Elina Svitolina continued her post-pregnancy comeback with a place in the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday as she defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 7-6 (5).
The proud Ukrainian received the support that the Lenglen showcourt traditionally has given to her French player husband Gael Monfils.
Svitolina’s defeat of her Russian opponent ended on a second match point, with Kasatkina giving a weak thumbs-up as her opponent avoided shaking hands with the player from the invading country.
The Russian has been one of the few players to risk speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine which began in February 2022; she said at the time she could be unlikely to return to her homeland.
Svitolina is working her way back on the WTA after becoming a mother last October; she will play a Paris quarter-final for the fourth time.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere, I can be more thankful for the support,” the winner said. “I understand how gael has felt here all these years.
“I would have never dreamed of a quarter-final back when I was giving birth.
“It’s unbelievable to compete here. I want to push even further. I’m motivated to give my everything for the next matches.”
2021 Paris finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova finished her second marathon win, fighting back to overhaul Elise Mertens 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3.
The victory in three hours, nine minutes was slightly longer than her three-hour-plus second round win.
The success over Belgium’s Mertens put the winner into an eighth quarter-final here and first for the one-time No. 11 since a knee injury which kept her out for most of 2022.
Pavlyuchenkova, ranked 333, is competing in her 57th Grand Slam main draw and 15th at Roland Garros.
Mertens saved four match points in the tight closing stages, with her opponent finally getting over the line with a backhand winner on her fifth chance.
“I didn’t have many emotions left after this match,” the winner said. “I’m honestly really tired.
“But I’m really proud of myself; people reminded me that I was 6-3, 3-1, Love-40 down, so actually it felt like a lost match already.
“But I kept on fighting every point, believing, and here I am here.”
Pavlyuchenkova is the third player ranked outside the Top 250 to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final after Martina Hingis and Kaia Kanepi.
“Today was really tough conditions; there was a lot of wind.
“On one side we didn’t even have the clay left actually, with the wind it was flying away.
“I couldn’t really slide on that side anymore, and so it was not easy.
Pavlyuchenko will not make it to Wimbledon with her injury-comeback protected ranking Grand Slam entry quota now filled.
“I’m not going to Wimbledon this year, because my protected ranking allowed me to play only two Grand Slams, and Roland Garros is my second Grand Slam.
“Since the deadline was close before Roland Garros, even with the new ranking points that I got from (here), I (would not) qualify for Wimbledon.
“Because they are using my old ranking which is like 400, so there is no way I can get in. So no grass season for me this year.”
Pavlyuchenkova will line up next against Czech Karolina Muchova, who defeated lucky loser Eina Avanesyan.
