PARIS, MAY 31 (IANS): The French Open witnessed a dramatic day of tennis on Sunday, headlined by Marta Kostyuk’s stunning upset of four-time champion Iga Swiatek, Sorana Cirstea’s emotional return to the quarter-finals, and marathon victories for Felix Auger-Aliassime, Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Matteo Berrettini.
Kostyuk ends Swiatek’s reign
Marta Kostyuk produced one of the most significant wins of her career, dismantling Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 to storm into her maiden Roland Garros quarter-final. The 15th seed extended her clay-court winning streak to 16 matches, adding Paris to her triumphs in Rouen and Madrid earlier this season.
Swiatek initially looked in control, breaking midway through the first set and serving at 5-4 for the opener. But Kostyuk turned the tide with fearless hitting, breaking back and capitalizing on Swiatek’s double faults before sealing the set with a backhand winner.
The second set saw Swiatek’s rhythm collapse, her first-serve percentage dipping below 50% as errors mounted. Kostyuk reeled off six straight games, striking winners from both wings and forcing 39 unforced errors from her opponent. It was her first victory over Swiatek in four meetings, earning her a quarter-final clash against either Belinda Bencic or Elina Svitolina.
Cirstea’s farewell flourish
Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, on her farewell tour, rolled back the years to defeat China’s Xiyu Wang 6-3, 7-6(4) and reach her first French Open quarter-final since 2009. The 18th seed, who plans to retire at season’s end, showcased her experience in key moments against Wang, a qualifier returning from injury.
Cirstea dominated early, breaking twice to lead 5-1 before closing out the first set. The second set was more tense, with Wang rallying from 2-5 down to level at 5-5. But Cirstea steadied herself, forcing a tiebreak where her composure proved decisive.
Already enjoying a career-best season, including a landmark win over Aryna Sabalenka in Rome, Cirstea remains unbeaten in Paris without dropping a set. She now faces either Mirra Andreeva or Jil Teichmann for a place in the semi-finals.
Men’s fourth-round epics
Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Brandon Nakashima 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-6(1) in nearly four hours. The Canadian, ranked No.6, erased deficits in both the third and fourth sets to reach the fourth round for the third time. He next faces Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo continued his dream run, backing up his upset of World No.1 Jannik Sinner with a five-hour, 57-minute thriller against Martin Landaluce. Cerundolo prevailed 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(10-8), the third-longest match in tournament history. He now meets Matteo Berrettini.
Matteo Berrettini, returning to Paris for the first time since 2021, overcame Francisco Comesana 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(15-13). The Italian, a former Wimbledon finalist, is one win away from matching his 2021 Roland Garros quarter-final run.
Sunday’s action at Roland Garros underscored the unpredictability of the 2026 French Open. Kostyuk’s fearless breakthrough against Swiatek reshaped the women’s draw, while Cirstea’s late-career surge added emotional resonance. On the men’s side, Auger-Aliassime, Cerundolo, and Berrettini showcased resilience in marathon contests, setting up enticing fourth-round and quarter-final clashes.