Rybakina breezes past Svitolina to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan issued a warning to her fellow title contenders after defeating Ukraine's Elena Svitolina 6-4, 6-3 on Monday to advance to her second French Open quarterfinal.

After a slow start with both players dropping serve, Russian-born Rybakina improved her game and cruised through the first set.

Svitolina, 29, was no match for Rybakina in the second set, as the 19th-ranked Ukrainian showed signs of fatigue and lacked precision under the long-awaited sun after a wet first week on the Paris red clay.

The Kazakh stated that she would need to be more consistent when she faces 15th-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini, who has reached the final eight for the first time.

"It's all about focus now, the matches are getting tougher, the opening also, so I think it's a lot about the consistency, not having so many ups and downs," she said.

Svitolina had previously reached the quarterfinals four times, including in 2023, but was unable to challenge the former Wimbledon champion.

"I missed my chance, but she's a great player. It's always tricky because you feel like you're so close, but at the same time so far," Svitolina said.

Last year, Rybakina withdrew from the French Open before her third-round match due to illness.

Rybakina withdrew from the Italian Open this season due to health concerns, after winning titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart.

Rybakina is the only player to defeat Iga Swiatek on clay this year, beating the world number one and three-time French Open champion on her way to the Stuttgart title in April.

SportsLigue