Tamara Zidansek, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Paula Badosa became the first three women to reach the quarter-finals of this year’s French Open on Sunday.

Spaniard Badosa reached her first-ever Major quarters, Zidansek became the first woman from Slovenia to reach this stage as while Russia’s Pavlyuchenkova returned to the last eight at Roland Garros after a decade.

Pavlyuchenkova came from a set down beat Victoria Azarenka 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. She knocked out Aryna Sabalenka, the highest-ranked player left in the draw, in the previous round.

The Russian 31st seed broke former world No 1 Azarenka eight times to advance to her seventh Grand Slam quarter-final. She will play Serena Williams or Elena Rybakina for a place in the last four.

“It’s really incredible I’m still playing tennis 10 years later,” said Pavlyuchenkova, who turns 30 next month. “It’s a surprise for me to be here. I fought for each ball and each point and played very well.”

Pavlyuchenkova, who lost to eventual runner-up Francesca Schiavone here a decade ago, matched her best run at a Major.

She has made the last eight at all four Slams, including three of the past five Australian Opens.

World No 85 Zidansek won 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 and will face the in-form Badosa of Spain for a place in the semi-finals.

The 23-year-old had never previously got beyond the second round of a Grand Slam. However, she illustrated her potential by knocking out sixth-seeded former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu in the first round where she had twice been just two points from defeat.

“For me, the key was to start to really believe that I can beat the top players, to believe that I am better than them and that I belong there,” said the Slovenian.

Zidansek, a keen snowboarder in her winter off-time, finished runner-up on clay in Bogota in April.

However, before seeing off Andreescu in the first round in Paris, she had never defeated a top 10 player.

Badosa reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final by defeating 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

The 23-year-old, a former junior champion at Roland Garros, is this season’s best performing clay court player.

She now has 17 wins against just two losses on the surface, a run which includes the Belgrade clay court title on the eve of the French Open.

In a women’s draw thrown wide open by the early exits of top three seeds Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, the opportunities exist for a shock champion to emerge.

Results

Last 16

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x31) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x15) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2

Tamara Zidansek (SLO) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1

Paula Badosa (ESP x33) bt Marketa Vondrousova (CZE x20) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

With AFP Inputs