand Slam campaign with a win at the Australian Open. She then made it to as far as the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon before a runner-up finish at the US Open.
The following year, Aryna Sabalenka won her second Australian Open title but was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the French Open and did not participate at Wimbledon. She returned to Grand Slam action at the US Open and flashed her mighty form throughout the tournament, which she topped for her first time in her career.
Advertisement
Still in search of her first French Open title, Sabalenka will look to get closer to that goal when she faces off against world No. 5 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. That poses to be a tough challenge for Sabalenka, as the Polish star is the three-time defending French Open champion. Swiatek has also won the tournament four times in her career.
'I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win,' Sabalenka said as she looks forward to going deeper at the French Open, per ESPN.
Sabalanka is just 4-8 all-time in WTA matches against Swiatek, though they have never crossed paths before at the French Open. In their most recent meeting, Sabalenka beat Swiatek, 6-3, 6-3, at the hard surface of the Cincinnati Open semifinals.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Los Angeles Times
30 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Jannik Sinner beats Novak Djokovic, will face Carlos Alcaraz in French Open final
PARIS — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) on Friday to set up a French Open final against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic is the men's record 24-time Grand Slam champion but could not counter Sinner's relentless accuracy and pounding forehands on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Sinner became only the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion. Earlier, Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Sinner is aiming for his fourth major title, Alcaraz his fifth. Djokovic fought back in the third set but wilted in the tiebreaker, somehow missing an easy smash at the net to trail 3-0 and then lost on the second match point he faced when his forehand hit the net. 'These are rare and special moments,' Sinner said. 'I'm very happy.' He extended his winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments to 20 matches, after winning the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. Djokovic was bidding for a record-extending 38th Grand Slam final, and eighth in Paris, where he was won three times. But he spent much of the semifinal camped behind the baseline, sliding at full stretch and grunting loudly while Sinner sent him scurrying left and right like a windscreen wiper. A cross-court two-handed backhand winner from Sinner in the ninth game of the third set was executed with such pure timing that it drew applause even from Djokovic. Sinner gave him almost no chances, but there was a glimmer of light in the 10th game, when Djokovic had four chances to break Sinner's serve. The crowd broke out into prolonged chants of 'Nole! Nole!' as Djokovic forced two break points at 15-40. Sinner saved both. Tensions were rising. The crowd started self-policing when a couple of rowdy fans shouted out as Sinner prepared to serve, telling the offenders to 'Chut!' (the French for shush). Djokovic's forehand landed wide on his third break-point chance making it deuce. The chair umpire Damien Dumusois came down to check the mark. Djokovic disagreed and walked over, saying 'It's on the line.' Then Sinner came to the net and had a brief discussion with Djokovic, who lost the point but won the next with an overhead smash for a fourth set point, saved again by Sinner. In the first semifinal, Alcaraz acknowledged it was a tough way for Musetti to lose. 'It's not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player,' Alcaraz said. 'I wish him all the best, and wish him a quick recovery and hope to see him soon on the court.' Musetti had treatment on the inside of his left thigh late in the third set and then again before the fourth. He was 5-0 down after 16 minutes of the third set when he called for a trainer. Alcaraz broke Musetti in the next game to clinch the set in 21 minutes, winning 24 of 29 points. Musetti was clearly hindered in his movements and called for the trainer again. After Alcaraz broke his serve to lead 2-0, Musetti walked slowly up to the net and received a hug from Alcaraz. 'I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I start losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind, and definitely was going worse and worse, so I decided to stop,' Musetti said. 'I think was the right decision to make, even if it was not what I wanted. Tomorrow I will do exams.'


Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Associated Press
KLM Open Par Scores
Friday At The International Amsterdam Purse: $2.8 million Yardage: 6,914; Par: 71 Partial Second Round LeaderboardScoreThruJoakim Lagergren, Sweden-818Ricardo Gouveia, Portugal-618Connor Syme, Scotland-518Pierre Pineau, France-418Richie Ramsay, Scotland-417Oliver Lindell, Finland-318Francesco Laporta, Italy-317Andy Sullivan, England-318Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain-218Jorge Campillo, Spain-218Manuel Elvira, Spain-218Dylan Naidoo, South Africa-218David Ravetto, France-218 Suspended due to darkness Did not finish

Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises
Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the first time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday. Haaland collected a through ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the box for the third goal three minutes before halftime. It was his 41st goal in his 42nd match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, including King Harald V of Norway. Haaland also scored when Moldova was beaten 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained perfect in qualifying after three games in Europe Group I. Striker Alexander Sorloth received a precise pass from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot. Nusa, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, was a constant threat to the Italian defense. He left behind two defenders and doubled the advantage with a rising shot from inside the area. Italy was missing some regulars for its first qualifying match, while others failed to impress, including Mateo Retegui, the best Serie A scorer. Defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Mattia Gabbia, defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli and forward Moise Kean were all injured while key center back Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, turned down his callup. Diego Coppola played center back in the three-man defensive line used by coach Luciano Spalletti that was not able to stop Norway. Norway dominates, Italy in trouble In the other Group I game, Israel won in Estonia 3-1 for a second win and second place. The Azzurri are under pressure from the start of their qualifying after failing to reach the last two World Cups. Winning the group is the only way to ensure direct qualification to next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed team goes into the playoffs — the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia and ruled out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. A four-time World Cup champion, the only other time Italy didn't qualify was for the 1958 edition. Italy hosts Moldova on Monday when Norway will be in action at Estonia. Croatia cruises, Belgium held Croatia opened its qualifying with a 7-0 rout of minnow Gibraltar. Mario Pašalić and Ante Budimir struck twice for Croatia within two minutes to break the deadlock after half an hour. In the second half, substitutes Andrek Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovis scored a couple each and Ivan Perisic piled on. Croatia was runner-up in the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022. In the same Group L, Adam Hložek and Patrik Schick each scored as the unbeaten Czech Republic beat Montenegro 2-0 for a third straight win. Belgium was 1-0 up on a goal by defender Maxim De Cuyper but Ezgjan Alioski salvaged a draw for North Macedonia in a surprise in Group J. Wales tops the group with seven points from three games after a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein. North Macedonia was two points behind. Europe to contribute a third of all teams Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup. They will come from the winners of the 12 qualifying groups plus four from a playoff of the 12 group runners-up together with four best-ranked group winners in the Nations League that don't finish first or second in the qualifying. The group stage of European qualifying runs through November. ___ AP soccer: