Gauff and Sabalenka Signal Dominance in French Open Quarterfinals

PARIS, France — Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025 French Open on Sunday with decisive victories over their opponents, showcasing their powerful games and tactical prowess.

Gauff, the second seed, delivered a stunning performance against 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 7-5. The match lasted just 82 minutes as Gauff dominated the first set, winning it in just 29 minutes. She faced a sterner test in the second set but ultimately secured her place in the last eight.

“It was tough, obviously,” Gauff said after her win. “Overall I thought I played great. I definitely think I move well on clay, I’m really comfortably sliding.”

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced American Amanda Anisimova in a more tightly contested match. Sabalenka edged out Anisimova, 7-5, 6-3. Despite entering the match with a challenging 2-5 record against Anisimova, Sabalenka’s evolved game proved effective as she moved steadily towards the quarterfinals.

After her match, Sabalenka spoke about the significance of variety in her play. “As much as I could, I tried to change the rhythm against her,” she explained. “I think I did it pretty well, and overall I stayed really aggressive.”

In a notable display of sportsmanship, Carlos Alcaraz also made headlines during his match against Ben Shelton. After initially disputing a call, Alcaraz opted to correct a mistake made by the chair umpire and awarded a point to Shelton, demonstrating integrity on the court.

The quarterfinal matches are set to be exciting, with Gauff vying for a spot in the semifinals against the winner of Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste. Sabalenka will take on Zheng Qinwen, who has recently made headlines by previously defeating Sabalenka in Rome.

Through their impressive performances, Gauff and Sabalenka have both established themselves as strong contenders for the title as the tournament progresses.