Aryna Sabalenka has never been beyond the fourth round of a major: it is a recurring refrain in women’s tennis. But after a stellar year for the Belarusian, all that was supposed to change at the French Open. It did, but not as she would have wished.
Having started the day as the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw, Sabalenka ended it as the tournament’s latest high-profile casualty, tumbling to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 third round defeat against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Her departure leaves the event without a representative from the world’s top four, following the withdrawals of Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep.
While the defending champion Iga Swiatek remains a heavy favourite for the title, Sabalenka’s defeat leaves Serena Williams as the highest seed remaining in the lower half of the draw. The American, chasing the 24th major that would draw her level with Margaret Court on the all-time honours board, will not be oblivious to the possibilities.
For Pavlyuchenkova, it was a victory to roll back the years, evoking memories of her run to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros a decade ago. The Russian also reached the last eight at the US Open that year, rising to a career-high ranking of 13th. She has struggled to repeat that success on the Parisian clay, but it remains the surface of choice for a player who has made her home in the south of France.
For all the pedigree of the world No 32, who has made the quarter-finals at each of the slams over the course of a career that has too often flattered to deceive, the result was still something of a surprise. Sabalenka had made short work of Pavlyuchenkova when the pair met in Madrid last month, and a repeat of that dominant display looked on the cards when the Belarusian raced to a 3-0 lead inside 10 minutes.
Pavlyuchenkova is a battle-hardened campaigner, however, and she had clearly learned from her chastening experience in the Spanish capital. The Russian refused to be overawed by Sabalenka’s superior firepower, absorbing her opponent’s pace while directing her own shots with purpose and precision to claw back the deficit.
Sabalenka hit back strongly to win the second set, but her momentum was stalled when Pavlyuchenkova took a medical time-out. From there, the world No 4’s play became increasingly ragged. She finished the match with 39 unforced errors.
“At this point, I’m not focusing on the rankings any more,” said Paylyuchenkova. “Not focusing on anything, on the names, nothing. I just take this particular match, and I want to win this match. That’s it. I have the tactic to play this player. I have a few things how I would like to beat her. That’s it, basically.
“Today on the court, apart from having pain in my knee and my leg, I was enjoying. I’m trying to embrace this. I’m enjoying much more now every point the tough matches than I used to before. I guess that’s also the reason why I’m still here in the second week.
“Also, I feel like I’m fitter. Because I’m enjoying playing tennis, I work harder. You work hard, you enjoy the hard work.”
Pavlyuchenkova will certainly have her work cut out in the fourth round, where she will face former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka. The 15th seed beat fellow former semi-finalist Madison Keys 6-2, 6-2.
Elena Rybakina, seeded 21, came through 6-1, 6-4 against Elena Vesnina and will next play the seventh-seeded Williams, who recovered from a 4-1 second-set deficit to beat compatriot Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-4.